WILDWOOD — City Commissioners assured a room packed with residents and business owners alike that beach fees will not put a damper on summer fun – at least not for this year and not without public input.

Much has been said since the topic of charging fees to set foot on the city’s wide, sandy shore was brought up at a July meeting. During the Wed., Jan. 11 meeting, Commissioners addressed the issue in hope of putting to rest rumors and innuendo.

“If beach fees become an issue,” said Mayor Ernie Troiano, “then we as a commission, should decide to go to referendum or not. My position has always been that this situation is a basically a life changing situation on the island, even though I am more concerned about Wildwood, and I believe, as I have in the past, that the public has the right to determine what we do.”

While the mayor assured the public beach fees will not be coming the summer of 2012, the future of a free beach may depend on research and finding funding sources to help the beleaguered city with financial woes.

Commissioner Pete Byron said the city has looked at many types of beach-generated revenue, such as cabanas, beach bars or beach boxes. “As a Commission, we realize that the beach has a huge source of possibilities for us,” said Byron. “Nothing happens overnight.”

I have done a lot of research,” said Commissioner Tony Leonetti. “We are looking at so many other things that we can do not to have beach fees, but I’m doing this work now, and what if it’s the only answer? We need the money. I can’t say if I’m for or against it myself at this point. But it may be something that we may be pushed in a corner to do if really need to come up with revenue. But at this point it’s far from the point making any kind of decision.”