AVALON – The Feb. 24 Avalon Borough Council meeting saw introduction of the mayor’s 2016 budget and the addition of two appointments to the borough’s 99-person staff.
Mayor Martin Pagliughi attended the council meeting and swore in Matthew Ardelean as the borough’s newest police officer.
Ardelean is a criminal justice graduate of Stockton University and a Margate resident. He began his law enforcement career in Avalon as a Class II officer in 2013. He is filling a vacancy in the department caused by a retirement.
Council also approved hiring Danielle Nollett as deputy municipal clerk. Nollett gained experience as a member of the City of Millville Clerk’s Office. She attained certification as a Registered Municipal Clerk in 2012. Nollett is also filling a vacancy caused by retirement.
Budget
Council accepted introduction of the 2016 budget by Pagliughi. Copies of the budget are available on the borough website. A public hearing is set for March 23.
The current fund budget calls for anticipated revenues of $28,895,616. The proposed appropriations for 2016 show an increase over 2015 of $1,508,457.
Pagliughi made clear that the local purpose tax levy does not increase under the budget. It remains at 22.6 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The increase in projected revenues comes from tax revenue on just over $60 million in new ratables and a greater use of surplus.
Council member Nancy Hudanich spoke for council’s Finance Committee in urging the governing body’s approval of the budget’s introduction.
“This budget shows our continued commitment to long-term financial planning,” she said. The budget allows for “cash payment” of various capital improvements in 2016 and thereby shows what Hudanich termed a strong “concern for the management of debt service.”
Pagliughi noted that the additional use of surplus will not put those valuable reserves at risk since the budget anticipates that the surplus fund balance will be back to the 2015 level by the end of the budget year.
An almost $1.5-million beach utility budget was also proposed with no projected increase in beach tag fees. The Water and Sewer Utility budget is for $6.1 million and included a $3.2 million charge by the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority.
Body Camera Grant
Police Chief William McCormick briefed council on an available grant from the state Attorney General’s Office which would cover the cost of body cameras for Avalon officers.
McCormick noted that there might be some back-end costs for additional storage of the video. He said the state guidelines on retention have not been set and there is “considerable back-and-forth” on them at present.
McCormick reminded council of the recent adoption of car cameras.
In response to a question from council member William Burns, McCormick said that standard operating procedures have not yet been finalized covering when and how cameras are used by officers.
He indicated that several municipal police departments in the county are working together to develop guidelines for those procedures.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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