February 04, 2016
Call it a belated and partial victory for frugalness following decades of free-spending self-indulgence in Atlantic City.
At the point of a spear held by state government and Senate President Stephen Sweeney with their plans for a takeover of city spending, members of City Council have agreed to relinquish their city-supplied cars.
Finally.
Council vehicles have been a pet perk for council members in the 17-square-mile town of fewer than 40,000 residents stretched over just four miles end-to-end.
Council cars came with a change in the form of government in 1982 that replaced commissioners with nine council members.
There’s been criticism ever since.
In the free-spending 1980s, most members of council drove Dodge Durangos, gas hogs not exactly needed on a flat island with an elevation averaging around 7 feet above sea level.
Council members were able to gas up the vehicles for free at the city’s fuel supply station. There were no restrictions on where council members could take the vehicles.
The city, which spent more than $21,000 per vehicle in recent years, plans to mothball the fleet and then put them up for use by city department workers, donate them to youth charities, or auction them, according to The Press of Atlantic City.
Council balked at a move to likewise strip members of the city administration from the same vehicle benefit.
