Form of Government

In 1900, a hurricane devastated Galveston, Texas, claiming over 6000 lives.  In total) the city lost 10,000 in population.  In rebuilding the city, municipal leaders concentrated power in a five-member Commission with each Commissioner heading up a different city department. The new Government successfully rebuilt the city, and the success of this effort provoked national attention to the new type of government organization. The Commission  form of government officially reached New Jersey with the passage of the Walsh Act in 1911. Of the 566 municipalities in New Jersey, 32 including Cape May Point, have the Commissioner form of government.

In a five-member Commission, each Commissioner heads up one of the following departments:

                                           Public Affairs

                                           Public Safety

                                           Public Works

                                           Parks and Public Property

                                           Revenue and Finance

In three-member Commissions, as in Caps May Point, the Departments of Public Affairs and Public Safety are combined, as are the Departments of Public Works and Parks and Public Property.

The Commissioners have the Executive, Administrative, Judicial, and Legislative powers over their respective departments. As a group, the Commissioners have complete control over all affairs of the municipality. The mayor is chosen by the three Commissioners immediately

following the election. Mayoral duties include chairing municipal meetings and general oversight of community affairs. The three-Commissioner form of government has been very successful for Cape May Point and will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

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