Extend Outside Music Time? Residents Oppose Idea

SEA ISLE CITY – This city adhered to its annual tradition of holding its council meeting falling before Memorial Day on a Saturday, this year May 20.
The meeting allows second homeowners an opportunity to catch up on agenda items. Three Council members, Chairperson William Kehner, John Divney and Jack Gibson, were present along with administration and the solicitor.
Council introduced on first reading an ordinance which was an amendment to revise hours when music, dancing, and entertainment are limited to permitted hours. 
This ordinance elicited some negative reactions during the public comment.
Opposition to Extended Hours
“The ordinance extends the hours when live music outside bar areas can be performed from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.,” explained Solicitor Paul Baldini.
Elizabeth Ashford said she was opposed to any extension of hours and that Sunday hours for bands should not be allowed, but she was “Ok with Friday and Saturday.”
Richard Houseworth was “concerned with the process.”
He added, “There has been no study that includes input from the citizens and most especially from the residents. I feel that a small minority is imposing their will on the majority in this case.
“And don’t we already have a noise ordinance which should be enforced and which would address this issue? How is that noise ordinance being implemented and how can we be sure the testing is meeting the regulation’s standards?”
Other residents concurred as one noted, “Sea Isle already has enough noise and chaos, why would we even consider adding to it with extending hours for live music?”
Another resident said, “I live close to the bar area, and the music is already too loud and goes on too long. I can’t even hear my own TV.” Two other residents stated opposition to approval of the ordinance with another stating, “I was fined as a Sea Isle homeowner for people using my property who made too much noise. Why doesn’t the city give equal treatment of taxpayers with businesses?”
With Gibson opposing moving to a second reading of the ordinance, council approved its consideration for enactment along with opportunity for public comment at its June 13 meeting.
Bridge Still Not Ready
Business Administrator George Savastano reported that the county had informed him that the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge would not be open for Memorial Day despite earlier hopes that this could be the case.
“At this point, it’s not clear when repairs will be finished. The county is informing the public through updates on its website,” he said.
More Flooding Data
Gibson recommended that Sea Isle City enhances its documentation of flooding events with more details that would include specifics on tide levels, amount of rain and similar.
He recommended as well that the city use a grant to study flooding issues in more detail and form a related citizens committee to support the study.
Resident John Henry added, “It would be helpful if the city could sound alarms to announce flooding especially sounding an alarm in the middle of the night when most of us would not know such flooding is happening. Please seriously consider this suggestion.”
Landis Avenue Repairs
A resident said she was “looking for answers as to what is happening with repairs to Landis Avenue between 74th and 76th streets.”
Savastanos replied that the city, in conjunction with the county, received bids on May 16 to repave and that May 22 he expected an award to be made that would allow for milling and repaving curb to curb with a deadline to finish the work by June 22.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.