City Clerk Shannon Romano speaks with Purchasing Agent Paul Baldini Jr. while working at City Hall on Saturday.
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Who says government employees never work on weekends?
On Saturday, the lights were on in City Hall, Sea Isle City's municipal employees were sitting at their desks and the building was open for business.
“Actually, we’ve had quite a few people,” City Clerk Shannon Romano said of the number of visitors to City Hall on Saturday morning.
Members of the public stopped in to pay their taxes, buy beach tags, dog licenses or rental permits and to visit the office of Vital Statistics, Romano noted.
Sea Isle is planning to keep City Hall open on four Saturdays this year between 8:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to make it easier for the public to conduct business. The other Saturdays will be announced by the city.
“We’re open for people who normally can’t get here on the weekdays,” said Neil Byrne, Sea Isle’s construction official.
“They appreciate the convenience of being able to conduct some of their business on the weekends. It allows people who aren’t here during the week to have access to city services,” Byrne added.
City Clerk Shannon Romano speaks with Purchasing Agent Paul Baldini Jr. while working at City Hall on Saturday.
Across the street from City Hall, visitors were also stopping by at Sea Isle’s Welcome Center on Saturday to buy seasonal beach tags.
A damp Saturday at the shore, with temperatures inching into the 50s, didn’t discourage people from buying the ultimate must-have for the summer season.
Steve and Susan Petruzzi made the 45-minute drive to Sea Isle from their home in Sicklerville, N.J., to pick up six beach tags for their family.
Steve Petruzzi contrasted the smooth drive they had to Sea Isle during a quiet winter weekend to the hectic and bustling summer season at the shore.
“On the summer weekends, you get even get on this island,” he said of the tourist crowds.
The Petruzzis appreciated that the Welcome Center is open on Saturdays during winter to allow them to buy beach tags without having to fight the crowds.
“It is nice to have it open,” Susan said.
Susan and Steve Petruzzi buy beach tags from Welcome Center worker Brock Rambo during Saturday hours.
The Welcome Center’s Saturday hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Beach tags are currently selling at the preseason price of $25 each through May 15. After May 15, they will increase to the regular price of $30.
In addition to buying the six beach tags, Susan Petruzzi also spent $20 for one of the turtle-themed T-shirts that are sold by Sea Isle’s Environmental Commission to raise money to help protect diamondback terrapins and preserve the fragile seashore environment.
When asked whether she bought the long-sleeved T-shirt for a friend or family member, Susan laughed and confided, “No, that’s for me.”
