Wildwood approves beach utility, creates two new jobs

Last Updated on Thursday, January 31, 2013 11:20 am Written by Christie Rotondo Thursday, January 31, 2013 11:20 am

WILDWOOOD- City Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance creating a beach utility in Wildwood at the Jan. 23 meeting, which also created positions for a beach utility director and manager.

According to Mayor Ernie Troiano, this utility will oversee revenue generated from activities on the beach, as well as beach fees, if residents approve implementing them at the March 5 binding referendum.

“Regardless of beach fees or not, there a lot of events and things that are going to happen on the beach this year,” Troiano said. “We want to make sure someone is going to be in charge.”

For example, Troiano said, beach cabana rentals should take place this year, and the city expects revenue from the beach storage boxes.

According to the ordinance, the beach utility division will be in the department of revenue and finance, and there will be a separate line item in the city’s budget for costs and expenses of the utility. Revenue from the division are listed as “anticipated fees and revenue associated with activities on the city’s beach.”

The ordinance says the beach utility director will be appointed by the recommendation Commissioner of Revenue and Finance (currently Pete Byron) and will be responsible for coordinating beach activities, as well as acting as a liaison to all vendors and contractors operating on the city’s beach.

The Beach Utility Manager will be also be appointed by Byron’s recommendation and will act assume the responsibilities of the director in his or her absence.

According to Troiano, Byron has not chosen a manager or director as of yet.

He called the utility a “self-liquidating account” meaning that whatever funds raised by new beach activities will be used to fund the beach utility.

The ordinance was unanimously passed on second reading at the Jan. 23 commissioners’ meeting.

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