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Mayor delivers State of the City, highlights public safety steps and Shore Road flood fix
Summary
At the Jan. 6 Absecon City Council reorganization meeting, the mayor said the city added six officers, tightened motel and aggressive-begging ordinances, pursued raised crosswalks and completed an interlocal agreement to raise Shore Road to reduce flooding; he credited council and staff for addressing a recent budget shortfall.
The mayor delivered Absecon's 2026 State of the City on Jan. 6, emphasizing public-safety investments, a new county interlocal agreement to raise Shore Road for flood mitigation and steps taken to steady the city's finances. He told attendees the city added six officers this year and will install raised crosswalks and a blinking pedestrian light where a child was struck at Highland and New Jersey Avenue.
The address framed safety as a top priority. "Speeding is an epidemic in this city," the mayor said, announcing additional stop signs and enforcement changes intended to slow traffic. He also noted an ordinance change to shorten motel lengths of stay to discourage out-of-area placements that had effectively turned motels into de facto shelters for parolees or people experiencing homelessness.
On infrastructure, the mayor said the city finalized an interlocal agreement with the county to raise Shore Road to mitigate chronic flooding, calling the roadway a public-safety hazard until repaired. He described the measure as a major, long-sought win for the community.
The mayor discussed a budget crisis uncovered in January and credited the finance committee and outside citizen volunteers for work to stabilize finances. He said CreekFest, which had lost money in prior years, broke even this year thanks to donations and cost-cutting, and that the tax collection rate reached 99.49 percent. He also announced staff changes and appointments: Jessica Snyder as business administrator and tax collector; Pat Malia as construction official; John Fairweather as zoning official; Trinity Inspections for subcode inspections; and a new recycling coordinator whose enforcement to date has relied on advisory notices rather than fines.
Economic development highlights included a new Wendy's, three dispensaries, a discount retailer and an expected brewery and gas station project on the city's southern side. The mayor described the city as "business friendly and open for business."
After the address, councilmembers offered short remarks of thanks and support. The mayor then opened public comment; Atlantic County Sheriff O'Donoghio addressed the council to praise the local police and promise county support when requested.
The council recessed for routine business after the address; a public hearing and final reading for an ordinance to restructure council committees was scheduled for Jan. 26, 2026.
