Past conviction when he was Northfield police chief means it is not legal for Adams to serve on Somers Point City Council, Shill says
SOMERS POINT — Councilman Ken Adams must resign from Somers Point City Council, according to acting Atlantic County Prosecutor Cary Shill, who said, “it is not legal for him to be on the council.
“Because of his conviction for official misconduct, the court ordered that he is forever disqualified from holding any office or position of honor, trust or profit under this state or its administrative subdivisions,” Shill told The Sentinel Wednesday, Feb. 2.
Adams was appointed in a unanimous vote Thursday, Jan. 28, to replace Ward I Councilwoman Stacy Ferreri, who resigned last month one year into her tenure.
Adams, 60, was chief of the Northfield Police Department when he was indicted in October 2002 and charged with seven counts, including official misconduct and theft of $3,420 in federal forfeiture funds. A jury found him guilty July 1, 2004, and he was sentenced to five years in state prison.
Last week, six of the seven members of City Council admitted they were aware of Adams’ criminal history before voting to appoint him.
Solicitor Tom Smith said he was informed Tuesday by the Prosecutor’s Office that Adams was prohibited from serving but had not seen the letter so declined to comment.
City Council President Janice Johnston did likewise.
“I have no comment on the subject of Ken Adams,” Johnston said Wednesday afternoon.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK, Sentinel staff