21 Jan Borough Meeting Highlights 01-15-2021
Dear West Wildwood Neighbors,
The first monthly borough meeting with the newly elected governing body was held on Friday, January 15th at 7:00 pm via Zoom and more than 30 individuals attended. Mayor Ksiazek, Commissioners Banning and Segrest, and Municipal Clerk Donna Frederick were present. Mayor Ksiazek indicated that Solicitor Bittner was terminated at year-end by the former administration. She has been replaced by Solicitor Matthew Lyons of Gebhardt & Kiefer, PC, who was also present during the meeting.
A significant number of ordinances and resolutions were introduced. Most dealt with annual appointments, awarding of contracts, designation of official newspapers, bank and other items related to the Borough operations. Please refer to the agenda posted on the Borough’s website. Please note original resolution #2021-040 was removed and resolutions #2021-045 and #2021-046 were tabled until the next meeting. The resolutions were then renumbered for consistency.
Commissioner Segrest (Department of Revenue and Finance) reported the 2020 year-end financial closing is in process and once finalized the 2021 budget planning will begin. There are currently no funds available to support any capital projects within the operating budget. The ADA police ramp engineering services will not begin as indicated by the previous administration during the December 17th meeting. Nothing will be started until the cash flow issue is resolved. The sewer bond is being finalized at a very favorable interest rate. Throughout the year, Commissioner Segrest plans to report actual expenditures as compared to budget. He also thanked those taxpayers who have paid their 2021 taxes and sewer rents in advance.
Commissioner Banning (Department of Public Affairs and Public Safety) reported the individual responsible for multiple car burglaries was apprehended as a result of cooperation with the North Wildwood Police Department and homeowners who offered their security surveillance videos.
Mayor Ksiazek (Department of Public Works, Parks and Public Property) reported Public Works activity for the month of December.
With regards to COVID-19 vaccines, Mayor Ksiazek announced Cape May County’s website has been updated https://capemaycountynj.gov/1388/COVID-19-Updates. He encouraged residents to register for the vaccine as soon as possible. This will help the State of NJ determine the number of vaccines required for Cape May County. If you don’t have computer access you can call 1-800-463-6581. The Borough’s website will be updated with this information.
Much of the public comment centered around the West Wildwood School District Feasibility Study, which began prior to 2020 and was recently completed by Stockton University. It examined the impact of students attending Wildwood’s Glenwood Avenue Elementary School and Wildwood Middle School. As a courtesy to the school district, the study can be accessed on the Borough website. Concerns were raised by parents of school-aged children with regards to a possible change for the Borough’s K-8 students. Currently, the Borough’s K-8 students attend North Wildwood’s Margaret Mace Elementary School. Taxpayers were encouraged to attend the next West Wildwood School Board meeting scheduled for Monday, February 8th at 5:00 pm.
The new borough solicitor, Mr. Lyons, is not an employee of the Borough. He and his firm operate under a professional services contract. When asked, he agreed to provide more information to new resolutions as they are announced. He also indicated recent contracts entered into by the Borough are under review for compliance.
We urge you to listen to the audio from the meeting to have a better understanding of actual comments which is available on the CTWWW.org website. These highlights are also available on our website at https://ctwww.org/borough-meeting-highlights-01-15-2021/
Sincerely,
The CTWWW Advisory Council
Trish Sinnott – President
Mary Anne Welsh – Secretary
Jim Bannan – Director
Susan Czwalina – Treasurer
Vacant – Director
Vacant – Director
Vacant – Director