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Resident questions rising Public Safety spending and recent hires; commissioners defend investments
Summary
A resident questioned a 38% rise in Public Safety spending, requested OPRA records for 2022–2024, and sought clarification about recent hires; commissioners said hires were sworn in and defended investments in safety resources while staff acknowledged inconsistent answers about timing.
A Wildwood Crest resident raised concerns about rising Public Safety costs and recent hires during public comment, prompting an exchange with commissioners and staff.
Resident Mike Marino said he filed an Open Public Records Act request for Public Safety costs covering Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2024 and asserted the figure he’d previously cited rose from $4.9 million to $5.2 million. "At today's pace Public Safety is going to spend $24 million in four years," Marino said, describing a 38% increase in spending across the term he reviewed. He questioned whether any new full-time positions were hired during the current administration after an earlier assurance no additional hires would be made.
Officials responded that officers were sworn in and made full-time after academy completion. The exchange included inconsistent statements about exact dates: one official said officers were made full-time in the academy and sworn in on Jan. 10; the clerk noted records showing a Jan. 2 full-time date. Commissioners said they hear residents’ concerns but defended investments in police, fire, EMS and Beach Patrol. One commissioner said: "I quite proud of the investments I have made in public safety and I feel that the money spent will benefit the town and visitors greatly."
What it means: The public comment flagged budgetary concerns and a desire for clearer public records and consistent administrative communication about hires and payroll timing. The resident cited specific dollar figures and requested transparency; staff said an improved public interface and website updates are forthcoming to display crime statistics and (by implication) records.
What’s next: The borough acknowledged the OPRA request and indicated the website and a new public interface will be updated to improve access to police statistics. Fiscal details raised by the resident were presented as claims and would require formal records review to verify.
