Where they own real property, earn their incomes
OCEAN CITY – In the Financial Disclosure Statements for 2022, filed in April, Mayor Jay Gillian and challenger Keith Hartzell listed their sources of income and properties in which they have a financial interest.
In his report filed Friday, April 22, Gillian’s income was listed from three sources – Gilamco Inc., the company that owns and operates Wonderland Pier; the City of Ocean City, for his mayoral salary; and the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, where his wife, Michele Gillian, works as the executive director.
For his list of all businesses organizations in which he holds a financial interest, the only one Gillian listed was Gilamco Inc.
The only real estate listed is owned jointly by him and his wife is at 30 E. Aberdeen Road, Ocean City.
By contrast, Hartzell, a longtime member of Ocean City Council, lists multiple properties as both income sources and in which he holds a financial interest.
In his report, filed April 7, Hartzell lists five sources of income, all but one of them real estate. The Von Drehle Corporation of Hickory, N.C., a paper products company, is where Hartzell is employed. As other income he lists properties as 720 Asbury Avenue LLC – rentals, 713-721 West, 716-726 Asbury Ave.; 713 and 721 West Ave.; Hartzell Holdings LLC, 10-18 E. Ninth St., C10, C12, C14, C16, C18, rentals; and 10-18 Ninth Street Rentals, 10-18 Ninth St.
Hartzell also lists six properties that he owns 100 percent: 721 West Ave., 713 West Ave., 716 Asbury Ave., 720-26 Asbury Ave., C10-C-18 10-18 E. Ninth St., and 600 Pleasure Ave.
The Financial Disclosure Statement is required annually of all local government officers in accordance with NJSA 40A:9-22. 1 et seq., the Local Government Ethics Law.
City Council
The disclosure laws also cover three of the six candidates in the race for the three at-large City Council seats up for election on May 10 because three of them are currently in office.
Second Ward Councilman Tomaso Rotondi had not yet filed his disclosure for 2022 as of Monday, April 25, but his 2021 filing is on record.
As sources of income, Rotondi showed the Marsh and McLennan Agency of Cape May and the City of Ocean City (for his council salary). Income from his wife is listed from Smartest Energy of Syracuse, N.Y. He also showed ownership of one lot in Ocean City (Block 411, Lot 19), but no address.
Incumbent Karen Bergman listed The Flanders Hotel at 719 E. 11th St., Ocean City, and the City of Ocean City (council salary) as her sources of income. For real properties in which an interest was held Bergman listed 39 Bayview Place, Ocean City, 14 Atlantic Ave., Ocean City and 1019 Bay Ave., Ocean City.
Incumbent Peter Madden’s 2022 report shows income from Wilkins Goldcoast International Realty of 200 E. 34th St., where he is a part-owner, the City of Ocean City (council salary), and, for his spouse, National Payroll Service of 421 Battersea Road, Ocean City.
He also reports a financial interest in 421 Battersea Road and lists that as a property he owns. The other property he owns is 944 Asbury Ave., Unit B.
Michael DeVlieger did not have to do a 2022 disclosure report because he left council in August 2021 and is seeking a seat this year.
In DeVlieger’s 2021 disclosure, DeVlieger listed income from Discover Personnel Services, LLC of 606 Third St., Ocean city; Experts Manpower Group of 100 Manpower Place, Milwauke, WI, and the City of Ocean City (council salary).
As for real property, DeVlieger listed 608 Third St., Ocean City.
The other two candidates in the council race, Donna Moore and John “Tony P” Polcini, did not have to file because they did not hold office.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff