Gloucester City Independent Democrats Take Control of Council
By Megan Paolini NEWS Correspondent
Power in the Gloucester City government has shifted from the Gloucester City Democrats to the Independents.
Democrat Councilman William Hagan sided with the Independents, allowing for the appointment of a new solicitor, eliminating the mayor\’s aide position, and broadcasting the meeting on Channel 19 — all by votes of 4-3. On Thursday, January 4, the outgoing Gloucester City Council held its last meeting to approve the minutes from previous meetings.
Former Mayor Thomas Kilcourse thanked everyone who continually comes to the Gloucester City council meetings and thanked the Council members. He also wished the new Council \”good luck\”.
Former Councilman Raymond Coxe echoed Kilcourse words\”, it’s been a wonderful nine years for me\” he said.
After the sine die meeting of the Gloucester City Council adjourned, the 138th annual re-organization meeting of the new Council began with the induction of the new members.
Mayor William P. James, Councilman William R. Hagan, Councilman Nicholas Marchese, and Councilman Jay Brophy were sworn into office by State Assembly Speaker Joe Roberts.
Resolutions appointing Auditor Bowman & Company, City Solicitor John B. Kearney, City Planner The Waetz-man Planning Group, and Municipal Judge William Golden were adopted as presented by a 4-3 vote.
Democratic Councilman Anthony \”Rocky\” Kormann and Councilwoman-en Elsie Loebell and Jean Kaye objected to the resolutions.
Solicitor Kearney replaces James Maley, who had been a fixture for many years at City Council meetings and who is the mayor of Collingswood.
Resolutions appointing the City Engineer as Edward Vernick, the prosecutor as Paul Dougherty, the public defender as Charles Wigginton and the administrator as Paul J. Kain were adopted as presented by 7-0 votes.
By a 4-3 vote, Council appointed T&M Associates as the City Redevelopment Engineer.
City Administrator/Clerk Paul J. Kain was appointed commissioner of the Camden County Joint Insurance Fund, with Mayor James as an alternate, by a 7-0 vote.
The following Mayoral appointments to various committees of Gloucester City were approved with a 4 to 3 vote. Kormann, Loebell, and Kaye voted against the appointments.
Mayor James was appointed to the Police and Fire Committee. Councilman Brophy was appointed
and Housing committees. Councilman Marchese was appointed to the Fire, Finance/Administration, Housing, and Celebrations committees.
Councilwoman Loebell was appointed to the fire, licensing, and celebrations committees.
Councilwoman Kaye was appointed to the Public Works, Housing and licensing committees.
Councilman Kormann was appointed to the Public Works, Licensing, and Celebrations committees.
Councilman Marchese was appointed the Council manic member to the planning board by a 7-0 vote.
The new meeting dates of City Council were adopted by a 4-3 vote, with Kormann, Kaye, and Loebell objecting to the change. The regular monthly meetings will be the fourth of each month at 8 p.m. The caucus sessions will be held on the third Thursday at 7 p.m.
This post was imported from a legacy archive. Please excuse any formatting inconsistencies.