CAPE MAY – Within a week of its reorganization, Cape May City Council held its first work session of the year Jan. 6. Among the items council is taking on in 2015 is the question of outdoor seating for dining establishments.
City Manager Bruce MacLeod set the stage for the discussion by reviewing the disconnected and incomplete nature of current regulations with respect to outside seating and dining. Some rules exist for public property on Washington Street Mall. Some references exist within zoning regulations.
Overall there is, according to MacLeod, “very little reference to outdoor dining” in the city codes and he urged council to consider more appropriate ways to manage the issue as the desire for outdoor seating continues to grow.
MacLeod outlined several areas that would have to be considered in any uniform approach to the issue including public and private property, zoning, noise, lighting, time limits, parking and the potential impacts of seating on municipal licenses.
Mayor Edward Mahaney said that outdoor seating was part of a “popular trend” and needed to be encouraged in ways that maintain “the quality of life for everyone and keep a level playing field for businesses.”
Council is recommending establishment of a committee to gather information and formulate initial proposals. The formal empowering of such a committee will occur by resolution at the Feb. 20 meeting. The committee will include Council members, Beatrice Pessagno and Jerome Inderwies, Jr., MacLeod, the city attorney, representation from the police and fire departments, zoning and construction officers, and a representative from code enforcement.
Updating Technology
Daniel Shustack of the city’s Finance Department made a presentation on plans to modernize the technology that supports council meetings. He outlined three areas of proposed effort.
The first was the use of new equipment and processes, largely based on tablet technology, to move the council to a paperless rather than paper overload status. Through the use of electronic document standards and integrated email and scheduling software, the intent is to ease the paper burden and improve overall efficiency.
In related effort, Shustack proposed an upgrade to the council room communication system that would replace the “nest of wires” below the council table with a wireless communication system. The meeting room is the auditorium of the former Cape May High School.
Lastly, Shustack asked for the ability to expand the current Livestream system that allows real-time viewing of council meeting over the Internet. He wants to upgrade and expand the system so that it supports more city events and would also provide redundancy for existing equipment.
In 2014, council heard from the public more than once about desires for greater electronic access to documents that are discussed before council. Requests were made for PDF versions of resolutions being considered for example.
The modernization efforts described by Shustack did not touch on these concerns about public access to city information. Yet an effort to move the council to a paperless environment, even partially, would mean that electronic versions of the documents some citizens would like easier access to would be a requirement. That may take an effort to provide citizen access to such documents over a major hurdle.
City Salaries
MacLeod presented proposed changes to the city’s salary ordinance and asked for a formal introduction of the revamp ordinance at the Feb. 20 council meeting. He explained that periodic updating of the ordinance is a necessary activity to keep the ranges of salaries in line with positions and with newly-negotiated labor agreements.
In this instance, MacLeod added that changes to Civil Service designations also are driving needed alterations in the city ordinance. MacLeod presented a timetable to council that accommodates all the necessary approvals and publication requirements. If implemented according to this timetable, the effective date of the new ordinance would be March 17.
Special Council Meeting
City Clerk Louise Cummiskey announced a special meeting of council for Jan. 16 at 1 p.m. The meeting is being held to allow MacLeod to present his 2015 budget to council. MacLeod noted that required dates set by the state for this presentation have been extended, but that he is ready with the proposed budget and sees no need to delay.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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