Crest Explains Black Friday Outage, Dune Plan

WILDWOOD CREST ─ “A freak accident” describes a recent Black Friday (Nov. 25) Comcast service outage, an outage that affected residents and business owners throughout the greater Wildwoods community. 
Borough officials discussed the service disruption during the Board of Commissioners’ meeting Dec. 14 as Commissioner Don Cabrera explained the reason for the outage.
Questions have arisen if the service provided by Comcast is the same as provided off-shore and in larger, more urban settings.
Mayor Carl Groon also shed light on the borough’s thoughts concerning the Army Corps of Engineers’ dune plan; a plan that will affect not only Wildwood Crest but all of the Wildwoods.
The meeting began with an ordinance presented for second reading. The ordinance provides for “Augmenting and Amending Ch. 56A Rental Properties” in the borough.
According to the ordinance, establishing “licensing procedures, required inspections, and registration for all rental properties” will come into effect in light of the “Timber Glen Phase III v. Township of Hamilton, NJ” case that appeared before the state Superior Court in 2015.
All rental units “shall be registered with the borough” and the owner of a rental unit “shall submit a license application together with the required fee … to the Borough Clerk.”
Registration and licensing “shall be required on an annual basis,” at least once in every consecutive 12-month period.
A series of resolutions then came before commissioners, including the submission of a grant for the Greater Wildwood Municipal Alliance Consortium and approving “a change order” for the reconstruction of West Buttercup Road.
According to Borough Clerk Patricia Feketics, the borough’s portion of the reconstruction has decreased by $83,404.
Further insight into borough matters arose as all three commissioners gave comment on various projects.
Comcast Service
Cabrera shed light on the Nov. 25 Comcast service losses and said, “There was a fiber line cut.” After speaking with a Comcast representative, Cabrera learned that the wide outage was a “freak accident” and not caused by any routine maintenance.
Cabrera assured residents that Comcast provides the same level of service to all residents in the Wildwoods it  does on the mainland.
Cabrera said he is “working on getting Comcast more available in the community” to answer questions and provide residents with more information.
“Could they (Comcast) join us on one of your Saturday sessions?” Commissioner Joyce Gould asked Cabrera. Cabrera agreed with Gould’s suggestion.
Fios Resistance?
Borough Administrator Constance Mahon joined the discussion and remarked how Verizon Fios is “resistant” to come to the Wildwoods.
Mahon added that legislative pressure may be required in order for the service provider to reach the island. Groon expressed his interest in seeing a “franchise agreement” that would entice Verizon to cross the bay and set up its infrastructure.
Army’s Dune Plan
The long-awaited Army Corps plan for a dune line has been reviewed by commissioners. According to Groon, the “30 percent complete plan” presents both positives and negatives for the Crest.
“We will respond to what we have so far,” Groon said.
The commissioners also decided to have “No Smoking” signs installed on the Crest’s beach for the 2017 summer season and wait for further implementations to the plan in light of the dune project.
Progress on the old library and other facilities in the borough is still in early stages. 
According to Groon, no official decision has yet been made, though Public Works officials are looking at possibilities in repairing the old library roof.
To contact Rachel Rogish, email rrogish@cmcherald.com.