Retirements

Ed Sidley was retiring. The Police Chief, who spent 25 years on the force and was also Volunteer Fire Chief, fell off a rig in the firehouse in 2008. His head hit another truck and then the cement floor. He was alone and could not get up. He suffered a serious concussion. He was out of work for months. Captain Robert Conway took over his responsibilities when he was out and would replace him upon his retirement. Ed had too many well-wishers. The Borough asked people to email Ed rather than call or visit so he could recover quietly. Sidley returned to duty for another year and a half.

There was more stress when Sidley wanted to replace a retiring patrolman who was out on disability by promoting a special officer to patrolman. Thomas Crawley and Ken Farrell led a spirited discussion at the borough council. They felt there should be no decision without a financial analysis. Probationary hires started at around $34,000, and with experience, climbed to $94,000, not including inflation or OT. Councilman Farrell wanted to compare the total staff size to other towns, as discussed in a prior meeting. Councilman Neimeyer noted it was not going to happen, and that overtime would be reduced by the hire. The borough spent $1.5 million annually on the Police department.

Sea Girt had 12 full-time officers plus special officers, even in winter, to cover vacations. Sidley testified that in the past, the Police Chief recommended a replacement, and it was granted. This argument was breaking that protocol. The council eventually permitted the hiring of the replacement officer.

SGPD Website shows the expanded force vs 1931 below

The tension of the job continued. There were seven burglaries in the late spring of 2010; the most since a ‘cat burglar’ hit homes in the late 1980’s It should be noted that every robbery was in an unlocked house. Despite police education, locking doors in Sea Girt was not a regular practice, particularly in the summer with a full house.

The growth in the department from the 30s to 2010 was impressive.

Chief Sidley announced he would leave at the end of 2010. He was celebrated for his contributions to the community. SGES hailed him as a Patriot and held a student parade and assembly in his honor. Council proposed a parting retroactive raise of 3.7%. There was speculation that this would increase his pension.

While everyone loved Ed, the fiscal decision was met with grumbling about taxes and responsibility. Ken Farrell voted no, citing the 48 billion dollar unfunded liability in the state pension system. “This kind of thing, which has gone on for years, is part of the problem.”

The Beach, which had a surplus in 2009, had none in 2010. Dunes were successfully installed east of the boardwalk.

With payments to DPW for work done on the beach of $110,000, the Council moved to raise beach fees again. Season badges went from $80-$100.

There was an impression that the Council was spending unwisely, and for the first time in years, four Republican candidates filed for the two seats being vacated by Ray Bogan and Thomas Crawley.

Two other retirements in 2010 ended long tenures with the town. Ann Ryan, the town’s librarian since the library was built at the station in 1991, retired, and Greg Ryan, a 1970 hire of the SGES, left his post after 40 years. Since there was only one second-grade class in the school, Greg had gotten to know just about every student who had ever walked the halls in Sea Girt.