**** Borough Meeting Highlights 05-05-2023

30 May **** Borough Meeting Highlights 05-05-2023

Dear West Wildwood Neighbors,

The fifth monthly borough meeting of 2023 was held on Friday, May 5th at 7:00 pm in the borough hall.  Approximately 20 people were in attendance.   Mayor Ksiazek, Commissioners Banning and Segrest, Municipal Clerk Donna Frederick, Deputy Clerk Carl O’Hala and Solicitor Lyons were present.

The director for the Board of Commissioners of Cape May County, Len Desiderio and Assistant County Administrator Ron Simone, awarded West Wildwood with $400,000 of COVID-19 related funds that must be used for infrastructure improvements.  The borough intends to improve the north end of Neptune Avenue with a manual flood gate and a new bulkhead.  It will be necessary to issue a bond to pay for the improvements, however, the county will reimburse the borough once the improvements are completed.

The Clerk announced the following:

• The Annual Storm Water Report, due May 1^st was submitted.
• The Recycling Tonnage Grant, due April 30th was submitted.
• The DEP notified the borough that an application was submitted for bulkhead replacement, pilings, and docks at 527 West Poplar Avenue.

ORDINANCE #609 (2023) – second reading/public hearing: Adopt flood plain regulations management which repeals Ordinance 561 (2017). The planning board has reviewed the ordinance and considers it consistent with the Master Plan.

ORDINANCE #611 (2023) – second reading/public hearing: Designate restricted areas on borough property, limited to authorized employees to safeguard public records and provide a safe workplace for employees and borough officials.

ORDINANCE #612 (2023) – first reading/introduction: Amending land use of streets and sidewalks.  This ordinance should help control and limit what people can leave on the street, for example, construction materials, and impede traffic and parking.  The ordinance must be reviewed by the planning board prior to the second reading.  (2nd reading 07/07/23)

RESOLUTIONS #2023-045 through #2023-051 relate to the following:

• Appointing (2) full-time police officers to the West Wildwood Police Department.
• Authorizing a person-to-person transfer of the liquor license from West Wildwood Liquor, Inc. to Deep Sea Liquor, LLC.
• Authorizing the borough engineer to apply for the 2024 NJ DOT local aid program for improvements to Maple Avenue from E Avenue to the west end of Maple.
• Authorizing the appointment of a Deputy CFO.
• Authorizing the appointment of alternate registrars.
• Authorizing a subrecipient grant agreement between the Borough of West Wildwood and Cape May County for $400,000 of COVID-19 relief funds.

The commissioner reports were presented, and they will be available in their entirety on the Borough website.  If you would like a copy of any report, please request it via our email address below or OPRA it directly from Borough Hall.

PUBLIC WORKS (work orders):

• Venice Park (Lake and Venice Avenues) will be closed and fenced in during construction.
• The brakes on the street sweeper have been repaired and the normal operating schedule should resume shortly. The schedule is the 3^rd Wednesday (southside of island) and Thursday (northside of island) of the month.  This schedule is subject to change.
• The sprinkler systems are operational, and the lawn equipment has been repaired.
• Handicap parking spaces have been created in the borough.
• Curbs have been painted.
• Kayak racks are installed and open for rental. Call borough hall for additional information 609-522-4845.
• The sewer pump has been repaired.
• Clean up of sea grass at the beach and bulkhead.
• Holiday decorations are in the process of being repaired.
• The mayor will attend a dredge meeting on May 11
• More benches have been ordered for the playground and should be in within a few weeks.
• Spring clean-up day is Saturday, May 20^th from 9:30-11:30 and will include the town and marsh area. The clean-up will finish up at the 26^th Street marina with lunch provided for the volunteers.  (Has been postponed and will be rescheduled later).
• In the process of interviewing and hiring a new public works employee.

ENGINEERING NEWS:

• The Lake Avenue project may begin before Memorial Day if construction materials are received and should be completed by mid-June.
• The borough received $76,000 from the State of NJ for park improvements. The UEZ funds have also been requested.  Once notification of the UEZ award is received, the scope of the park improvement project will be determined.
• A NJ DOT award of $187,000 to resurface the north end of J Avenue was received.
• This year’s NJ DOT application will be to resurface the west end of Maple Avenue and submitted prior to July 1^st.
• Several projects (Poplar and G Avenues, A Avenue and the handicap ramp at the beach are in the close out phase and waiting for approval and reimbursement of funds.
• Pine Avenue curbs and sidewalks have been replaced. The asphalt work should take about one day, and property owners will be notified.
• The roof at Borough Hall is leaking and in need of repairs or replacement.

FINANCE:

• Minimum data is available from sewer utility (CMCMUA). The expectation is that April data should look favorable.
• Approximately $16,000 is left over from the USDA grant funds of Poplar Avenue project. The borough will request to apply these funds to the renovation of three manholes at the end of Neptune Avenue.
• A new control panel is needed at the 26^th Street pumping station.
• The Maple Avenue project is in the design phase and once complete the bonding process will begin.

PUBLIC SAFETY (138 calls for service):

• Motor vehicle stops totaled 14 during the month of April as well as 22 parking complaints/violations. In addition, one suspicious vehicle/persons was noted.
• There were seven medical assists/well-being checks and 52 property checks.
• Two police officers will be hired. Matt Zickey is currently in the academy and will be available in September.  Clinton Phearson is fully certified.

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS REMINDERS:

• July 4^th parade will be held on Tuesday, July 4^th beginning at 9:00 am. More information to come.
• Borough wide yard sale will be held on Saturday, June 3^rd. The rain date is Sunday, June 4^th.
• Free bulk trash pick-up is scheduled for Monday, June 5^th and is limited to 5 items per household. Construction debris is not acceptable.
• Kayak racks rental begins on May 1^st. Call the office to reserve your space. (609-522-4845).
• Dogs will not be permitted on the beach as of May 1^st.

 PUBLIC COMMENTS:

• A resident was concerned that two fire hydrants on Poplar Avenue are out of service. The commissioners indicated there is a working hydrant on Poplar at G Avenue in case of an emergency. The fire department is aware of the situation.
• Commissioner Banning discussed the difficulty of retaining police officers in the borough and believes with salaries being some of the lowest in the county, the retention problem will be ongoing. The two police officers who were in the academy and committed to the borough for two years decided to go elsewhere. The borough has been reimbursed for the academy training but has not demanded the officers fulfill their commitment.
• Commissioner Banning is not planning to subcontract police services from the City of Wildwood this summer. The chief indicates that she believes we will be able to get through this.  It will be a little tough for us until everyone is out of the academy.  We have adequate manpower to make it through the summer.
• Judd Moore was appointed deputy CFO @ $8,200/year. Judd has a CFO certification and will fill in and be paid on an as needed basis.
• The new owner of the liquor store, Jim Schickling introduced himself. He is a Navy veteran and reservist. He is a property owner in West Wildwood and excited to become part of the community.
• Although there were heavy rains at the end of April it was not windy. The combination of heavy rains and wind creates the island flooding that impacts the sewer rates.

We encourage you to listen to the audio from the meeting to have a better understanding of actual comments

Best regards,
The CTWWW Advisory Council

Trish Sinnott – President
Mary Anne Welsh – Secretary
Jim Bannan – Director
Susan Czwalina – Treasurer
Vacant – Vice President
Vacant – Director
Vacant – Director
Vacant – Director