29 Dec **** Borough Meeting Highlights 12-06-2023
Dear West Wildwood Neighbors,
The twelfth monthly borough meeting of 2023 was held on Wednesday, December 6th at 9:00 am in the borough hall. Approximately 10 people were in attendance. Mayor Ksiazek, Commissioners Banning and Segrest, CFO Elaine Crowley, Deputy Clerk Carl O’Hala, Solicitor Lyons and the borough engineers were present.
Notification received from the City of North Wildwood regarding a public hearing of their land development ordinance on Tuesday, December 19th at 10:00 am.
ORDINANCE #618 (2023) – second reading/public hearing – accept a drainage easement for a portion of Block 106, lot 9 (639 W. Poplar Avenue).
RESOLUTIONS #2023-100 through #2023-103 relate to the following:
- Authorizing change order #2 in the amount of $24,872 for the reconstruction of West Pine Avenue (increase 7%).
- Authorizing the refund of overpaid property tax and utility payments.
- Authorizing change order #1 in the amount of $9,150 for the Venice Avenue bulkhead replacement at Post Creek Basin (increase 3.74%).
- Authorizing the Borough of West Wildwood to accept a subgrant award in the amount of $10,000 from the 2023 Federal Emergency Management Performance Grant and Agency Assistance.
Mayor Ksiazek announced the sudden and unexpected passing of Bill Null who was the Supervisor of the Borough of West Wildwood Public Works Department.
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.
ENGINEERING:
- The Cape May County grant money will be used to rebuild Neptune Avenue. No changes.
- The Urban Enterprise Zone funds in the amount of $90,000 are dedicated to the playground parking project. Bids have been received and are in the process of review.
- The NJ DOT awarded a grant for J Avenue in the amount of $187,000 and a proposal is being prepared.
- An award in the amount of $169,430 for the terminus of Maple and E Avenues was received.
- The Maple Avenue project is awaiting the approval of final plans and specifications from USDA prior to the bidding process. Target date to award is January 5, 2024.
- One manhole at the south end of Neptune Avenue suffered a major failure and will be replaced.
- Actively working to close out projects including West Poplar and G Avenues and the police department ADA ramp.
- The Lake Road bulkhead project has been completed. Landscaping and benches are scheduled for the spring 2024.
- A tide flex valve has been ordered for A Avenue.
- The ADA ramps on West Pine Avenue have been completed as requested by the NJ DOT. The noted change order resolution should help move things along for closing out the project.
- Park improvements will be coordinated with the parking project. A decision has not been made regarding equipment.
- A contractor has been found for the HVAC repairs. We have a proposal for a set price and will start as soon as possible. There is a 30-day delay on the unit itself for a new ceramic coated, salt resistant unit.
PUBLIC WORKS:
- Demolish a shed and clean-up public works yard.
- Clean up the kayak racks.
- Repair potholes around the borough.
- Open flood gates.
- Pick up bulk trash and yard waste.
- Safety training and OSHA certifications were issued. As a result of meeting all safety requirements, no fines were issued, and the department is prepared for the future.
FINANCE:
- The average of all operating accounts stands at 71% expended to date as compared to 92% for the year complete (11 months).
- Fair Share Housing informational brochures were mailed by the borough to property owners.
- No updates on the Living Shoreline Program.
- The Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority has charged the borough sewer utility with excess flow costs of approximately $54,000. The replacement of one collapsed manhole at Neptune Avenue and renovation of two others should reduce future excess flow rates. Plans are to complete the repairs and replacements as soon as possible.
- A tax sale occurred on December 5th and the borough received approximately $50,000.
- The pump station board has been installed.
PUBLIC SAFETY (268 calls for service):
- Five local ordinance violations.
- Motor vehicle stops totaled four during the month of November as well as two parking complaints/violations.
- Four animal complaints and four general complaints were noted.
- There were nine medical assists/well-being checks and 169 property checks.
- Two thefts (one unfounded).
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
- Glenwood Avenue holiday lights will be installed as soon as the borough can borrow the lift truck from the City of Wildwood.
- A resident or two agreed that the use of microphones during the meetings would be great. It is difficult to hear.
- Repaving West Poplar Avenue should occur once the gas lines are replaced, however, the mayor is unsure as to the extent of paving.
- The West Maple Avenue project should go out to bid in early January 2024. Once the project is awarded, the contractor will set up a meeting with the affected property owners.
- The cost of the new air conditioning unit will be approximately $20,000. The proposal for the roof repair has NOT been accepted at this time.
- The Venice Park (Lake Road) bulkhead looks great!
- The large parcels of undeveloped land for sale are currently privately owned. If sold, the new owners will be required to go through the State of New Jersey permit process.
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