Dec. 24--ATLANTIC CITY -- City Council voted to eliminate the city's public safety director position, following a testy, chaotic half-hour standoff Monday over parliamentary procedure.
At issue is a proposal to eliminate the job currently held by police department veteran William Glass, 65, effective Jan. 31. He is the supervisor of the city's police and fire departments.
Glass declined comment on the vote afterward.
About two dozen police and fire officials attended Monday's meeting, the last one of the year, sitting in the rear of council chambers. The heads of both departments' unions spoke up for Glass.
Chris Emmell, the president of the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 198, told council he was "in total support of Willie Glass." Emmell said he admired Glass's work habits and said Glass was good for the fire department and the city.
"I don't think that anyone can argue the reasonableness and fairness of Director Glass," said Paul Barbera, president of the Policemen's Benevolent Association Local 24. Barbera said Glass improved the relationship between the unions and council.
Mayor-Elect Donald Guardian has said he was inclined to leave the position vacant, although Police Chief Ernest Jubilee's November retirement left him wanting a transition period. Councilmembers have previously taken issue with Glass' pay. He was hired in 2011 at $90,000. Glass also has a $106,000 police pension after serving 27 years with Atlantic City police.
When council first proposed the ordinance in early December, Councilman George Tibbitt said, "We have two chiefs making a half-million dollars between them. They should be able to run the departments. If they can't, then we'll look into that situation."
Council's vote Monday was convoluted. At the meeting, Councilman Marty Small asked to be named sponsor. When council agreed, he then proposed to pull the ordinance off the agenda. His move sparked a spirited half-hour discussion on Small's move, the nature of respect and parliamentary procedure.
Other councilmembers sought to bring it back on for a vote. "I think you're misinterpreting the rules," Tibbitt said.
Small shouted back, "I think you're misinterpreting the rules!" while angrily pointing at Tibbitt.
Other councilmembers brought it back, and City Council President William Marsh eventually called the vote over a protesting Small, who complained as they voted, "I can't believe that y'all don't know the rules! It's a disgrace!"
The measure passed 7-2.
The ordinance also deals with unfilled police positions, and a decision to bring city code in line with the decision to have a 330-person police department, down from 476.
The positions council eliminated were all open and unfilled, including 87 officers, nine sergeants, six captains and one deputy chief. It does not affect current police staff.
A related Fire Department cleanup ordinance was pulled earlier this month.
In other news, council honored outgoing Mayor Lorenzo Langford by designating his residential street, Monroe Avenue, as "Rennie's Way," placing a historical marker near his home and formally thanking him for his time in office with a resolution.
Langford, a Democrat, won election three times, ultimately serving as mayor nine years between 2002 and 2013. Langford leaves office at the end of the month after losing to Guardian, a Republican, in November.
Langford spoke for about 15 minutes, rapidly recounting the highlights of his time in office. These were large and small, including everything from the city's pioneering needle-exchange program, which paved the way for a broader state program designed to reduce diseases spread by intravenous drug users who use unclean needles, to sister-city relationships with cities in Korea, China and France.
"I wanted to read that because all too often our records are defined by others who are detractors," Langford concluded.
"I am deeply humbled that you have bestowed upon me these honors," Langford told City Council as he ended. "You may or may not have seen the last of me. We will see what God has in store."
Contact Derek Harper:
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Copyright 2013 - The Press of Atlantic City, Pleasantville, N.J.
