Atlantic freeholders
delay vote
on partner benefits
By THOMAS BARLAS,
pressofAtlanticCity.com, From the Web, January 25, 2006
The Atlantic County Board of Chosen
Freeholders on Tuesday delayed a final vote to extend benefits to county
employees' domestic partners, a decision that sets up possible battles between
supporters and opponents of the measure.
People on opposite sides of the issue turned out at the meeting Tuesday, calling
the proposal everything from an extension of human rights to an approval of gay
lifestyle.
The measure would in part apply to county employees who are 18 and older and in
same-sex partnerships.
“It's not the person, it's the sin,” said Cologne resident Bob Murray.
“What's next?” asked Chrissie Martin, a West Atlantic City resident representing
the American Family Association. “Where do you draw the line? What about
marriage?”
Martin said she also was concerned about possible financial repercussions for
the county if the measure is approved.
No cost estimate was available for adding the benefit. The freeholders
said they hope to get that information before deciding on the measure.
The measure had the support of Mullica Township resident Larry Angel, who said
his brother was gay and died of AIDS 15 years ago. He said same-sex
partners should be considered families as much as heterosexual partners are.
“Maybe it takes something happening to someone close to you ... to be receptive
to the issue of diversity of the human family,” he said.
The freeholders, who received the proposal from Atlantic County Executive Dennis
Levinson on Monday, voted 6-2 to table the proposal, with several board members
indicating they want more time to study it and consider any ramifications.
Freeholders Joseph Filipina, James Curcio, Alisa Cooper, Joseph Kelly, the Rev.
Lawton Nelson and Sue Schilling voted to table, with Freeholders Thomas Russo
and Frank Sutton casting dissenting tallies.
“We are taking a great step in voting on this resolution,” said Nelson, who
moved to table the resolution. “I am wondering if this not an emergency.”
Nelson said the freeholders need legal advice and more time to review the
proposal before casting a final vote.
Silipena, the freeholder board chairman, suggested members hold a closed meeting
to discuss the measure — something Freeholder Solicitor Dennis Tuohy said
couldn't be done.
“It has to be open to the public,” Tuohy said.
Silipena then said the freeholders would review the proposal during their
different committee meetings.
The freeholders set no time for when they would again take up the proposal as a
board.
When they do, they might have more people attending the meeting.
Martin and Murray said the delay gives them time to bring more people out in
opposition to the proposal.
Levinson said Monday the decision to propose the measure was prompted by a
request by a county employee. He said it also falls in line with the
state's 2-year-old Domestic Partnership Act, which gives counties and
municipalities the power to expand pension and health-care benefits to the
registered domestic partners of their employees.
Levinson also said Monday the proposal also includes heterosexual couples age 62
and older who have entered into “enduring, committed” relationships.
The proposal requires employees to show proof that they're registered under the
Domestic Partnership Act. Some other stipulations require the employees to
prove they share a home and bank accounts
THOMAS BARLAS Staff Writer, (609) 272-7201
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