CREST HAVEN – Bricks may be attractive for public buildings, but they don’t last forever.
Freeholders approved a nearly $2.5-million contract to begin June 24 to replace brick veneer at the Special Services School.
There were five bids for the project, and the winner was Palmer Waterproofing, Inc., of Philadelphia.
Purchasing Agent Kevin Lare told the board during its caucus, held via Zoom, that the first time the project was advertised, the lowest bid was $4.2 million. As a result, he said specifications were revised, and he recommended awarding the contract, which the board did at its regular meeting at 4:30 p.m. Actual cost is $2,461,880.
Human Trafficking Awareness
Violet Rixey, representing the county’s Women’s Commission, showed a poster from the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking. The commission added the county seal, the Board of Chosen Freeholders and Women’s Commission, Rixey said.
She said that 32 each of the posters were printed in English and Spanish. They will be given to mayors and chiefs of police throughout the county to be posted in public view to heighten awareness of the plight of those victimized by human trafficking.
Rixey noted that Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland was informed of the initiative. She said any group could request the posters, so the word is widespread to all neighborhoods to be on the lookout for possible victims.
Freeholder E. Marie Hayes, liaison to the commission, said many might see or know of a victim, who could be of either sex and varying ages, child to adult.
Unmasked Young a Concern
Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson cited concerns of young people in the 17 to 19 and 35-year-old ages who are “out there partying in municipalities.”
Those young people, who may not feel the need to wear masks to prevent COVID-19 spread, may be getting tested at urgent care centers, he said. Should they test positive for the virus, they will not be included in the county’s count, but instead in their home county or state.
“We know it’s hard to stop kids from partying,” Pierson acknowledged.
Director Gerald Thornton said that, during daily conference calls with the governor’s office, “They have mentioned it twice now, the seashore communities, and the lack of compliance. They didn’t name any communities, but they’re looking at the seashore as a whole.
“I also contacted Vicki Clark at the (county) Chamber of Commerce and asked her if she would reach out to all the businesses and help with compliance here with distancing and masks because the businesses are really the first line of defense here.
“If those businesses take a strong position here, I think it’ll be very helpful.”
In other action the board:
- Applied to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for $83,375, a federal-local match to pay for equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the total, $62,531 is federal, and $20,844 is a local match.
- Established a remote work policy for county employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. The four-page document defines what is expected of employees who work remotely, hours to be worked, and records kept of that work.
- Approved a commercial revolving fishing loan for William Tirri for $190,000. Tirri, of Route 83, Court House, will purchase the F/V Miss Andrea. The loan is for seven years, at 2% interest.
- Awarded a contract for $619,550 to Site Enterprises, Inc., of Egg Harbor Township, for the demolition of various buildings at the County Airport, in Erma. There were five bids submitted.
- Approved a resolution that establishes that Pacific Avenue (CR 621), between Rambler Road, in Wildwood Crest, and Memphis Avenue, in Lower Township, is owned and under the county’s jurisdiction.
