CAPE MAY – Cape May City Council began its March 2 meeting with a presentation to council and the public of its Energy Savings Implementation Plan (ESIP).
The plan’s, being developed by Johnson Controls, winning bidder from the list of state-approved firms, calls for a 15-year life span in which the city will benefit from a large number of energy-related infrastructure upgrades in a way that ensures costs associated with the work are covered by guaranteed savings.
The plan, developed over several months, calls for:
- Building automation system upgrades in a number of city facilities.
- Computer power management system.
- Emergency generator installed at the elementary school.
- LED lighting upgrades across city buildings.
- Over 90 city-owned street lights.
- A vehicle charging station located at the elementary school.
Cost of the facility upgrades is estimated to be around $750,000 and is guaranteed to produce savings over the 15 years of the plan of over $1 million.
The savings would be largely through energy efficiencies, but they also include anticipated rebates from the N.J. Clean Energy Program.
Mayor Edward Mahaney noted that the project has been reviewed by the city engineer and is being considered by the state.
A contract to have Johnson Controls move ahead with implementation is expected to be considered by council March 15.
Council member Shane Meier also praised the project as one in which the city not only “benefits financially” but also contributes to a “cleaner environment.” “It is a win-win,” he said.
Fire Chief
Council unanimously approved a resolution confirming Fire Chief Alexander Coulter as permanently appointed to that post. Coulter took office in August 2014 following the retirement of Jerry Inderwies, Jr., who subsequently was elected to council.
Coulter completed his one-year probationary period in 2015 and the council stated its desire to make him permanent chief subject to his satisfactory performance on the state Civil Service exam. Mahaney noted that the city received word Jan. 20 that Coulter met that requirement.
Coulter’s initial term in office saw a controversy in the city over whether or not the fire department had a sufficient personnel level to meet its responsibilities, especially in the heavily-populated summer season.
A committee was formed, of which Coulter was a member, and its report to council resulted in additional full-time personnel for the department along with additional seasonal positions for the demanding summer months.
Beach Safety
William Murray, an ex-member of council and present member of the board of the Taxpayers Association of Cape May, read a letter from Kate Wyatt, association president, into the record. According to Murray, the letter had been approved by the association’s board.
In the letter the taxpayers association urged council to take aggressive action on beach safety. Citing the fact that the city is only 90 days away from the opening of the summer season, the letter urged council to adjust its priorities away from what it claimed is a pattern of inaction on the issue.
The letter, while critical in parts, offered a number of suggestions, almost all of which were aimed at better education and warnings for beach goers.
A study commissioned by the city showed certain engineering options which might bring temporary relief from the steep slopes that cause dangerous, plunging waves, but the effects would not necessarily last even a full season and would be expensive.
The city pursued an avenue through which it hopes to partner with the Army Corp of Engineers in an effort to look at solutions to the slope problem.
Since the problem in Cape May might be related to the long period of beach replenishment projects, the city hopes that the corps will see it in its own interests to get ahead of a problem that may crop up in other municipalities in coming years.
Such a partnership would have great benefit to the city, but it is unlikely to impact the beaches this coming summer season.
Dennis DeSatnick, long an advocate for beach safety, followed after Murray read the association letter and carried the challenge further by stating that the council appointed a committee to look into possible avenues of action, but the committee never meets. His criticism of council evoked several responses principally from Roger Furlin and Mahaney.
Following a testy exchange, Mahaney assured residents that council is working on the issue.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
