This video captures a tense public comment segment from the Margate Commission meeting of June 4, 2026.
Margate resident actively questions Mayor Collins and Solicitor Abbott, Business Admin Moran regarding handling of an illegal property conversion at Margate Gardens and the current status of the city’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Margate Gardens Controversy.
Resident asking why a formal internal investigation has not been launched into how developer Steve Baglivo successfully bypassed Margate City inspectors to build 12 residential units instead of the permitted six. He argues that inspections should have caught obvious red flags, such as duplicate appliances.
The Margate Solicitor countered that no separate investigation is underway because the matter is already tied up in active litigation. Abbott emphasized that Margate took the developer Baglivo to court and won a superior court order forcing the de-conversion of the illegal units, though an appeal is expected.
Margate Business Admin Pat Moran acknowledged that past inspection oversight “messed up” and that those failures are being handled within the litigation discovery process.
CFO Status and Financial Reports
Resident also criticizes absence of regular financial reports at meetings and inquires about the city’s CFO.
Admin Moran clarifies that a temporary Margate CFO was hired and was on board when the budget passed on May 7th, but the city does not currently have a permanent, full-time CFO attending meetings.
Public commenter expresses deep frustration over the lack of immediate transparency and references an ongoing lawsuit filed by a former CFO against the city.
Margate needed to keep a much closer eye on builder Steve Baglivo as he built the Margate Gardens apt complex. After 2 years of expensive litigation, a judge says Baglivo built 12, not 6 units
Also discussed: Why the lack of Margate financial update during meetings? Where’s the new Margate CFO ?
How did Margate inspectors miss all the early signs of 12 units being built and rented out by developer Baglivo?
The Margate Gardens case reveals an enforcement gap: although Margate Administration claims inspectors identified and ordered removal of “double refrigerators,” Margate allegedly watched as 6 illegal units were added to the approved 6 units.
Audio overview: Margate 6 or 12?
Margate leadership too often utilizes active litigation. A Superior Court deconversion order being used as an administrative shield to bypass a formal internal investigation.
Did a former Margate construction inspector look the other way? Deflecting systemic liability onto former construction official, Margate City avoids addressing administrative failures that allowed unauthorized occupancy to persist despite multiple site visits and public warnings.
Financial Administration and CFO Appointment Status
Margate’s reliance on non-permanent CFO—who oversaw May 7 budget approval but remains absent from public meetings—has created fiscal accountability vacuum.
Business Admin Moran unable to immediately provide specific hiring date of CFO. Asked that they discuss after meeting. (private, off the record)
Residents want regular Margate financial reports, legislative transparency.
Lawsuit filed by former CFO against city, suggests significant risk to administrative continuity.
In June of 2024. Margate City Solicitor John Scott Abbott defended the legality of the Margate Gardens complex, asserting the 9710 Ventnor Avenue property contained only six approved units.
However, this claim was dismantled by subsequent legal proceedings, which confirmed the developer illegally bypassed building codes to construct 12 separate units
This Moran guy is a total disaster. How can someone with his track record of incompetence and the disgusting way he’s treated women het this job in Margate. Obviously some local NJ political party connections and money is involved. Follow the money and you find the truth.
This matter – 6 or 12, should be sent to the Attorney General at the SONJ and let them investigate all of these phonies.
The answer is simple! The inspectors work for the city. We cannot sue the city, therefore inspectors have no incentive to do a legal inspection. If they were held accountable for their actions they would not be able to turn a blind eye. This law encourages our inspectors to take bribes, something as simple as a sandwich might do.
When the City of Margate became aware Baglivo was building 12 instead of 6, why didn’t the City go to a judge, get a search warrant subpoena, and inspect the property? Duh! Instead Solicitor Abbott got to bill a TON of $$$. Who is not thinking here???
The Slimy Solicitor is awfully defensive…. He is supposed to be professional and he receives a hefty salary from the residents!
Abbott from the beginning was defending Baglivo and Goldstein. Baglivo’s defense team is trying to use Abbott’s comments at public meetings to get out of his losing the judgement against him. He certainly didn’t help the city when this started, but now is saying the opposite, that Baglivo has zoning violations. Baglivo’s deception from the start was obvious, but our solicitor continued to back him without getting the facts. It’s hard to believe his contract was renewed!
Margate’s leadership desires to maintain control of the decision meeting and budget process currently in the hands of Collins and Horn.
Maury, please be quiet because they don’t need your comments.
An investigation will probably uncover many embarrassing matters related to how our town oversees planning, construction and vendor selection. It may also uncover the relationship of builders and contractors like Baglivo to the Horn Electric business and the “hardware store”.
An investigation may expose relationships and the phone call chain used to influence favorable decisions made by zoning officials, lawyers and city inspectors.
While we are focused on the Baglivo situation, please remember our past which had similar problems one were brushed away.
Remember the debate of the Lamberti’s build, parking lot decisions impacting needy areas, purchases to support the Mayor’s neighborhood, and non-decisions impacting the Johnnie’s area. And of course a decor give a 50 year parking lease in an area we need parking!
Do you remember the Hahn house being built wrong and was required to be torn down? Oversight? Inspections? Variances? So many questions that deserve answers impacting our quality of life but, if kept in Margate, will never happen.
A transparent conversation benefits all to understand decisions but, if kept in Margate, will never happen.
So drink your Tequilla and keep watching our city by the sea disappear and become Wildwood with very little parking and a 4am party.
This is the worst government leadership I have ever seen. Closed door meetings. Lies! Lies! Lies! Moran is a clown. Collin’s a disgrace and should step down. Horn, has no idea how a government works. She thinks it’s her small business that she can do anything she wants. Vote these criminals out.