Cape May to Allow Bait Sales at Poverty Beach

CAPE MAY – In a 3-2 vote, City Council voted Tue., Oct 5 to allow bait and tackle to be sold at Poverty Beach on a trial basis from Sept. 15 to May 15.
Richard Orth, who owns Cape May Bait and Tackle on Sunset Boulevard, has been requesting permission to sell bait primarily to striper fisherman for two years. He was turned down last year when council was concerned Orth’s bait truck would be selling bait at more than one location on Beach Avenue.
The ordinance passed by council will limit Orth to the corner of Wilmington and Beach avenues and his hours from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Mayor Edward J. Mahaney Jr. voted against the ordinance. He said he recently received a letter from Orth requesting a change in the conditions of the ordinance. The mayor said he was concerned about reopening the issue of vending on the beachfront.
Regulations for hot dog vendors took several of years of crafting for a workable solution.
Councilwoman Terri Swain cast the other negative vote. She said she was confused by the requests in Orth’s letter.
Deputy Mayor Jack Wichterman said his background as a salesman taught him when he got the order, to pick up his briefcase and get out of the office referring to Orth’s additional requests in his letter.
During public comment, former mayor Jerry Gaffney said the ordinance “was opening a can of worms.” He said he was afraid the ordinance would be precedent setting and would encourage more vendors on Beach Avenue
Resident John Fleming concurred with Gaffney saying he feared the ordinance would open the door for a slew of vendors on the beachfront selling everything from ice cream to umbrellas.
City Solicitor Tony Monzo said the ordinance was limited to selling bait and tackle. The ordinance would allow other bait and tackle dealers to apply to the city to sell on a rotation basis at one location.
The ordinance stipulates Orth will not have a generator or his truck engine running at any time while he conducts business.