Ward 2, Carl D’Adamo: Answer to taxpayers, make gov’t transparent
SOMERS POINT — Carl D’Adamo, 71, is challenging incumbent Mike Owen for the Ward 2 seat on City Council.
D’Adamo, who was the lone Democrat on the governing body and served for 16 years at-large, chose not to seek re-election in 2019, opening the door for Owen to run unopposed. The pair first faced off in 2016, when D’Adamo eked out a win 2,298-2,184.
D’Adamo and his wife of 46 years, Robin, have two grown children who attended Somers Point schools and graduated from Mainland Regional High School. They have three grandchildren.
D’Adamo was born in Philadelphia and moved to Mays Landing in 1964. He graduated from Oakcrest High School in 1969.
He later earned an associate degree in electronics technology from Atlantic Cape Community College, a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Stockton University and a master’s degree in business administration from Monmouth University.
He worked as a manager in regulatory affairs for Atlantic City Electric Co. until 2016, when he retired after more than 35 years.
Responding to a questionnaire from The Sentinel, D’Adamo said the top issues facing Somers Point are controlling taxes, maintaining services and addressing development.
“I have been and will be committed to actively leading and working with efforts which address these issues in a responsible manner,” he said. “In addition, one of my primary reasons for running is I and many others feeling there is a lack of transparency, especially in communication from the city.”
Citing the issue over paid parking at city-owned lots, D’Adamo said it was difficult to obtain information related to metered parking, noting he strongly opposes charging for the lots.
“There were questions related to how the system worked — were there times or events exempt from the payment requirements? — and complaints from residents whose on-street parking was eliminated by those attempting to avoid fees to park,” D’Adamo said. “There should be places, potentially online, that would present information needed related to these types of questions.”
An example, D’Adamo said, was when residents spoke in opposition to the development proposals at Route 9 and Groveland Avenue.
“They were told there would be opportunities to address their concerns but no clarity about when this would occur,” he said. “Once again, there should be somewhere people can be heard and find out the status of major projects impacting their neighborhood.”
Short-term rentals have popped up across the city, causing nightmares in some neighborhoods where the homes are used to host parties. D’Adamo said the issue needs to be addressed.
“Where a short-term rental is the cause of problems such as noise or parties, there should be procedures which do not place the burden of enforcement on the taxpaying neighbors,” he said. “There are no easy answers to these types of problems but I would work to take any steps allowable to help address neighbors’ concerns.”
He said another example of lack of transparency is the municipal boat ramp.
“What is being done to control access? When will it be complete? How the average citizen will be informed as to how to gain access should be readily available. The timeline to build gates to access these facilities along with the plans for the future should be documented in a place such as the city website in order that this information be readily available.”
D’Adamo said he thinks the city should resume using Zoom to broadcast City Council meetings. He said that “would allow more interested citizens to view council or other meetings. These types of tools should be encouraged.”
“I am committed to addressing the above issues whenever possible and recognize that there is a need for better communications and a stress that information related to ongoing issues should be written and readily available,” he said.
D’Adamo said he is on the fence about allowing cannabis sales in the city.
“My initial reaction is to ask, other than the money to be received from the state, what benefit sales facility(s) would have for the city of Somers Point,” he said. “The reality is sales will be available in a neighboring community and those sales, wherever made, are in a highly regulated environment. Without further details, I am currently not in favor but will have an open mind to hear proposals.”
Ward 2, Mike Owen: City needs a five-year plan to build new city hall
SOMERS POINT — In Ward 2, Councilman Mike Owen is facing a challenge from Carl D’Adamo, a second matchup of the pair.
Owen, 55, was elected unopposed in 2019 and is seeking his second term. He works as an environmental engineering technician for MWH Constructors at the federal superfund site known as Price’s Pit in Pleasantville.
He and his wife of 30 years, Darleen, have two daughters, both graduates of Mainland Regional High School. He grew up in Linwood, attended Seaview Elementary School and graduated from MRHS in 1986. After earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Widener University, he got married and moved to Somers Point in 1992.
Owen is a member of committees overseeing the hospital, recreation, historical society, public works, parking and economic development.
He said the top issue for the city is creating a five-year plan for building a new city hall with a combination of public and private partnerships, as well as acquiring any funds or grants from the county, state and federal governments.
“Such partnerships with City Council, city administrators, city engineers, city accountants and the rest of the administration can assist in bringing things to fruition for a new facility,” he said. “Obtaining the necessary funds would also otherwise alleviate the costs to the taxpayers of the city.”
Owen said he wants to “give back to the community and make a difference as a homeowner and as a parent who has been raising kids in the city.”
“I want to be a voice of the community along with experience in finance and environmental engineering. To further help make the community a better place to live, I actively seek out opportunities to volunteer, listen to others, offer assistance when needed, try to find the answers to those questions if they can’t be answered right away when asked publicly,” Owen said. “All in all, I strive to make living in Somers Point a better place for family and create economic growth with business here in town.”
He said his education and work experience lend themselves to serving on City Council.
“My BS in business administration and background in environmental engineering allows me to understand all business decisions made within City Hall and to comprehend budgets and how daily transactions are conducted with city administration. This skill set makes me a valuable addition to the City Council team,” he said.
He worked for the Somers Point Sewer Authority for more than three years in collection systems and for 22 years in industrial wastewater treatment, which he said is relevant to the storm water management and resiliency issue affecting the city as the ocean level rises.
Owen said he would like to see the Somers Point Arts Commission make good use of the youth center and it be made available for citizens of all ages.
“This facility could offer art lessons in addition to a small gallery that would be accessible and available to the public for free to display,” he said. “The facility can serve as an open canvas for future ideas.”
He suggested the city install solar panels on public structures, switch to electric trash trucks or shift to natural gas like the Atlantic County Utilities Authority fleet of vehicles to “keep costs down for a green future.”
Regarding cannabis sales, Owen said the issue must be approached with caution.
“Two aspects spring to mind when thinking about this: the monetary impact and, more importantly, the social impact,” Owen said. “As such, there are still more questions than there are answers to move forward with regarding these aspects.”
He said the state moved too quickly to decriminalize cannabis for recreational use and expects more regulations in the future.
Owen said the Economic Development Advisory Committee solicited information via an online questionnaire but he doesn’t think the response was adequate to gauge public opinion. He suggested not rushing into anything, instead waiting to see what happens in other places before deciding whether to move forward.
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By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff