CREST HAVEN – Fitzgerald & Halliday Inc., a planning consulting firm based in Hartford, Connecticut, was awarded a $187,000 contract by the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners to produce a study of the Fare Free Transportation Service.
The award took place at the Tuesday, Dec. 19, board meeting.
The resolution, which noted that the firm does business as FHI Studio, was chosen as the better of the two firms that submitted proposals on Oct. 25.
The firm has a Cherry Hill office and another in New York City, as well as its main office in Hartford.
The project’s scope will be to conduct an assessment and feasibility study of the transit system.
That system has drawn questions from some riders who asked the board about some of its standard procedures.
The system is widely used by county residents lacking their own transportation. It provides shopping trips as well rides to medical appointments.
The term of the contract is for one year with a one-year option.
The firm, according to its website, “is a self-certified federal Woman Owned Small Business, and certified as a disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) in over 25 states.”
Remediation Ends
The Cape May County Airport, once owned by the federal government, had many polluted sites within its borders.
Because of that, when the county leased the airport to the Delaware River and Bay Authority, it excluded “certain parcels of land” due to environmental contamination and the need to clean up those sites.
The laborious clean-up task “on one or more of the excluded real property parcels” is complete, and on Dec. 19, the county approved a second amendment to its ground lease to the DRBA.
Thomas Named to Library Commission
Stephanie Thomas, of Court House, was appointed to the County Library Commission to fill the unexpired term of William Hutchinson. Her term will expire on Dec. 31, 2024.
HSAC Members Appointed, Reappointed
Commissioners appointed or reappointed five members of the county’s Human Services Advisory Council. Their terms will continue from Jan. 1, 2024, until Dec. 31, 2026.
They are Sara Matthews, member-at-large; Mary Dozier, provider; Joe Fahy, member-at-large; Joh Roy, consumer advocate; and Chris Zellers, consumer advocate.
Drone Lease Approved
A lease agreement was approved by the board with Liquid Piston Inc. to use an unmanned aerial system (drone) for aeronautical research “to enhance and further the ability to operate communications-deprived areas following natural disasters.”
The county previously secured the necessary permits from the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct the flights.
Vending Machine Furnishing OK’d
A two-year contract was awarded by the board to K&R Vending Services Inc. The firm will furnish, install and service vending machines and supply food and beverage products for various locations in the county at no cost to the county.
The firm will pay the county 35% of its net sales on a monthly basis, according to the resolution.
The contract contains a clause for three one-year options after the initial period.
Coast Guard Use of Firing Range OK’d
Commissioners approved a license agreement with the U.S. Coast Guard for the use of the county Public Safety Training Center firing range.
The resolution notes that the center “finds itself in a position to cooperate with the USCG” for use of the facility.
The agreement is for one year, from Jan. 1, 2024, until Dec. 31, 2025.
