WILDWOOD CREST ─ “Welcome to Wildwood Crest” will be more than a sign in 2020, according to Mayor Don Cabrera, during the Jan. 7 reorganization meeting.
Borough Commissioners reflected on the progress made in 2019, and have their eyes set on the future in the year ahead. Without fanfare, the reorganization unfolded.
Changes in administration include the retirement of Police Chief Joseph McGrath, a 25-year veteran of the force. Cabrera welcomed Capt. Robert Lloyd as McGrath’s replacement.
“We (Crest) are in good hands,” Cabrera said.
Borough Solicitor Ronald Gelzunas will serve for another term, along with Marc DeBlasio as borough engineer. Both offices provide guidance and expertise as the administration improves the quality of life for taxpayers.
Quality of life stood out as a theme during the meeting, highlighted by two initiatives laid out by the mayor.
Cabrera announced a Welcoming New Businesses and Residents program. The program will include information about the borough, and a magnet.
Cabrera said commissioners should “stop by” new businesses and “acknowledge that they are here.”
As the borough anticipates revitalizing the New Jersey Avenue business district (http://bit.ly/2R4mEbd), creating a friendly environment is crucial.
New residents will be able to obtain their magnet and information at borough hall, and meet the administration staff. Developing a unique image among local coastal communities remains important to Cabrera.
Residents and guests who register to marry in the Crest can also expect a magnet, according to the mayor.
These “feel-good programs” are designed to increase communication and community spirit, said Cabrera.
Ongoing plans for New Jersey Avenue and renovating the former library will continue. In a phone interview Jan. 8, Cabrera said meetings and planning would take up most of 2020 to be ready for when the county begins reconstructing New Jersey Avenue. Business owners will be consulted as the plan unfolds, said the mayor.
The former library project rings in at $2.6 million; however, Cabrera said adjustments in the design lower the cost to $1.7 million. The borough applied to the county Open Space program for additional funding; a $354,545 Small Cities Grant was awarded by the state Department of Community Affairs for new bathrooms, along with a $121,000 insurance payment to cover wind damage inflicted on the former library (http://bit.ly/2sij9pe).
The floorplan includes a common area, gift shop, senior center/historical room, environmental outreach conference room, concession area, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compatible bathrooms.
A presentation for the Army Corps of Engineers’ dune system and ideas for the borough’s fishing pier (http://bit.ly/2QFMnrq) will be given in early February, according to Cabrera.
To contact Rachel Rogish, email rrogish@cmcherald.com.
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