Atlantic County Board of Freeholders/Seated from left, Freeholders John W. Risley Jr., Amy L. Gatto, Chairman Frank D. Formica; Vice Chairwoman Maureen Kern; and Freeholder Richard R. Dase.
Standing, Solicitor Roger Steedle, Freeholders Ernest D. Coursey. James A. Bertino, Caren L. Fitzpatrick and Ashley R. Bennett, and Clerk to the Board Sonya G. Harris.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
The Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders Tuesday, Aug. 18 passed three Freeholder sponsored resolutions on two issues they agree are moot because they have already been approved by higher authorities. A third asks Gov. Phil Murphy to allow indoor dining amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The board voted 6-3 along party lines to oppose Murphy’s vote-by-mail executive order, but unanimously agreed to rename the board the “Board of County Commissioners” and petition the state to reopen indoor dining to prevent local businesses from closing permanently.
Democrat Freeholder Ernest Coursey and Republican John Risley both said the first two issues were moot because they have already been decided, however, Risley said he voted against vote-by-mail on “principle.”
“The governor’s actions were inappropriate,” he said. “If we can wait in line at stores, the DMV and go to church, we can vote on electronic machines. Even Dr. (Anthony) Fauci said there is no reason not to vote by machine.”
Republican Freeholder Amy Gatto agreed with Risley stating she is not against mail-in voting, but her choice would be to vote by machine because it is “more secure and more private.”
“We should have been given the choice,” she said.
Democrat Caren Fitzpatrick, who is running for re-election on Nov. 3, said vote-by-mail leaves a paper trail that can be reviewed.
“It also protects poll workers, many of whom are older and more susceptible to getting sick. I thought this resolution would be pulled because it is a moot point.”
Gatto said those who go to the polls to vote will have to fill out a provisional ballot, which takes longer than voting by machine.
Coursey said voting by mail in the primary resulted in more votes cast, which “could help the entire ticket” and that any “hiccups” experienced during the July 7 primary could be corrected by Nov. 3.
Chairman Frank Formica noted that Atlantic County’s history of voter fraud has resulted in felony convictions, and that the vote-by-mail issue could be challenged in court, “but not in time for the election.”
Fitzpatrick said she hopes the county will provide enough funding to hire extra workers to count the ballots.
County Administrator Jerry DelRosso said the Board of Elections will double the number of ballot drop boxes placed around the county – from five to 10 – and that the board is hoping to purchase additional ballot scanners if they are available.
Atlantic County Democratic Committee Chairman Michael Suleiman spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting stating that the parties should collaborate on solutions to make the election work. He asked the board to withdraw the resolution and suggested a drop box be placed in every municipality. He also asked that the board “ask the front office to fix the voter registration system.”
The board voted unanimously to approve a resolution changing their titles from freeholder to county commissioner.
Fitzpatrick, who proposed the idea of changing the freeholder title two years ago, said being called a commissioner will provide the public with a better idea of what they do.
“No one knows what a freeholder is unless you’re in the county bubble,” she said.
According to the resolution, the freeholder title dates back to New Jersey’s original Constitution of 1776 and refers to landholders who were eligible to hold public office.
The title is rooted in racism and sexism because at that time, only white male landowners could hold public office, the resolution states.
Both houses of the NJ Legislature have approved the change. The bill sits on the governor’s desk waiting for his signature.
The board’s approval of the resolution came on the 100th anniversary of women’s right to vote.
“I hope we are making history and not erasing it,” Gatto said.
The freeholder board also fully supported a resolution recently proposed by Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson requesting the governor allow restaurants to reopen for indoor dining with limited capacity.
“This is as apolitical as a resolution can be,” Formica said, stating that as summer wanes and the weather cools, restaurants will no longer be able to provide outdoor dining.
Not allowing indoor dining would cause businesses to close and permanently damage the region’s tourism industry, he said.
“We should at least ask the governor to consider it,” he said.
Several freeholders questioned who would be responsible for enforcing the 25% capacity rule on indoor dining.
Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce President Michael Chait said that “public shaming” could be enough to encourage restaurant owners to comply.
In other business, the board heard a report from Public Health official Patricia Diamond who reported there has been a marked decrease in deaths from the coronavirus, but an increase in infections among family members and youths.
Diamond said there is a 25-35% no-show rate for appointments made for testing at the county’s testing site in Northfield, and that the county now has nine contact tracers investigating cases. Testing results are taking about a week, she said, but the county is pursuing other tests that would provide quicker responses.
Diamond said the county health department is planning a conference call this week with school nurses to discuss COVID-19 protocols and CDC guidelines for students and staff.
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