SEA ISLE CITY – City Council held its regular meeting June 28. Given that summer is in full swing, much of members’ discussion and public comment centered on status of the city’s beaches.
A perennial issue has been how to help the elderly and mobility-impaired more easily traverse the fine, “sugar” sand on the municipality’s beaches.
Council agreed to continue to explore methods to achieve that goal and consult with other towns whose beaches might be more accessible.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, several residents continued offering input regarding the state of the resort’s beaches.
“Water is pooling up on beachfront due to replenishment,” noted one property owner. “We need to have this water accumulation taken care of,” she continued.
Business Administrator George Savastano promised to look into the matter.
Beach Tag Report
Savastano reported on the year-to-date sale of beach tags which for the city, as for many of Cape May County’s beach towns, is an annual revenue generator of significant proportion.
As of June 27, the city had sold $1,622,380 in beach tags which represents a $22,000 increase over 2015.
The city has given free of charge 1,173 beach tags to military service members and veterans.
Kehner Heads Council
Council member William Kehner was elected council president, replacing John Gibson, who will have fulfilled his one-year term as of June 30.
“I am very proud and humbled that you have chosen me to lead council for the coming year,” said Kehner. “I want to thank all of the city’s citizens for the confidence they have shown in me, and I also appreciate very much the support I always receive from Mayor (Leonard) Desiderio, city administration and staff,” he concluded.
Kehner was first elected to Council in 2007 and has served two terms. Kehner also served one four-year term under the former commission form of government from 1977-1981.
Agenda Items
Council considered and ultimately passed by unanimous vote some consent agenda items. Among those resolutions was one for approval to purchase, under state contract, portable radios for the municipality’s police department in the amount of $30,694.
Another resolution that council approved authorized the advertising of a bid to purchase a utility truck for the fire department.
Council approved a resolution which extends the stipend program for volunteers of the ambulance corps who meet certain minimum standards of participation as explained and regulated in previous council resolutions from years 2014-2015.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
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