Pictured top left, Middle Township Mayor Chris Leusner, top right Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock, bottom left Lower Township Mayor Frank Sippel, and bottom right North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello.
The Chamber was pleased to welcome Middle Township Mayor Chris Leusner, Cape May Mayor Zack Mullock, Lower Township Mayor Frank Sippel, and North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello to our Membership Meeting on July 18 at Avalon Golf Club, sponsored by Hutchinson. Each mayor presented updates on business developments, ongoing projects, taxes, infrastructure, and more within their respective municipalities, highlighting both positive advancements and the challenges they continue to face.
Mayor Leusner discussed redevelopment efforts in Middle Township, the beautification projects led by the Garden Club, and the development of workforce housing. He also introduced new Chief of Police Tracey Super and touched on the challenges of hiring police officers. Additionally, he mentioned the launch of a new monthly newsletter for Middle Township residents.
Mayor Mullock reported no tax increases for Cape May City this year and noted the addition of more parking meters in town. He highlighted the opening of the new Fire House and Cape May Library on Franklin Street. Similar to Mayor Leusner, he acknowledged difficulties in hiring police officers but announced the successful recruitment of five new full-time officers. He also addressed infrastructure and water system issues, detailing budgeting efforts for these projects and the city’s purchase of a new building to be converted into a theater.
Mayor Sippel began his presentation by explaining the composition of Lower Township and noted a 0% tax increase for residents over the past three years. He discussed the pros and cons of short-term rental properties and shared the township’s honor of receiving the “Community Veterans Award” this year, emphasizing the extensive application process involved. Being a veteran himself, Mayor Sippel concluded by outlining initiatives for veterans, including designated parking spaces, discounts, street renaming, and more.
Mayor Rosenello closed the program by addressing an ongoing issue since he took office in 2014 – North Wildwood beach replenishment. He shared his experiences with the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor’s Office, mentioning that the N.J. Department of Transportation added 2.2 billion pounds of sand to North Wildwood’s beaches in 21 days.
A common theme among all the mayors was the impact of the N.J. D.E.P.’s Protecting Against Climate Threats (NJ PACT) regulations, which will affect all areas in Cape May County. All mayors and Chamber President Barbara Stafford Jones encouraged our members to learn more about these regulations and attend related presentations.
The next Chamber membership meeting will be held on Thursday, August 15 at South 9 Bar & Grille in Cape May Court House. The meeting will feature Congressman Jeff Van Drew for the Annual Legislative Update.
