**** Borough Meeting Highlights 2-04-2022

14 Feb **** Borough Meeting Highlights 2-04-2022

Dear West Wildwood Neighbors,

The second monthly borough meeting of 2022 was held on Friday, February 4th at 7:00 pm in the borough hall.  Approximately 10 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 Borough received notice from the City of Wildwood of the demolition of two existing residential units and the construction of a new single-family home at 2810 Lake Avenue.   A hearing will be held on February 7^th at the Wildwood City Hall at 6pm.  The Borough received notice of this because it is within the 200 feet property radius.

A permit will be submitted to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for a fixed pier, access ramp and floating dock for the property located at 749 West Poplar Avenue.

Ordinance #600 (2022) – second reading:  Repealing Ordinance #558 (2017) pertaining to sewer rates.  Rates will increase from $750 to $870 per connection/per year.  Public comments and discussion included an explanation of the Borough’s approach to reduce the flow.  The commissioners believe lining and patching sewer line leaks will help reduce the flows. Examination of manholes and video camera surveys will help identify problem areas.  Most of the excess flow is the result of a high-water table seeping into the sewer lines. Applications have been made for funding via the Federal Infrastructure Bill.  Monies received from the COVID relief fund have been set aside and will be applied towards the sewer repair work.  There are 18 specific connections with leaks which need to be addressed immediately.  The Borough was short on funds in 2021 and was unable to make the repairs needed.  Nothing had been done in many years.  The goal is to decrease the rates by $120/year beginning next year if the patching is successful and from there perhaps a steady decrease in the rate.  While this is an aggressive approach, there is no promise of future rate changes.

Resolutions #2022-010 through 2022-016 relate to the following:

• Establish a Green Team to promote the environment and protect the coastal landscape.
• A change order (decrease of approximately $1,000) related to the Poplar Avenue sewer project.
• Approval of budget transfers for 2021.
• Authorizing a professional services contract for a planning board solicitor, Stefankiewicz & Belasco, LLC.
• Rejection of all bids received for the ADA improvements at the Borough Police Department. All bids came in higher than expected (two times the amount) and a redesign of the project and materials will be discussed at the next workshop meeting on February 16, 2022.  The revised project will go out for bid shortly.
• A shared services agreement with the City of Wildwood Construction Office has been agreed upon
• Authorizing the appointment of a Flood Plain Manager, John Feairheller.

The commissioners each presented their reports, 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 (81 work orders):

• Two major snowstorms created moderate flooding and significant amounts of snow. Public Works employees successfully cleaned the streets.  Volunteers are welcomed to help with the West Wildwood Shovels program.
• Long overdue upgrades and repairs will be completed to the Public Works Building.
• Public Works employees have been assisting with the examination of manholes.
• A meeting is scheduled for residents of A Avenue on Saturday, March 5^th @ 11:30 at Borough Hall related to repaving in the spring.
• The punch list for the Poplar Avenue project will be completed shortly and the project should be certified allowing the Borough to seek reimbursement from the USDA.
• The Borough is waiting for a reply from the Condo Association related to the J Avenue flooding problem.
• The public works snowplow was damaged during the storms and is being repaired. The parts came in this week and the plow should be operational by next week.
• The flood pump on Neptune Avenue has been repaired. The control valves have been damaged for about a year.
• The $160,000 in grant funds received for the Lake Road project will include bulkhead reconstruction in conjunction with the sanitary sewer.
• A USDA grant for Maple Avenue from Arion to Neptune Avenue will be submitted on February 11^th by the Borough engineering firm, Remington & Vernick. It will be similar in scope to the Poplar Avenue project.  In the meantime, temporary repairs will be made to identified, problematic manholes.  If the grant is approved by the USDA, funding would not be available for at least 2 years.
• Applications for BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grants will be submitted to provide funding for the 26^th Street Resiliency project.
• A new roof is needed on the municipal building and will be expensive.
• The bulkhead ordinance is being updated to be more comprehensive and may include review of plans and inspections by an engineering firm.

Finance:

• Commissioner Segrest thanked homeowners for prompt payment of taxes and a collection rate of slightly less than 98%.
• A significant tax lien was paid in full at $100,000 and will be recognized as revenue this year and will be available in 2023.
• The 2021 financial results are being finalized and the surplus computed. A draft budget for 2022 is being prepared and hopefully will be introduced at the March 4^th

Police (231 calls for service):

• Residents are welcomed to sign up for property checks on the Borough website.
• Prescription drugs can be safely disposed via a drop box in the lobby of the police department.

Public Comments:

• Commission Banning (Department of Public Safety) was questioned about rumors regarding the Borough Police Department and possible merger with nearby departments. A resident expressed the concern of full-time senior citizens regarding having their ‘own’ police department.
  The commissioner believes it is his responsibility to the community to continuously evaluate the department and look at options for improvement and/or shared services.
  When asked about the feasibility study by the state, he said he hasn’t heard anything and will follow up with them this coming week.

• Retaining police officers, maintaining standards, and operating per guidelines in such a small borough can be difficult and challenging.
• The police officer who pled guilty to terroristic threats has been terminated. The borough will not be able to recover the salary and benefits he received while incarcerated.  The solicitor will review local regulations and determine if changes should be made in the future.
• An update was given by the solicitor regarding former Mayor Fox’s ethics violations case. It has been assigned to a new administrative law judge.  The previous judge was promoted to Superior Court.
• The commissioners were thanked for their snow shoveling efforts during the recent storms.
• The borough plans to address climate change with the help of BRIC grants. Storm resiliency projects include 26^th Street, North Drive (behind the condos) and Center Drive (conservation lots past the old dump site).  The topic will be discussed at the next workshop meeting on February 16^th.
• The DOT is in the process of dredging The Intercostal Waterway from Cape May to the North Wildwood bridge. The DOT can help dredge the canal and Post Creek, but it will be an expense to the community.  The DOT indicated we must be ready when they come, otherwise, they will move on to another area.  Stay tuned for more information.
• The Beautification Fund is operational. Possible renovation of a park may be the first project that will be tackled.  The mayor indicated a possible match to the funds previously donated.  It is possible a fundraiser (much like the magnet drive) in the spring will bring in more funds to our Beautification Fund.

We encourage you to listen to the audio from the meeting to have a better understanding of actual comments which is available on our website.

Stay safe as always,
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