(Atlantic) The Atlantic City Council approved a 25-year franchise agreement with Interstate Light and Power Company following a public hearing on Wednesday.
In June, the City Council passed a resolution to adopt a Revenue Purpose Statement to use expenditures or revenues from a Natural Gas Service Finance Fee. Atlantic City Administrator John Lund says this would address the long-term funding and personnel issues facing the Atlantic Police Department.
He says over the four years of the current Union agreement, the City’s wages for a senior police officer is $1.70 less than the average wage in the pool of communities with populations between 4,925 and 8,373. Lund says Atlantic’s pay rank was 18 out of 20, meaning Atlantic is not competitive for a community of this size. Lund says implementing a five-percent natural gas franchise fee is the most transparent and responsible way to pay for it. He says this will diversify the City’s operating revenues, making them less dependent on property taxes to fund the Police Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement, Animal Shelter, Airport, Library, Parks and Rec, swimming pool, and Finance Administration.
The council also approved the resignation of Wyatt Adderton. The city hired Adderton in February. Adderton was a Park Ranger in Georgia before accepting the position. In May, Adderton submitted his resignation and was asked to meet with the Personnel and Finance Committee to discuss some issues he encountered within the department and city. The Council did not comment on his resignation.
