PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committee met Aug. 24 for its regularly scheduled meeting and unanimously passed a number of resolutions that included authorizing the mayor to sign a license agreement with N.J. American Water Company to install emergency communications equipment and another to appoint Water’s Edge Environmental as consultant for improvements associated with the replacement of the Bayview Avenue boat ramp.
Honoring Sept. 11 Victims
Committee passed a resolution in observance of Sept. 11 as “Always Remember Day” to “honor the innocent victims of Sept. 11, 2001 and those who continue to fight for the freedom of this great nation.”
In a related matter, Mayor Richard Palombo announced that there will be a Sept. 11 ceremony at 10 a.m. at Osprey Point in Upper Township on Route 9 to support the objectives of that resolution.
Progress on Field Upgrades
Committee member Hobart Young reported that Amanda’s Field moves forward with placement of sod and field lining and installation of lights.
“The township’s October Fest is set for Oct. 18, everything is looking good, and we are having lots of interest in the soccer tournament that happens at the same time with teams from as far away as Georgia coming to participate.”
Deputy Mayor Edward Barr said he wanted to echo Young’s assessment of the condition of Amanda’s Field as an overall top-notch recreation facility by noting, “Everything is looking good there, it will all be done before we know it and it’s going to be a state-of-the-art facility.”
Pipeline Project
Palombo said he wanted to clear up any confusion regarding the recent approval for South Jersey Gas of a “certificate filing” so that the project can move forward with additional necessary township, county, state and other approvals.
“Some people are thinking that this approval gives the final go-ahead for the project but that is not the case; there is no approval to construct, at least at this point, and we are waiting for more information from South Jersey Gas on the interconnect station in Tuckahoe, for which committee will need to decide on a a related easement, the plan needs updating since the last one is over a year old.”
Birds or Humans?
Committee member Jeffrey Pierson said that during safety discussions he attends the issue of use of vehicles on the township’s beaches by lifeguards and EMS personnel had been raised.
Cutting off Pierson in a heated manner, Palombo said, “This is not an issue, I don’t want us to micromanage.” To which interjection, Pierson replied, “I need to come back on this issue, if one bird is killed that’s a $25,000 fine, and I don’t want us blindsided.”
Palombo argued, “What’s more important, a bird or a (human) life, what’s worth more?”
More Handicapped Parking
Committee unanimously passed as final adoption without comment during a public hearing an ordinance which provides for an additional handicapped parking spot at Vincent Avenue in Strathmere.
Babe Ruth World Series
Young announced that 14-year-old baseball players from Upper as well as Ocean City were members of the team that recently won the Babe Ruth World Series Championship in Pine Bluffs, Ark.
“This is a big deal and pretty exciting, the team went 21-0 beating a team from California for the title, so I’d like to propose that we bring these athletes to an upcoming meeting to recognize them and invite the entire team as well which also represents Atlantic County.” Committee unanimously agreed to endorse the proposal.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
Villas – Look what happened on Jan 6 th with Trump, I do not blame’ Michelle Obama for not coming! You cannot trust his allies for it to be a calm day, for her safety she is safer at home.
