May 1979 - On-Line Newspaper Archives of Ocean City
May 1979 - On-Line Newspaper Archives of Ocean City
May 1979 - On-Line Newspaper Archives of Ocean City
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
editorials/comment<br />
Halt dual <strong>of</strong>fices<br />
Holding other municipal elective<br />
ffices has become the rule rather<br />
tan the exception on the Cape <strong>May</strong><br />
ity Board <strong>of</strong> Freeholders over<br />
le years and, other than at election<br />
le, very little public debate has<br />
focused on this issue.<br />
<strong>On</strong>e has to question how a person<br />
devote the time necessary to<br />
ev"than one political <strong>of</strong>fice,<br />
icularly if he must also keep up<br />
the demands <strong>of</strong> a job or<br />
less.<br />
Bjeyond this,<br />
I Jersey Common however, New<br />
Cause points out<br />
I that "there is a clear conflict <strong>of</strong><br />
I interest" in this situation when<br />
|act(ons are taken by the freeholder<br />
I board which directly or indirectly<br />
I relate to the municipality in which a<br />
I freeholder holds elective <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
( is now possible that the state<br />
(Legislature could pass a law<br />
ibiting a person in New Jersey<br />
i holding more than one state,<br />
| county or municipal elective <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
This bill has already passed the<br />
Assembly and is currently under<br />
consideration in the Senate County<br />
and Municipal Government Com-<br />
mittee where, according to Common<br />
Cause, Sen. James S. Cafiero (R-<br />
Cape <strong>May</strong>-Cumberland) holds a<br />
critical vote.<br />
The Sentinel-Ledger spoke with<br />
one <strong>of</strong> Cafiero's aides last week who<br />
said he was unfamiliar with the<br />
senator's position on this issue.<br />
Cafiero has yet to declare his<br />
9ition to either the Sentinel-<br />
jer or Common Cause.<br />
This bill is needed to curb the<br />
practice both at the county level and<br />
in the Legislature in Trenton.<br />
Meeting only on a part-time basis, it<br />
is difficult enough for the<br />
freeholders or legislators to cope<br />
with the issues <strong>of</strong> one governmental<br />
body without having to keep abreast<br />
<strong>of</strong> problems at another level as well.<br />
The Sentinel-Ledger hopes that<br />
Sen. Cafiero will not only support<br />
this bill but will lobby for its passage<br />
both in his committee ana on the<br />
floor <strong>of</strong> the Senate.<br />
More sunshine needed<br />
Page Two, Section Two<br />
Thursday, <strong>May</strong> 17,<strong>1979</strong><br />
The oil crisis<br />
from the view<br />
<strong>of</strong> the company<br />
ByTOMHALLIGAN<br />
Mobil Oil Corporation<br />
placed an advertisement in a<br />
recent edition <strong>of</strong> Editor and<br />
Publisher magazine stating,<br />
"We're willing to comment on<br />
our critics' views, fill in<br />
reporters on the facts about<br />
oil industry issues, even<br />
tangle with those who'd like to<br />
take a swipe at us. So when<br />
you think <strong>of</strong> oil, think <strong>of</strong> us.<br />
And when you think First<br />
Amendment, call us, too.<br />
We're rabid on the rights <strong>of</strong><br />
companies to speak their<br />
piece."<br />
Hie advertisement listed a<br />
telephone number and two<br />
names <strong>of</strong> company<br />
representatives where<br />
reporters could call "to get a<br />
big mouth" to answer<br />
questions.<br />
Well, I decided to give Mobil<br />
a call. It seems to me that<br />
most Americans have as<br />
many different ideas, theories<br />
and hunches as to why there is<br />
The possibility that <strong>Ocean</strong> <strong>City</strong><br />
idl met in contravention <strong>of</strong> the<br />
afe Open Public Meetings Act<br />
|(sunshine law) came to light<br />
atly following a closed meeting<br />
iween council and <strong>May</strong>or Chester<br />
|J. Wimberg to try and work out a<br />
apromise over the appointment<br />
municipal judge.<br />
I tibundl President<br />
IWfods admitted that,<br />
no( only the public but; also city'<br />
Clerk Loretta C. Marshall and<br />
Solicitor Gerald J. Corcoran to<br />
leave the chambers, neither council<br />
oat Wimberg bothered to take notes<br />
or keep a record <strong>of</strong> the meeting's<br />
'ceedings, something that is<br />
ally required by the sun-<br />
law.<br />
Woods maintained that this was<br />
|an;innocenl oversight and there is<br />
|no ^evidence to suggest otherwise.<br />
Ijbwever, this does not discount<br />
Ithe, serious nature <strong>of</strong> this oversight.<br />
line reason records are kept <strong>of</strong> those<br />
Imefetings which can legally be held<br />
Ibehind closed doors is to insure that<br />
latter the matter under con-<br />
Isideration is concluded the records<br />
|cajp be scrutinized by the public.<br />
Ip • this case, for example,<br />
idipal Judge Edward P. Koz-<br />
t,-whose fate was under con-<br />
bfation at the meeting, may have<br />
1 to inspect the records <strong>of</strong> the<br />
ig to defend both his<br />
ion and position, which is his<br />
Iright;<br />
This council has endeavored to<br />
open in its actions and to be ac-<br />
countable to its constituency and<br />
thus no one can justifiably imply<br />
any devious intent to the apparent<br />
sunshine law infraction.<br />
This is, however, the second time<br />
council apparently inadvertantly<br />
4jol
Change language