Freeholders Approve Open Space Projects

CREST HAVEN – Freeholders agreed April 8 to shared service agreements for Open Space projects for five of six municipalities. The seventh, Woodbine, will have its project approved at the next freeholder meeting later this month.
For Upper Township, it means $280,350 to upgrade the Bayview Avenue boat ramp in Strathmere with ADA compliance. Also the township will get $220,000 for improvements to Amanda’s Field.
Middle Township will get $626,000 to upgrade the Ockie Wisting Recreation Complex in Rio Grande, at the former Fort Apache Campground.
Lower Township will get $36,260 for ADA upgrades on the Paul R. Will Recreation Complex.
Stone Harbor will get $99,600 for its Freedom Park Memorial, to be located by the firehouse, and will feature an artifact from the World Trade Center.
Avalon will receive $488,555 to upgrade its 39th Street playground and improve the 44th and 48th street dune and beach trail project.
Woodbine’s eco-park near the County Library branch will get formal approval at the April 22 meeting.
The board also approved:
• Amended this year’s budget for $80,000 to support long-range planning for community redevelopment in municipalities and counties sustaining damage from Superstorm Sandy.
• Increased the ceiling amount of a professional services agreement for remediation at Sea Isle City branch of the county library in the amount of $24,000 to Hatch Mott MacDonald.
• Appointed Barry Keefe as a member of the county Board of Social Services for five years to expire Dec. 31, 2018.
• Authorized aerial spraying for mosquito control.
• Designated April 2014 as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month for the county.
• Amended the budget in the amount of $130,267 for activities at the Prosecutor’s Office having to do with investigation and prosecuting insurance fraud.
• Amended the budget for $49,501with in-kind matching funds of $12,375 provided by Cape Regional Medical Center providing funding to support sexual assault victim assistance programs and to enhance the services and treatment of sexual assault victims.
• Accepted money from state Department of Law and Public Safety for law enforcement officers’ training and equipment. The money will be used to improve the existing firearms range at the Public Safety Training Center, maintain the fitness center and “possibly” create an emergency vehicle operations course and trainee-alternate route drug testing.
• At the Correctional Center, amended the contract with Trinity Service Group, Inc. for a slight increase in the cost of meals for inmates and staff. Inmate meals will cost $1.498 per meal and for staff, $1.82. The prices will remain from April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 supplied by Trinity Services Group, Inc.