Perillo succeeded longtime Mayor Bud Knight in July. During his first three months, Perillo has made what is arguably his most important appointment in James Rutala as the new business administrator. The choice won praise from council and civic groups alike.
Perillo launched a new e-mail notification system to send agendas and announcements to residents and out-of-towners. Now he gets about four e-mails per day from city residents through the improved Web site, he said.
And he focused his efforts on updating zoning in the city's downtown to preserve local businesses.
“There really haven't been any controversies,” Perillo said Friday. “I'm pleased with the relationship I've established with the City Council. That's important.”
This is not to say Perillo and council are in complete accord.
Some members of council questioned the mayor's appointment of local attorney Don Charles as the city's unpaid emergency management coordinator. And council rejected a move to hire a new marketing director to promote the island across the region. Perillo is not giving up on that idea.
“We didn't do as good a job of explaining that position to council,” Perillo said. “When you look at a city like Ocean City that has the dependence we do on tourism, communications and marketing are very, very important.”
In coming months, Perillo said he would like to expand offerings such as beach tags and concert tickets over the city's Web site. And he plans to examine zoning in the city's hotel-motel and marine village harbor districts.
Joann DelVescio, director of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, said Perillo has embraced the role of city figurehead by appearing at various events. This role is especially important in a resort town.
“He's been very visible in the community. He's out at a number of functions, getting out and meeting people,” she said.
DelVescio said the administration has been willing to listen to local business owners.
Joe Somerville attended the mayor's inauguration in July at the Ocean City Music Pier. The city is suing Somerville and several other residents to thwart their efforts to tie city spending to the federal cost of living.
Somerville noted that the mayor's first 100 days took place over the summer, typically a slow time of year for city initiatives.
“I have an open mind about the mayor. He hasn't done anything that terrible or that great (for me) to make a decision,” Somerville said. “He hasn't been hit with any critical issue yet.”
Council President Jack Thomas agreed. Thomas said the mayor has made few missteps so far. Thomas said a better measure will come when Perillo introduces his first budget and negotiates his first employee contract.
“That will be the true test. It will give us an indication where the city is going,” Thomas said. “It's hard for me to tell on the first 100 days.”
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