Herald & Lantern 26 January 'B3

24 j

Avalon Mayor Bows Out

< From Page I > and painting the house. ' and angry about potholes. Armacost got a petition, and ran in the nominally nonpartisan election for commissioner v He was elected, although many 0 wondered how a Baltimore city slicker • ever slid in” Thefe was no commissioners office in those days Armacost sat on a soap box in the borough garage PROCEDURE CALLED for the three commissioners to elect the highest votegetter mayor. Armacost said, but he wasn't interested Instead he teamed up with Col Edgar Bell to elect Bell, thereby earning the animosity of the third commissioner, Robert E Bruce When Bell had to resign because of poor health two years later. Bell and Armacost .^appointed Armacost mayor But Bell's replacement. Loyd C Riggal, teamed up with Bruce and frequently thwarted him "I couldn't promote anything,” he recollected "If I wanted $50,000 for concrete. I got $25,000 ” The hard feelings peaked In 1978 when Armacost sold his hom^ and went to live temporarily in an Ocean City condominium he owned His fellow commis sioners tried to remove him from office as

a nonresident

Armacost got his day in court, "one of the worst days in my life ” But after he pointed out that he had reserved his Avalon phone number and licensed his cars and dogs in Avalon, the judge gave him 90 days to get back into the borough The attack on him backfired. Armacost said "The people were up in arms" Bruce resigned on Sept 1 and Kiggan was recalled in the election of Sept 26 J "I WAS A DEDICATED I (lot in those days," said Armacost "I started out at 7 am. toured the whole town and made a list of potholes and bad curbs It ran two to three pages every day "I worked the tractor and raked the heath on weekends because no one else wanted to do it.” The commissioner job in those days paid $2,500 a year The mayor's position pays

$5,000 today

"My wife and I figured it up once.” he said "and it cost me $17,000 to be mayor " The biggest expense"] Tickets to Republican functions "I'm not much for selling.' Armacost conceded He simply

pays for the tickets he's supposed to sell. THAT’S BEEN a rewarding attitude for Armacost when it comes to the local Lions Club. He buys $750 worth of tickets every year. Last year he won a new car; this year a $2,600 trip "They used to raffle a Lincoln," Armacost laughed, "and I said, ‘Get a smaller car and a trip.' That’s the year I won a Mercury Lynx .” Armacost gave his station wagon, valued at $1,875. to the borough Recreation Department "because the kids didn’t have a vehicle to go to ball games " He also continued to drive his Lincoln. Cars and diamonds were his trademarks. Armacost arrived in Avalon in a convertible and with a diamond ring on each hand, a diamond watch and a 13-diamond horseshoe pin in his tie "They called me Diamond Jim when I came to town," he laughed. The original lie pin was stolen from him in a hotel in Maryland After his wife, Marion, died in May of 1980, he had a new one made from a 47-diamond pin she’d worn. AVALON CHANGED from a commissioner to a council form of government in 1979 Armacost attributes that partly to a parking meter controversy. The other commissioners wanted meters; Armacost was opposed The meters were already installed when the commissioner bowed to public pressure, removed the meters and eventually sold them to Ocean City. "Because of all that crap, the people went to the mayor-council form of government." said Armacost "I get along very nicely with the council members." he added He did veto a code of ethics because of two sentences prohibiting public employes from promoting political candidates, but council overrode him. He voices strong doubts about the need for a mayor "I FEEL LIKE I'm the dummy mayor," he said. "We have a council president who could just as well do it The council is the legislative group. I make no laws I vote only if there’s a tie or a vacancy to fill. Council must consent to everything I do ” He cites his age and health fof his decision not to seek reclection "I'll be 74 in May." he said "I'm not as healthy as I used to be by a helluva lot. (He has had "three or four" heart attacks and. disregarding his doctor's advice, con-

tinued to smoke “a couple packs a day.”) "It would not be fair to the people if I ran I do/i’t feel like I'm making my salary right now. I’m tired and worn out. Give some younger person a chance." Armacost calls the borough's streetA, street lighting, and recreation program his major accomplishments. He sees the Avalon of the future filled, and worries. "Our town is growing," he said "There are still a few hundred lots left.,1 want to see the town full but I’m worried about it." ('A SEWAGE TREATMENT also is^one of his concerns. The borough has installed new water and sewer lined and will have to connect to a regional treatment plant offshore which will pipe the effluent into the ocean. I can see the handwriting on the wall,” said Armacost. "Uncle Sam will say no more dumping. Then what are they going to charge these people I" "They" is the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA), not one of the mayor s favorites "It’s a big political deal." he said "They get a damn good salary and if nephew Joe Blow wants a job, he gets it." That is not the way Armacost says hr operates "I never even let a salesman take me out to breakfast, lunch or dinner," he said PART OF Ellsworth Armacost seems to have died when his wife succumbed 2'v years ago. seven months before their 50th anniversary. He talks of her frequently, how "devastated" he is His eyes water and his voice cracks A while back, lonely, he was ready to remarry a childhood acquaintance, a lifelong friend of his wife, who recommended her to him if she died first The lady lives in North Carolina. She wouldn't move to Avalon Mayor Armacost wouldn't leave ft estauranteurs (From Page 1) chamber felt squeezed and asked the two associations to withdraw their requesLs. Patterson said Garrabrant agreed. Ms Scanlon refused Each association will prepare a letter outiinning its position to accompany the ballots the chamber intends to mail in ear ly February, Patterson said

News—

Digest (From Page 14) Thornton, 3-1

VILLAS — Three of the four Lower Township Republican Clubs agreed Jan. 19 to' recognize Freeholder Gerald Thornton, rather than Maurice Catarcio, as the official township GOP leader. Pledging support of their organizations were: Nina Senlick, president of the Villas Women’s Republican Club; Elsie Anderson, presi dent of the Bayshore Women’s Republican Club; and Jack Moran, vice president of the Men’s New Regular Republican Club of the Villas.

Top Cops OCEAN CITY — The city police department has received a high rating for organization and management, according to a recently released state Department of Community Affairs efficiency analysis

Twins Charged OCEAN CITY — Two local 19-year-old twin brothers have been charged in connection with 12 burglaries that occurred here between September and December Thomas and Sonny Jeffries of the 4600 block of Asbury Ave , reportedly also may face charges for burglaries in Upper Township and Somers Point Vandals Strike ERMA - Vandals damaged items in the band room and library of Lower Cape May Regional High School Monday night. January 24, according to Lower Township Police. A 35mm camera was reported stolen On Second Thought COURT HOUSE — County freeholders this week droped without comment earlier announced plars to increase their pay 25 percent from $12,000 a year to $15,000.

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