27 Jul **** Borough Meeting Highlights 7-01-2022
Dear West Wildwood Neighbors.
The seventh monthly borough meeting of 2022 was held on Friday, July 1st at 7:00 pm in Borough Hall. Approximately 20 people were in attendance. Mayor Ksiazek, Commissioners Segrest and Banning, Municipal Clerk Donna Frederick, Deputy Clerk Carl O’Hala and Solicitor Lyons were present.
The Borough received a notification from the City of North Wildwood amending their Land Use Ordinance #276.
Resolutions #2022-071 through #2022-074 relate to the following:
- Chapter 159 for the insertion of the 2022 Clean Communities Grant in the amount of $4,000.
- Acknowledging the current roster of active firefighters and Ladies Auxiliary members of the West Wildwood Volunteer Fire Company.
- Awarding a contract to RA Walters & Son Incorporated for an ADA ramp improvement at the West Wildwood Police Building. This is a rebid at a cost not to exceed $176,950.
- Appointing Trish Cullen as the municipal representative Wellness Coordinator to the Atlantic County Joint Insurance Fund.
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 (75 Work Orders):
- Repaired several potholes along Pine and Maple Avenues.
- Repaired both sprinkler systems; one at Taggart Park and the other at Neptune.
- Seeded (approximately 100 lbs. of seed), mulched, and graded at Neptune Park after the cement pad was poured in preparation for the new pavilion. Mayor Ksiazek and Commissioner Segrest physically assisted the public works department with this phase of the project. The mayor asked the public to be patient as Mother Nature does her thing and brings new grass to the area.
- Removed the benches and installed four newly donated, recycled benches and two recycling containers in Neptune Park. The old benches were temporarily moved to Taggart Park. Another newly donated bench will be installed at the playground as soon as some repairs to the area are complete.
- The street sweeper operated as scheduled around the Borough. For your convenience, the schedule is posted on the Borough website. Kindly move your vehicle from the street on your regularly scheduled day so the sweeper can operate efficiently and optimally.
- White goods and scrap metal was picked up after bulk trash pickup was completed. For future bulk pickups, please remove doors from ALL white goods (appliances), not just refrigerators. The safety of our children is of utmost importance.
- The mayor put a shout out to the department employees who helped with 4th of July parade set up and the clean up afterward.
ENGINEERING NEWS:
- Avenue A is completed. The Borough is waiting on some comments from NJDOT.
- The Pine Avenue NJDOT grant project has been approved by the governing body. Field survey work has been completed by the engineering group and has begun site, plan, and design.
- The Lake Road NJDOT grant project will be coordinated with the bulkhead replacement and outfall pipe replacement at Veteran’s Park. The project will be discussed in further detail at upcoming workshop meetings. The dates of workshop meetings are posted on the Borough website.
- The Maple Avenue USDA rural development project (Neptune to Arion) will be discussed at future workshop meetings. This project is currently planned for 2023.
- The Borough will apply for NJDOT 2023 grant funds for J Avenue (Glenwood to Poplar). Borough engineers should have the application submitted by June 30th.
- The construction of the Police Department ADA ramp should begin in September and be complete by December 2022.
- Approximately 20 manholes have been rehabilitated thus far throughout the Borough.
- The municipal building roof project will be discussed at future workshop meetings.
- Cape May County has inspected, cleaned, and removed debris from the county owned outfall pipes.
POLICE (236 calls):
- Total motor vehicle stops totaled 31 during the month as well as 16 parking complaints/violations.
- There were 17 medical assists/well-being checks in June and 18 general complaints.
- The Chief of Police requests that you lock your cars and doors. If bikes are unattended, they should be locked.
- Do not park illegally. A summons may be issued. The department is enforcing parking restrictions.
- You should not put trash cans/chairs/cones or objects in the roadway trying to save a parking space for someone. Obstructing the roadway is illegal per Commissioner Banning.
- Parents should be aware of a current social media scam where teenagers send pictures of themselves, and the teens are later blackmailed with the pictures.
- The new police vehicle, ordered in 2021, has finally arrived and should be delivered in early July.
FINANCE:
- As of the end of June, the midpoint of the year, the overall Borough expenditures are at 42% of all accounts. We are 50% through the current budget year and are under budget!
- In the fall, the proposed plan is to repair another 10 to 20 manholes. Funding for this would need to be reallocated from other unused capital projects. The plan is to continue an annual program of maintenance to address all 107 manholes. As the infiltration is reduced, we should experience lower costs from the Cape May County Municipal Utility Authority which in turn should be reflected in lower sewer bills for the taxpayers.
SEWER:
- The sewer flow rate comparing June 2021 to June 2022 has shown a decrease of 25%. This could be a result of lower rainfall rates. The Borough is waiting on the county report to compare with other municipalities. Of the 20 manholes done, about 50% had SEVERE leakage. We should have an idea of reduction in flow rate by mid-August. Commissioner Segrest is cautiously optimistic!
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
- In total, 28 manholes have been repaired or rehabbed. Eight manholes were included in the Poplar Avenue reconstruction project. Five were rehabbed and 15 were repaired with injection of a sealer.
- The pension funding shortfall of over $80,000 was uncovered because of due diligence by the current governing body. Questions arose related to an employee’s eligibility. The Borough notified NJ’s PERS (Public Employee Retirement System) who determined the employee should have been a participant in the pension plan over the last 10 years. The State of NJ calculated the balance due and assessed a $19,000 penalty. Had this pension liability not been funded, the Borough would be at risk of significant financial exposure. The solicitor stated he is not aware of additional pension related exposure to the Borough.
- The Borough holds tax liens on several properties. Foreclosure action will proceed on two properties on 26th Street (marsh), thereby relieving the Borough from paying the county tax on each.
- One of the police officers who recently completed the academy has accepted a position with another municipality. The Borough will be refunded for the officer’s academy training and partial uniform reimbursement. Interviews are ongoing for the department.
- The extended curb was completed at J Avenue, in front of the condominiums. Sandbags were added due to water filling up in a small gap in the sidewalk. The commissioners intend to discuss the south side of the island as part of a larger resiliency project to create a perimeter barrier. The condominium association is cooperating with the Borough.
- The Living Shoreline project – the baseline of the 30% design is good and will allow the Borough to begin permit process and BRIC grants should follow.
- A suggestion was made to post a map of the island in the borough office and on the website that would reflect infrastructure updates, road resurfacing, etc.
- The commissioners emphasized the importance of state and federal grants to support the ongoing projects within the Borough. The USDA Rural Development is an important source of funding for the replacement of the sanitary sewer lines in the borough. The NJDOT funds storm water projects, street surfacing, curbs & sidewalk projects.
- A homeowner requested the commissioners investigate the water and residual black muck that does not drain in the 700 block of Maple Avenue. The gate was replaced; however, a bad flex valve could be the problem.
We encourage you to listen to the audio from the meeting to have a better understanding of actual comments.
Stay cool this summer,
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