SOMERS POINT — City Council’s plan to split its Economic Development Advisory Commission into two subcommittees stalled Feb. 12 when it failed to receive support.
However, the proposal is being amended and a new plan put forth in the future, according to City Council President Kirk Gerety.
Council members had discussed changing the mission of the 10-member volunteer body, which was formed to advise officials on future and current conditions.
Gerety said Jan. 22 “there was a severe disconnect between what EDAC wanted to do and what council thought they were going to do.”
Councilman Sean McGuigan was charged with taking those ideas and putting them into an ordinance. He said there may be a “more efficient or effective way to do economic development.”
He believes the board should be working to attract new businesses and driving commerce into the community.
An ordinance to replace EDAC with two subcommittees to address economic development and city promotion was introduced and McGuigan motioned to adopt, but no one provided a second.
Gerety said Councilwoman Janice Johnston suggested amending the current regulations governing the board’s mission instead of “revamping the whole system” as McGuigan had proposed.
“This will be a couple of tweaks that hopefully makes things easier to have an effective EDAC that works great for the city,” Gerety said, adding that he hopes to get the new plan on the agenda for the meeting Feb. 25.
Last year the board consisted of Westcott, Vice Chairman Rob Hopkins, John Helbig, Robert Phillips, William Dunfee, Denise Boyd, Levi Fox, Max Slusher, Adam Merilson and Gerety.
The terms of Hopkins, Boyd, Helbig and Fox expired Dec. 31, 2025. However, no new members were added and no existing members were reappointed for 2026 during the reorganization meeting Jan. 2, nor has the meeting schedule been advertised.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff