By Sara Martino
Gloucester City News
Deacon Frank Crosson of St. Mary’s Church gave the invocation, following the Pledge of Allegiance, during the 142nd annual Gloucester City Council re-organization meeting.
In prayer, Crosson asked that all the people may benefit from the governing body’s decisions.
With his family standing by, re-elected Mayor William P. James was sworn into office by State Senator Donald Norcross (D-5).
Re-elected council members, John Hutchinson, 1st Ward; Bruce Parry, 2nd Ward; and Kellie Ferry, 3rd Ward, received their oaths of office from various Camden County officials, including, Freeholder Director Louis Cappelli Jr, Assemblyman Angel Fuentes and County Sheriff Chuck Billingham.
In the mayor’s statement, James said that prior to the 2010 Election he had reported the City’s progress in a nine-page press release to let the citizens know what was happening.
He said the fact that the election was won by the incumbents shows that people have confidence in the governing body.
\”We will still face the glaring difficulties of the previous year. There will be difficult decisions to be made, especially with the keeping of personnel.
\”I am not going to talk against the governor’s policies that do affect our budget. It will do no good right now. We promise to remain strong,\” James said, adding that they will not be influenced by any outside special interest groups.
Several City Council members echoed James remarks, saying that they all are part of the county and state team.
\”Times are quite different than when I first sat on Council 25 years ago,\” Councilman Daniel Spencer said. \”There were better times back then for the City.\”
Thirteen resolutions were read. All received unanimous approval except R002, R007 and R12.
Councilwoman Kellie Ferry voted \”nay\” on the appointment of John B. Kearney for the position of City Solicitor, and \”Nay\” on the appointment of Kearney and Associates as Special Counsel to the Tax Office on R2 and R7.
Councilman Nick Marchese also voted \”nay\” on the appointment of Kearney and Associates as Special Counsel.
Ferry voted \”Nay\” on R12 for the appointment of Jack Lipsett as the City Administrator. She remarked later that she felt there was someone else she would like to have been appointed in that position.
During the Public Forum, resident John Schmidt asked if there is a statue that would allow the City Clerk to conduct a meeting in the absence of the mayor.
Solicitor Kearney said he did not know of any statue pertaining to the question.
Schmidt was referring to an end of the year close-out meeting that took place on December 29.
Schmidt said Acting City Clerk Kathy Jentsch ran that meeting, and that James and Councilman Nick Marchese were not present, but participated and voted via a conference phone call.
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