Architect’s rendering of the new Ventnor City Beach Patrol Headquarters under construction off Suffolk Avenue in Ventnor.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – It will take two attorneys to replace Ventnor’s outgoing Solicitor Tim Maguire.
Maguire is leaving the post to become one of the first Atlantic County Municipal Court judges.
“Had we known that we would lose him, we may not have pushed so hard for the system to be put in place,” Commissioner Lance Landgraf said about supporting the county’s effort to create a joint municipal court system. Ventnor was one of the first Atlantic County communities to jump aboard the effort.
“You have provided us with the best legal advice and guidance we could have hoped for,” he said. “We wish you the best and believe you will do a great job.”
Maguire said he had a special relationship with the commissioners and was grateful to be part of the Ventnor team on an off for the last 10 years.
“You can always rely on me if you need any type of information or guidance,” he said.
The Board of Commissioners Tuesday, Dec. 21 appointed for one year attorneys William E. Reynolds and Marc Nehmad to replace him. According to Landgraf, Nehmad will provide backup for the “hybrid” professional service contract not to exceed $96,000, or $8,000 per month for 2022. They will be able to charge the city $125 per hour for any work involving litigation for an additional amount not to exceed $30,000.
Landgraf said the city put out a request for proposals and interviewed two firms before selecting Reynolds and Nehmad.
“We talked through the services required,” Landgraf said, stating that Maguire offered his recommendations on the appointments.
The board also renewed Alfred Scerni of Parker McKay’s contract as alternate solicitor at an amount not to exceed $25,000.
“His role will be greater than in the past,” Landgraf said.
Scerni has experience in redevelopment, environmental issues and utility law, which would be beneficial to the city should it move toward any redevelopment projects, Landgraf said.
In other business, the board approved a resolution that will permit the Friends of the Ventnor Water Works Fountain Restoration Project to replace a large fountain in front of the nearly 100-year-old Water Works building on Winchester Avenue.
It also agreed to allow outgoing Chief of Police Douglas Biagi to purchase his city-issued laptop for a fair market value of $434.
Landgraf joked that Biagi wanted the laptop mainly because of the Star Wars sticker he put on it.
Landgraf also reported that the demolition of the Beach Patrol Headquarters was delayed somewhat due to repairs to the Suffolk Avenue ramp being undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The new building, which the city hopes will be completed by the start of the 2022 summer season, will be a state of the art facility with men’s and women’s locker rooms for lifeguards.
“The old building was not functional anymore. The joke is that if wind blows too hard, the phones don’t work,” Landgraf said.
The board also thanked volunteer Shelley D’Orazio and her husband Pete, along with the Police and Fire departments and Office of Emergency Management, for their work organizing the city’s Twilight Holiday Parade.
“It was just a dress rehearsal for next year,” Shelley D’Orazio said.
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