Mayor Leonard Desiderio

SEA ISLE CITY –– At a regular City Council meeting on January 15, Mayor Leonard Desiderio officially delivered the city’s 2008 fiscal budget to the members of city council. He then proceeded to give a “state of the city” speech.

In his speech, the mayor highlighted some of the various projects the city is undertaking, including the paving of 44th Street, which is slated to take place this spring, and the future paving of Pleasure Avenue from 79th to 85th Street.

Desiderio also explained that the city is currently in the process of removing a deteriorated Water Department building at 40th Street and will replace it with a building acquired through negotiation with Jersey Power and Light. Additionally, he discussed the replacement of the water well at 50th Street, the revitalization of the city’s commercial districts, and also how he plans to continue to work with state and federal legislators to “secure the necessary commitments to ensure our beaches are preserved.”

With regards to the city’s budget, Mayor Desiderio said, “In order for council and the public to be as well informed as possible on all the information that’s gone into constructing the budget, and to be able to ask questions before Council introduces the budget on February 11, we will conduct budget workshops on Tuesday, January 22, at 1:30, and Thursday, January 24, at 9:00 A.M. Our auditor and CFO will take the forefront at these meetings.”

The meeting on January 22 will be dedicated to the topic of revenues. The January 24 meeting will be held to discuss appropriations. Both meetings will be held at the Public Safety Building on Landis Avenue.