Dennis Township OKs Union Contract

DENNISVILLE – Dennis Township Committee met Dec. 6 and proceeded through a lengthy consent agenda and updates on township operations. 
All items on the consent agenda were unanimously passed by the committee including several resolutions pertaining to ratification of a collective bargaining agreement between the township and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1293 which represents certain employees of municipal Department of Public Works.
On the regular agenda was a resolution which authorized a change order for ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) work being done under a state Department of Community Affairs Small Cities Block Grant.
“We are having $400,000 worth of improvements done for our senior center and while the area around the front door was being worked on the suggestion was made to build a temporary asphalt walk to the side entrance.
“However, a better solution was to build a real sidewalk to the side entrance rather than have to remove the asphalt walk, so that’s the reason for the change order,” explained Township Clerk Jacqueline Judge.
Committee unanimously approved an ordinance which increases the threshold for which three bids are needed from solicited vendors from over $500 to over $1,500 for public purchasing. The directive to accept the lowest price remains in effect.
Mayor John Murphy confirmed that the township had finally received its requested amount for Storm Jonas damage from Federal Emergency Management Agency of $5,880.
Committee member Lisa Salimbene reported that last year’s fourth-grade class had visited the County Historical Museum and as a result, this year fifth graders were being recognized as “Young Historians” through the museum for their continued interest in studying the history of the county.
She had high praise for the work fellow Committee member Julie Fry DeRose had done to make the township’s shredding day so successful. She also reported that there have been a number of vehicle break-ins in the neighborhoods of Gravel Hole Road and Dennis Village Lane.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, a resident pointed out that he has seen “loads of wires which should be underground around the cable and phone steel poles at Sea Isle Boulevard. There was similar construction in the area of the hospital, but the wires had been taken care of to form neat bundles.”
Township Engineer John Gibson said he had seen the same situation referred to at Sea Isle Boulevard and was waiting for action to be taken but now will call and see if a solution to this problem can be accelerated.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.