10 Nov Borough Meeting Highlights 11-04-2020
Dear West Wildwood Neighbors,
The monthly Borough meeting was held on Wednesday, November 4th at 5:00 pm via Zoom and more than 30 individuals attended. Mayor Fox, Commissioners Golden and Korobellis, Solicitor Bittner and Municipal Clerk Donna Frederick were also present.
Official business included four housekeeping resolutions relating to the adoption of the 2019 audit, refund of sewer fees and taxes, and the approval of 2020 budget transfers.
Two late agenda items were added as follows:
- Resolution #2020-078 – the approval of an agreement between the Borough and the Cape May County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #7 (serving as a contracting agent). This relates to the renewal of the contract for the rank and file police officers that expires on 12/31/20. Mayor Fox abstained, while Commissioners Golden and Korobellis approved and passed this resolution.
- Resolution #2020-079 – the approval of a multi-year employment contract between the Borough and Police Chief Jacqueline Ferentz. Mayor Fox abstained, while Commissioners Golden and Korobellis approved and passed this resolution.
Public comment discussions included the following:
- Much of the public comment portion of the meeting related to the two late agenda resolutions. Although the contracts were voted on at the meeting, Commissioner Golden did not have the salary specifics of the contracts to share with participants. It was suggested the renewal of employment contracts be delayed, extended or placed on a month to month basis to allow for the new commissioners’ input in the matter. In the end, Commissioner Golden agreed to reconsider executing the employment contracts.
- A request was made to review other professional services contracts to determine which will expire at year end and obtain extensions on these current contracts. Transparency of the commissioners’ decisions was questioned.
- Mayor Fox will defer to the new commissioners any change in the meeting dates and times.
- Commissioner Golden confirmed the hiring of one new class II police officer.
- Clean Communities Day will be held, in accordance with CDC recommendations, on Saturday, November 7, 2020 beginning at 10 am at Borough Hall.
- The 2021 CMCMUA shared services agreement has not been finalized. The commissioners were unaware of a rate increase, but could not definitively confirm it. This annual cost to the Borough can be more than $400,000 and is funded by the sewer utility.
- The Poplar Avenue sewer project has not yet started.
- The COAH agreement was approved by the judge at the hearing on October 29, 2020 per Solicitor Bittner and affordable housing will be added to the Master Plan.
- There was no update on the Living Shoreline project.
- Mayor Fox’s ethics hearings will be conducted via Zoom beginning December 14, 2020 according to the Office of Administrative Law.
- The Joint Insurance Fund (JIF) will take the lead on the recent lawsuit filed by Herbert C. Frederick vs. the BOWW et al.
- The November 3 election results should be certified around mid-November and will be posted on the BOWW website per the clerk. Preliminary results have John Banning, Matt Ksiazek and Joe Segrest in the lead.
The audio from the meeting is available our website at www.CTWWW.org The above highlights are also available on the communications page on our website at https://ctwww.org/borough-meeting-highlights-11-04-2020/ along with the police and public works reports for October, 2020. The finance report as of November 4, 2020 should be posted at a later date.
Wishing you all a safe and very Happy Thanksgiving,
The CTWWW Advisory Council
Trish Sinnott – President
Mary Anne Welsh – Secretary
Jim Bannan – Director
Susan Czwalina – Treasurer
Vacant – Director
Vacant – Director
Vacant – Director