Atlantic County Central Municipal Court Head Judge Tim Maguire gives a tour of the reburbished courtrooms at the Historic Atlantic County Courthouse in downtown Mays Landing May 4, 2022.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
LONGPORT – The Board of Commissioners Thursday, June 15 approved a resolution notifying Margate that it may dissolve a previously approved agreement to share courts at Margate’s Historic City Hall.
The commission has been considering a better offer from the Atlantic County Central Municipal Court System, which went into effect on Jan. 3. On May 4, the county dedicated its newly refurbished courtrooms at the Historic Atlantic County Courthouse in downtown Mays Landing.
According to Solicitor Michael Affanato, approving the resolution does not mean the borough cannot continue to negotiate its shared services agreement with Margate.
Borough Administrator A. Scott Porter said he has met with Margate officials, who requested more information from the borough, which was provided.
Porter said Margate is working on an updated proposal which may take a few more weeks to receive.
Affanato said the resolution fulfills the borough’s responsibility to ensure that notification to dissolve the agreement with Margate by year’s end was completed according to a mutually agreed upon timeline – six months before the end of the current term that expires Dec. 31.
Affanato said there is no timeline to notify the county that it will join the Central Municipal Court.
The borough currently pays Margate $10,000 a month, an $80,000 savings over what it cost Longport before the interlocal service agreement that was finalized in February 2020.
Porter said the borough can join the county system for $42,100 a year, which provides an additional savings to Longport taxpayers of approximately $120,000.
Mayor Nicholas Russo said switching to the county system is likely “an offer we can’t refuse.”
If the borough joins the county system in 2023, certain defendants will be required to travel to Mays Landing to appear before a judge for the most serious cases, such as DWIs or domestic violence cases. However, most traffic summonses and minor offenses will be heard via an online platform.
The annual fee may increase slightly, Porter said, but it would not exceed 1.8% of the total cost of running the central court.
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