Council Adopts Budget and Considers Pickleball Courts

SEA ISLE CITY – Mayor Leonard Desiderio announced at the March 11 city council meeting that Standard and Poor’s has upgraded the city’s bond rating to AA, two steps from the highest grade on S&P’s scale. The upgraded rating is the result of “sound financial policies and debt service,” according to Desiderio. He thanked council members, city employees, and city administrators for their hard work, saying, “It’s very important, it will save taxpayers hundreds of thousands in interest.” The new grade is the highest bond rating in the city’s history.
Council spent several minutes discussing the 2014 budget, before unanimously adopting the $21.5 million spending plan. The budget calls for just over $15.7 million to be raised by taxation, with the rest to be raised through anticipated fees such as beach tags and construction permits. The budget represents a tax rate increase of 1.1 cents. Although many residents attended the budget hearing, no comments were offered by the public.
Bond Ordinances
Council introduced two bond ordinances, one for capital improvements, and the other for water and sewer utility. The first is an appropriation of $3 million, $2.8 million of that in bonds, for capital improvements. The majority of that money, $1.7 million, to be spent on continuing road construction projects on Landis and Central Avenues. $550,000 will be spent to replace several public works vehicles, a mobile data system for police patrol cars, as well as a radio repeater system and new air packs for the fire department. Another $585,000 will be spent to demolish the old City Hall, damaged by Superstorm Sandy, and to resurface the site of the Funland amusement park, which the city will reoccupy in May with plans for a municipal parking lot.
The second bond ordinance introduced calls for the issuance of $2.9 million in bonds for water and sewer utilities. The sum includes $50,000 to replace two utility trucks, and $1.85 million for replacing underground water and sewer lines, in conjunction with the road construction projects. It also includes $1 million for upgrades to the water treatment facility on 80th Street. These upgrades, which will bring the facility into compliance with DEP regulations, include a new aerator, chemical retention tank, and the installation of a generator. Both bond ordinances are scheduled for a second reading and public comment session at council’s April 8 meeting.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Council announced that the 24th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will go on, despite ongoing road work which has closed Landis Ave., the traditional parade route. Police Chief Thomas D’Intino informed council that he mapped out an alternate route. The parade will kick off at 3:30 p.m. March 15, from 93rd Street and Landis Ave. The parade will travel north on Pleasure Avenue from 73rd to 65th Street to get around the construction.
Pickleball Court
During the public comment portion, several residents expressed interest in seeing the city construct a pickleball court at the Funland amusement park location. Resident Jim McCarthy explained that pickleball is a two to four player racquet sport, similar to tennis, which is becoming popular in Cape May County. Several neighboring towns have already constructed pickleball courts, including Avalon, Ocean City, and Upper Township. Council President Mary Tighe thanked McCarthy for the suggestion, and said it would be taken under consideration.
To contact Don Tozer, email dtozer@cmcherald.com.