Atlantic freeholders delay vote
on
partner benefits
By
THOMAS BARLAS, pressofAtlanticCity.com, 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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