By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – The Board of Commissioners March 14 introduced an ordinance abolishing an ad hoc committee formed six years ago to hear from residents about issues of importance.
The city established the Citizens Advisory Committee as a permanent ad hoc committee of the board in 2018. It appointed 10 community members to the committee who were charged with advising the board on issues of concern and offer ideas to help move the city forward. The committee was established by ordinance and members appointed each year.
The diverse group, which included full- and part-time residents, had no real authority to bind the commission to take action on issues, but instead would provide commissioners with input about how the community feels about certain issues before the board.
Over the years, the committee advised the board about ice cream vending contracts, budgets, code enforcement, public safety, recreation and other issues.
According to Mayor Lance Landgraf, the committee was very active for several years after its inception but was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. The committee has not met for about 18 months because the commissioners are accessible by phone, they said.
“They started out as gangbusters and gave us some good ideas that we put into place, but then it just faded,” Landgraf said. “If we see a need again, we’ll bring it back.”
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28 at City Hall. Meetings are also accessible on Zoom.
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