Liquor License Renewals, Pylons Get City Council’s Attention

CAPE MAY – The June 6 work session of Cape May City Council included a presentation from Warren Coupland, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. The focus concerned the dangers of pylon placements.  
The use of pylons is increasing as the city responds to Federal Emergency Management Agency guidance, but proper care is needed to protect historically significant properties from the negative impact of vibrations during placement.
Coupland pointed out that on a scale of 0 to 1, where 0 is no vibration; some historic structures can experience damage at levels of vibration as low as .2.
Coupland’s message focused on the newer technology of helical piles which use galvanized metal and are screwed into the ground in a manner that is less damaging than current methods.
Mayor Edward Mahaney said council’s purpose in getting the presentation was to stay abreast of new technology and to consider what might be preferred technology for residential construction.
Liquor Licenses
Preparing for the annual renewal process for liquor licenses, council heard from Capt. Robert Sheehan on police activity related to licensed establishments in the past year. At least two establishments carry special conditions attached to their licenses, conditions that require continuous communication with the police department concerning problems, complaints or police enforcement incidents.
Sheehan praised the regular, in some senses, weekly communication sessions. Sheehan also said that the department mails a letter to the license owner after any incidents to ensure that owners are properly informed.
The police department has been conducting preseason compliance checks to identify potential problems early in the busy summer season. With respect to two businesses with special conditions, council asked Sheehan to have his department make specific recommendations as whether or not the conditions should remain as they are or can be removed or relaxed.
Council approved a closed session after the public meeting to prepare for the formal license renewal considerations which will take place at the June 20 meeting.
Other Business
City Engineer Thomas Thornton reported that the bids were in for the Welcome Center parking and lighting project.
Thornton said the council would have a resolution at its June 20 meeting for an award of the contract. All work except lighting should be done by Aug. 26, with the lighting portion completed by Sept. 25.
The city, with the school board’s consent, has assumed management of the project for the elementary school swimming pool.
The project, which has grown to about $2 million, will focus on replacement rather than repair of the current pool along with new locker rooms.
Mahaney said the study showed that the city and school system would be better off with a replacement pool.
The city also awarded a contract for a water well, Well Number 8.
State funding is involved in the project.
Mahaney noted that the $1.1-million effort should begin in September and be completed over the course of 2017.
City Manager Bruce MacLeod informed the public about upcoming meetings of two committees that have significant public interest.
The Beach Safety Committee will meet for the second time June 13 at 4 p.m. in the council meeting room.
Beach safety issues have been a high priority item for the governing body. The issue has been the subject of much comment at meetings.
The Outdoor Seating Committee was formed to deal with matters related to a potential ordinance which could establish municipal controls and fees over the growing number of outdoor seating environments where food and beverages are served. At a June 1 meeting, according to MacLeod, the committee was exposed to ordinances from eight other municipalities that have grappled with similar issues.
MacLeod said that the committee had elected to meet on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at 1 p.m. Those meetings will be held in the council meeting room. The next order of business calls for the committee to get into the task of “defining seating and seats,” an issue more complicated than it may initially seem.
The next meeting of council has been moved from its usual time to June 20 at 1 p.m.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.