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Atlantic City safety director would get extra power
Council tables measure creating controversial post
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ATLANTIC CITY - The Langford administration introduced the prospect of a new public safety director Wednesday that would have almost unlimited powers over the city's police and fire divisions. But whether the the mayor will get what he wants is still unknown.
City Council tabled a resolution to re-create the position at its meeting, intending to send the bill through its Public Safety and Revenue and Finance committees before voting.
"We just need to look into it a bit more," said Councilman Timothy Mancuso, who pulled the item from the agenda Wednesday.
Before the meeting, the administration revised the ordinance to create the position to include details of the potential director's authority over the city's police and fire chiefs, giving the position powers that police Chief John J. Mooney deemed illegal.
According to the measure, the director would set policies and assignments for the daily operation of both the police and fire divisions and wield the power to discipline public safety officials and employees. The director would also have control over both divisions' budgets, including holding approval power over all bills and expenses.
Despite Mooney's complaints, the bill also claims that the outline of the director's duties is consistent with state statute.
"I'm not a lawyer," Mooney said after the meeting, "but the document that was presented tonight is not legal."
Mayor Lorenzo Langford, who did not attend the meeting, implored City Council to vote in favor of the position in a memo sent Wednesday.
"Given the tremendous outcry from residents ... we have an obligation to make every attempt to restore confidence in our public safety divisions," Langford wrote.
Langford referenced the high volume of complaints at City Council meetings from residents alleging police brutality. He said appointing a public safety director would give the residents what they want.
Langford, who reinstituted the position at the start of his first term in 2002, began publicly supporting the idea during his mayoral campaign in 2008. However, his plans hit a bump when Mayor Scott Evans approved new contracts for Mooney and Brooks that included a clause prohibiting the enlistment of a public safety director.
Mooney and Brooks have threatened to sue if the contract is violated. Langford's attorneys have since said the stipulations have no authority.
Langford's memo also attempts to downplay the cost of adding a new director, noting that other directors in the administration, such the director of the Finance Department, have not been appointed to keep salaries down.
"This move should not be perceived as a burden to taxpayers," the mayor wrote.
Councilman George Tibbitt, head of the city's Public Safety Committee, said he supports hiring a public safety director, as long as the mayor has the option to go outside of the city with his appointment.
"We want this to be a nationwide search, not just limited to 48 blocks," he said.
Councilman Dennis Mason, irrate over the last-minute changes to the bill, sat in his car after the meeting and marveled at the changes made to the measure.
"Did you see this thing?" Mason asked a reporter while holding up the bill. "It's bull.
"How are we supposed to vote on something we see three minutes before the meeting?" the councilman added as he picked up a cigarette, put it in his mouth backward and nearly lit the filter.
E-mail Michael Clark:
Posted in Atlantic_city on Thursday, July 9, 2009 5:00 am Updated: 5:38 am. | Tags: Atlantic City, Safetypoll
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