STONE HARBOR – Stone Harbor Borough Council saw a continuation of a discussion of the electric infrastructure project June 7. Atlantic City Electric’s power upgrade for Seven Mile Island has been at the center of controversy here since last summer when the full plans for the project came into clear focus.
It was then that public outcry began in large measure as a reaction to the steel poles the utility company states represents the new standard for carrying high-voltage transmission lines.
The project nears completion in Avalon, and the substation at 60th Street is feeding power to the island. A chief reason given for the upgrade was increased resiliency, and part of that resiliency depends on a second power feed coming through Stone Harbor.
That part of the project has fallen behind schedule, with the utility notifying the borough that work needs to continue through June. Earlier plans called for completion by Memorial Day.
Borough Solicitor Marcus Karavan reported that he had put Atlantic City Electric on notice that the borough expects the work to be completed by June 30 and expects daily updates on progress toward that goal.
Karavan said the municipality would seek injunctive relief if the schedule slipped again.
The borough is reluctant to take action that would stop work at this point since the goal of officials and residents is to get the work completed without a need for resumption in the fall.
The utility has argued that failure to complete this loop in the overall project would eliminate the redundancy built into the original plan and leave the island vulnerable to power loss in response to a summer storm event.
A property owners’ group has filed a class-action lawsuit against the utility company, so the long-term future of the steel poles on the island is far from a settled issue.
The borough’s handling of the project became a significant political issue in the June 7 primary election and contributed to the apparent victory of Judith Davies-Dunhour over long-time Mayor Suzanne Walters to seek that seat with party consent in November.
A ticket supported by Davies-Dunhour also claimed the right to run for two available council seats in the Nov. 8 general election.
Other Business
Council adopted a resolution from Egg Harbor Township proclaiming Stone Harbor’s opposition to licensed casinos in the state outside of Atlantic City.
The resolution cited the negative impact such casinos would have on “jobs and business” in southern New Jersey, and the “downward pressure” they would exert on the region’s population.
Following two presentations of plans for the new police building on 95th Street, the borough approved a measure to seek bids for construction of the facility. Bids are expected by July 16.
Council also awarded a contract for services to support the borough-wide assessment reevaluation mandated by the state.
The process must be completed in time for new assessments to be used as a basis for property taxes in 2017.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
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