Atlantic City asks state to allow residents to decide on reducing council size
ATLANTIC CITY - In a tense meeting, the Atlantic City Council voted by 5-4 Thursday night to ask the state to allow city voters to consider reducing the council's size by two at-large members, leaving six ward members and one at-large.
ATLANTIC CITY - In a tense meeting, the Atlantic City Council voted by 5-4 Thursday night to ask the state to allow city voters to consider reducing the council's size by two at-large members, leaving six ward members and one at-large.
The at-large members objected, saying the plan targeted the people who typically oppose Council President Marty Small, who initiated the plan.
"I applaud the concept as far as cutting budgets," said Councilman Mo Delgado. He said the move appeared to be more about tit for tat.
Councilman George Tibbitt said council members should cut their pay by $11,800 each instead. Ex-Councilwoman Joyce Mollineaux said they should work free.
Tibbitt proposed reverting to a commission form of government. Councilman William Marsh recalled that those commissions typically included just one African American in the predominantly black city. The majority-black council has Hispanic, Asian, and white members. It is all male.
The Legislature must vote on allowing the city to hold the referendum because state law only allows a seven-member body to be made of up four ward and three at-large members.
The council tabled a resolution approving an expected $70 million bridge loan from the state because the state still has not given members the terms.
In other business, Mayor Don Guardian said he still expected the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority to move forward with selling some of the 450 lots it owns but does not pay taxes on, costing the city millions.
On Tuesday, Guardian said the CRDA had agreed to auction the lots not located in the South Inlet section, near the Revel.
The next day, CRDA director John Palmieri disputed the mayor, saying the CRDA had not voted to sell the lots and was still vetting the idea of an auction. Palmieri said the CRDA would not sell to someone who did not have a "viable development" plan. The CRDA has been accused of banking land without such plans.
A spokesman for the mayor said he "misspoke" by suggesting official action had been taken. On Thursday, Guardian, a CRDA board member, said the sale had been discussed repeatedly in committee and executive sessions. He said he would propose a vote.
609-823-0453
@amysrosenberg
downashore