Freeholder Actions: Smoke Detectors Given to County by Atlantic City Electric

CREST HAVEN — Cape May County Fire Marshal Conrad Johnson accepted 250 donated smoke detectors from Atlantic City Electric, represented by Ronnie Town, during the Nov. 25 freeholder caucus meeting. Those devices will be distributed to local fire companies which will give them to homes lacking them so that there is “Never a home without protection,” said Johnson.
Town noted that, since 2000, the utility had donated over 3,000 smoke detectors to residents of Cape May County, including 90 for those with special needs, such as hearing impaired.
Local fire companies are “There when we respond to a call. We can’t thank them enough for what they do,” Town said.
“You would be surprised how many homes do not have adequate smoke detector protection. They are the leading feature of fire service today,” Johnson said. He estimated the value of the 3,000 donated detectors at “over $50,000.”
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton said Town was “on the phone with us at 3 a.m.” during “big snow storms” and other emergencies.
Safety Recognition
The second award in the county’s Safety Recognition Program went to Mike Carpenter, who supervises the Grounds Shop. Jeffrey Lindsay, director of Human Resources, said the shop was found to be organized, clean with safety precautions taken during a recent inspection.
Ann Marie McMahon, director of Facilities and Services, added that Carpenter frequently gets calls from vendors who “can’t believe we have equipment kept so well for 20 or 30 years.”
In other actions the board:
• Established reimbursable mileage rate of 56 cents per mile for 2015 when a personal vehicle is used for county business.
• Designated holidays for the next year as either “celebrated” or “cash” days. Celebrated days are holidays for Monday through Friday employees. “Cash” days are days observed for employees working other than a five-day, Monday through Friday work week.
• Approved $3,626 change order (No. 4) for roof replacement and other upgrades at Wildwood Crest library with Buell Kratzer Powell. A separate resolution was passed for $5,419 to Aliano Brothers General Contractors Inc. for extra work to clean and caulk joints in the coper stone.
• Authorized agreement with Ocean View Veterinary Hospital for services on an alternating scheduled through Dec. 31, 2015 at the Animal Shelter.
• Contracted with Woodruff Energy for natural gas service through South Jersey Power Cooperative for two years. Based on historical data, acting Purchasing Agent Kevin Lare said it will save the county $85,000. Camden County is lead agency.
• Authorized acquisition, for $2.9 million with $2.61 million amortized over nine years at zero percent interest, for a block of Open Space land in North Wildwood. Payments of $290,000 annually will be made to the City of North Wildwood for nine years. The parcel is being upgraded for recreational use, and named in memory of Mayor William Henfey.