CREST HAVEN – Freeholders agreed to table a resolution June 24 that would have had an architectural firm conduct a $3,000 site assessment for a multi-level parking garage in Cape May.
Director Gerald Thornton told the Herald the resolution should not have even been included in the afternoon’s agenda. “I don’t think the county should be involved. It is not feasible. It will never be able to pay for itself in a three-month period of time,” Thornton said. Still he lauded Freeholder Will Morey for working on economic issues including wineries, aquaculture and unmanned aircraft-related industry at the county airport.
Thornton labeled parking “a municipal issue” in such places as Ocean City, Cape May and Wildwood, and said the county would not venture into the area.
Morey, who oversees economic development, said he believed the county could assist with technical services. Morey noted the county “Partners in other communities to raise the bar of economic development. We have technical expertise and other abilities that would be helpful.” He said it could be the county would be “joint venture partners. It could be a revenue earning situation as we look at alternative sources of revenue.”
Morey said, prior to the tabling motion, Cape May was “the easiest place, Ocean City is next and Wildwood is the hardest. The county has taken leadership positions before. We are investing nominal dollars to see if it would be productive for the municipality and county.”
Thornton countered, if such a project seemed profitable someone would have already done so in Cape May. He noted, too, that the county has, for the last 15 years, allowed parking meters to be placed by municipalities along county roadways “especially in Cape May and Wildwood.”
“I have a lot of hesitation getting into the parking business,” said Thornton.
Morey said it would have been “like so many other partnerships. This is a really important chance to reach out to make projects feasible involving the county early-on. We can help make it happen, if we want to move the economic needle.”
Mid-managers given certificates
A group of county middle-management employees was present at the caucus to receive certificates from Dr. Richard Perniciaro of Atlantic Cape Community College. They had completed a course that focused on leadership, administrative and supervisory skills. Director of Operations Michael Laffey noted that the employees were among the third class that took the course.
The idea to train mid-level managers, and future department heads, was the brainchild of Edmund Grant. It became apparent after a mass retirement depleted the county’s departments that training of the next generation was needed. Laffey noted the college ‘Has a long history of providing training. We are repeat customers. We would like to keep the partnership going.”
In other action the board:
• Authorized $225,000 commercial fishing loan to Ocean Clam, Inc. to refurbish the F/V Madison III. The Ocean View-based company agreed to the seven year, 3 percent interest rate. It is also guaranteed by Richard Stocker.
• Approved a one-year agreement with Inspira Medical Center of Woodbury and Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for evacuation of residents in event of emergencies. A state regulation dictates that a long-term care center must be a minimum of 50 miles from the original facility.
• Awarded an open-end contract to East Coast Helicopter Inc. to perform FAA-mandated inspections and maintenance of a Hiller helicopter at the Department of Mosquito Control.
• Appointed Katie Faldetta as a member of the Human Services Advisory Council from July 1 until Dec. 31, 2016.
• Amended agreements to add fire-fighting instructors for the Fire Marshal’s Office: Mark Cifaloglio, Gus Crist, Robert Feltwell, Michael Johnson, Ronald McGowan, William Cripps, Daniel Dunn, Arthur Hayden and Dominick McClain.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
