Electric Upgrades for Dennis

DENNISVILLE – This municipality’s governing body met June 13 and heard a presentation from Atlantic City Electric on proposed upgrades that affect the township. 
“Over the last decade, we have seen beyond normal weather such as Derechos, hurricanes, and microbursts. So we are focusing on upgrading reliability for transmission poles with galvanized steel and conductors for example from Paulsboro to Cape May,” explained David Harden, utility project manager.
“The project runs about two and three-quarters miles through Dennis, and we were expecting to start this November and complete the project in April 2018. However, we may need to push out the project a full year because of budgetary and liability concerns.
“So there’s a 50-50 chance regarding the original timing of the project, and as of now the timeline is kind of up in the air,” concluded Harden.
As follow up, another electric utility project manager, Michael Picucci, spoke about upgrading the Sea Isle City sub-station which “has not been upgraded since 2008. We hope to have two transformers with a redundancy of one with installation starting September 2018 for use in service in 2019,” said Picucci.
Engineer’s Report
Township Engineer John Gibson briefed committee on several pending projects.
He discussed that a draft related to FEMA’s [Federal Emergency Management Agency] documentation for flood insurance for residents had been sent to Trenton, and he was waiting for their input.
Another issue Gibson is pursuing is a Department of Environmental Protection letter received that “is a rather serious issue” pursuant to the federal Clean Water Act.
“We are graded through annual reports I submit, so I recommend we send this letter as a reminder to the owners of the campgrounds and those property owners who are pursuing new site plans for compliance and verification,” explained Gibson.
Bikeway, Parking Area
Gibson also raised the proposal of engineering services for a bikeway and parking area, not the larger bike path project committee has been working on, but one near the recreation center.
The township has received a Department of Transportation grant for it. “This bikeway can be used for walkers as well as bikes. I have already done a lot of work getting the engineering proposal ready when I learned just tonight that the recreation director ‘has concerns’ related to a dual drowning in the lake of this property several years ago.
“She also is concerned about branches that might fall on the path and who would take care of that,” said Gibson.
Committee decided to proceed with environmental waiver requests and work out maintenance of the site.
Committee member Donald Tozer said public works personnel could step in as needed to take care of groundskeeping.
Committee member Lisa Salimbene said that elementary school children had done an art project to learn about shorebirds and their relation to horseshoe crabs.
Their work is on display in the municipal building foyer.
Committee member Melanie Smith announced that summer camp for the township starts June 27. Gates that might normally be open in that vicinity will be closed per the campers’ schedule of activities.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.