SEA ISLE CITY — City Council members passed by majority an ordinance that allows the city to maintain on-site and off-site storm water collection and management systems and, if need be, charge the costs to property owners during council’s March 13 meeting.
“If a developer comes into town and puts a retention pond in, and if he fails to maintain it, this ordinance says we can go in and maintain it,” said City Solicitor Paul Baldini. “I don’t see why anyone would put a retention pond in Sea Isle because of the high ground water, but, if somebody did and it didn’t function properly, we can fix it and charge it back to the property owner.”
While the city may not have any retention ponds, it does have gutter systems. The newly adopted ordinance also applies to gutters.
“We don’t require systems,” said Councilperson Frank Edwardi.
“Yes, we do,” replied Baldini.
“No, we don’t” answered Edwardi.
Baldini explained that an ordinance was enacted an ordinance “ a couple of years ago” requiring properties to have gutter systems.
“If someone puts up a gutter system, whether it’s required or not, and doesn’t maintain it, we can fix it and charge it back to the property owner,” said Baldini.
According to the solicitor, the ordinance is a “drastic remedy” and the owner of the property would receive five or six letters before the city would step in to remedy the situation.
The ordinance was passed by a majority of four votes of the five-member council. Edwardi cast the only nay vote.
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