Cape May Seeks Review of Public Buildings, Property

CAPE MAY – The City of Cape May has appointed a committee to advise the governing body on the use, sale, or other disposition of municipal buildings and property.
The appointment of advisory committees is an often-employed mechanism by governing bodies that seek to gain the benefits of experienced members of the public in areas where technical expertise is useful but otherwise expensive.
Cape May’s newest advisory committee, given an initial four-year term, is charged with “carrying out an in-depth inventory of the number, location, condition, usage, and value of city-owned buildings and properties.”
This is a task made more important and more difficult because “no recent assessment has been made of city property holdings.”
Other municipalities in the county are taking steps to deal with underutilized public property in the hope of returning the parcels to a tax-generating status.
Recently, Middle Township approved an arrangement with an auction firm to conduct the sale of property for which the municipality had no use.
Such actions potentially have the dual benefit of returning the property to the tax rolls and reducing the cost of maintenance of public buildings and land.
The Cape May committee of eight individuals is chaired by Robert Elwell, a member of the City’s Planning Board and a former mayor. Its other members are Gregg Giancola, Hugh McCauley, Larry Reed, Robert Boyd, Timothy Walsh, Heather Turner, and Wayne Keyser.
In outlining possible areas of action for the committee, the council resolution records the city’s interest in advice on properties that might be sold, renovated, or repurposed.
Specifically mentioned in the resolution is the possible renovation or replacement of City Hall.
The committee is also asked “to review agreements of city-owned building and land leased to non-profit organizations” throughout the municipality.
The same night that city council appointed this committee, the governing body heard recommendations from the advisory committee that has been looking into the construction of a new public safety building.

The same meeting also saw a resolution directing the Planning Board to undertake a study concerning the possible designation of an area of the city as a redevelopment zone.
That potential zone includes the municipal complex with City Hall, the police department, the firehouse, and fire museum.
The simultaneous actions create a complex and dynamic environment for city property. The new committee will be asked to advise the City Manager and Council on timely issues related to its charge.
It is also asked to help the city solicit public review and comment on plans for public property.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.