Council Cites Links, Honors Villanova; Why Added Security for City Hall?

CORRECTION: A business and its location were misidentified. The site of the former Busch’s restaurant will now be called The Dunes, not Sunset, and it’s located on 86th Street, not 85th Street.   
SEA ISLE CITY – This municipality’s City Council held its regular meeting April 12 and at the top of session unanimously passed a resolution recognizing the Villanova University men’s basketball team for its “outstanding achievement” in winning this year’s NCAA championship.
“We have so many residents, visitors and second homeowners who have Villanova connections; it’s wonderful that they won and that we can recognize the team in this way and take great pride in their accomplishment. I’m a 1955 Villanova grad. I didn’t play much basketball although yes, we did have basketball even in those days,” said Council President John Gibson with a laugh.
 Beach Replenishment
Administrator George Savastano gave an update on dredging that has been going on to “pass over” original beach fill from the previous year. “We expect that this last phase will be done at least within the next two weeks if not the next week if the weather cooperates. Downtown beaches are certainly wider, at least by 100 feet more than originally filled.”
Savastano also updated the gathering on streetscape upgrades: “All sidewalks are open and we’re now finishing up from West Jersey Avenue to 43rd Street to complete cross-walks with concrete and pavers.”
Added City Hall Security
During the public comment portion, a resident asked for details about a resolution which authorizes a change order to Alarm Security Group for additional security in the amount of $11,367.
“I don’t understand why we have to spend more money on security when this building is brand new,” she said. “We discovered additional security needs and blind areas after the original construction contract for City Hall was completed,” noted Savastano. “So this amount covers added equipment, cameras, panic buttons and related wiring that were not encompassed in the building. The situation with additional security is the same as how we are addressing the building’s data needs.”
Dangerous Situation?
A resident briefed council of a looming danger related to the opening of a new restaurant at 85th Street, site of the former Busch’s restaurant, which also will be the venue for events such as weddings.
“Right now we have extremely limited parking which we are dealing with as do all of city residents and visitors. However, we are anticipating some very dangerous scenarios when the new Sunset starts holding events and up to 100 cars start looking for parking.
“There are ‘children playing’ and ‘no outlet’ signs posted at the entrance to the street but this doesn’t stop cars from coming down and then they can’t get out. I’ve witnessed circumstances where children were playing at the street, and sometimes there can be 30 children, and the car backing up trying to get out, almost ran one of them down. The same thing happened to me personally — and in my own driveway yet! The gridlock that will be created with cars trapped in that street is going to be a nightmare.”
Gibson said he will make sure her concern was “passed on to the right people,” including the residents’ suggestion that Sunset hire someone to direct cars away from parking on that street when events are taking place.
She also pressed Gibson for a more committed timeframe for resolving the problem.
“The Yacht Club ferries people from parking to the site so that’s another possibility and I appreciate that you not only brought this issue to our attention but also have suggested a solution. We will make sure this is followed up,” Gibson said.
Regarding another problem related to traffic control, a resident said that he continually sees motorists flaunting various traffic signs along Sea Isle Boulevard. “The other day I was behind someone with a boat on a very wide trailer. There are signs advising motorists that they must have an escort transporting these types of wide and/or heavy items. I also have seen cars passing along that narrow, no-passing area when cars are ‘only’ doing the speed limit. We need to have these traffic controls enforced with ticketing because in the summer it’s really going to be bad and dangerous,” the resident said.
Gibson said he would pass along that concern as well to city police and the New Jersey state troopers who have jurisdiction over the boulevard.
Responding to another question about the on-going upgrade of that stretch of roadway, Gibson said that the intersection at the Garden State Parkway will be completed before summer begins but other improvements, such as removing fill will not be done until at least the fall. “So essentially everything except entry onto the Parkway will stay as is until at least after the summer.”
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.