CAPE MAY — Proposed regulations here to govern abandoned boats in Cape May Harbor seems to have sunk faster than the Titanic.
After an hour and 20 minutes of public comment at an Aug. 4 City Council meeting, Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. suggested a proposed ordinance to require boat owners to register with police if they moor in the harbor more than 24 hours, be removed from the agenda of council’s August 18 meeting.
The mayor said the idea of the ordinance was to give the city a vehicle to remove abandoned boats. Members of the boating public and marina operators suggested the city would need a boat and personnel to locate unregistered vessels.
Mahaney said it was never the intent of council to incur expense for equipment or personnel to enact the ordinance. He called for a thorough review to more clearly define the intent and language of the ordinance.
Mahaney suggested council research what other municipalities are doing to address abandoned boats. He also suggested setting up meetings with regional, state and national agencies that have an interest in abandoned vessels to find out who has jurisdiction, what funds are available, who has the responsibility, the personnel and the equipment to handle the situation.
The mayor said he did not want efforts duplicated or the city bearing a burden at taxpayer’s expense.
Mahaney said the city should work with Lower Township, which has ownership of half the harbor. Lower Township Council is considering creating an ordinance similar ordinance.
Marina owners John Fleming and Ernie Utsch suggested marinas not be included in the ordinance since they handled abandoned vessels on their own.
Rick Weber, of South Jersey Marina, asked that the city not use a “10 pound solution for a one pound problem.” He warned Cape May Harbor would not be “welcoming” if there were signs all about warning boat owners to register their boats or face fines. He suggested a time period of one week before registration was required.
George Loos, president of the South Jersey Small Craft Association, said he believed abandoned boats were the responsibility of the state. He said problem boats would not be registered with the city despite an ordinance being in effect.
Loos suggested a volunteer, harbor keepers association watch for abandoned vessels. He said abandoned boats could be identified early on by looking for vessels that sit low in the water, are listing to one side or have tattered sails.
He warned of lawsuits from boat owners such as those that occurred when abandoned boat regulations were enacted in Florida.
City Solicitor Tony Monzo said the ordinance was a tool to let the city issue summons, collect fines and to act as a deterrent.
According to a March New York Times story, the nation’s poor economy has caused boat owners to “ditch” their vessels in record numbers often sandpapering off registration numbers and deliberately sinking their boats.
Florida removed 108 derelict boats last summer.
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