Lower Recaps Dune Walk Meeting; Discusses Potential MUA Dissolution

VILLAS – Lower Township Council met June 2 and opened with a recap of its May 31 special meeting concerning the plan to build improved sidewalk and crosswalk access to the Delaware Bay beaches in Ward 2. Councilman James Neville noted that the “passionate residents” of that area left no doubt in his mind that “we should abandon the idea completely, and put the sidewalk project to rest.” He asked that a resolution be drafted to end the application for grant funds for that purpose. (See related story here.)
Deputy Mayor Norris Clark agreed that the people had spoken, but added that much of the problem was lack of communication to the residents about the concept that has been considered for quite a while. He suggested that the communication gap was partly caused by the lack of a public information officer who would have ensured that the community was fully informed early in the process.
Clark also praised the work of the Recreation Planning Board which much grief over the project. He added that members were merely doing their job, and did it well. Councilman Erik Simonsen agreed that members of the Recreation Planning Board just did their job.
Mayor Michael Beck agreed that although they had planned to move the process forward to apply for county Open Space funding, the project should be placed on hold. He added that a resolution should be drafted for the next council meeting to that effect if council agrees.
Solicitor Ronald Gelzunas explained the process for the resolution that would be needed. All members seemed convinced that the so-called “dune project” was not going anywhere.
MUA Dissolution Discussion
An ordinance concerning the proposal to dissolve Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority came before council and triggered heated debate among council members. This ordinance was introduced for on first reading.
Councilman Thomas Conrad repeated his prior objections concerning the action’s timing. “What’s the rush?” he asked. Conrad added that he still has some questions about the so-called million-dollar savings. “We are trying to spend a lot of money here. …What are the costs really?” he asked.
Conrad continued that the costs to dissolve the MUA were still unknown, and combined with other improvement projects that are planned in the township, in his opinion “a tax increase, somewhere, to cover all these costs” would be necessary. He complained that the $1-million savings figure is merely “paper savings” at this point.
Beck refuted the idea that taxes would be raised, saying that taxes would actually be put on hold to the amount of $1 million saved. Conrad continued to question the timing and money that would be saved, at one point characterizing the savings cited as “monopoly money.” He later clarified that he meant to say that the savings exist only on paper.
Beck repeated his prior arguments. “This is a home run,” he said, referring to the savings projected by absorbing the MUA utility services. He addressed Conrad directly, asking him, “What will it take for you to support this? This is a million dollars!”
Township Manager Michael Voll gave a defense of the concept saying that all five councilmen had requested that he investigate the idea and that he has tried to respond to all questions from each member. He offered to answer any question Conrad had at any time. When asked by Simonsen if he would get a raise based on the added burden of running a larger Public Works Department, Voll responded, “No! I do not want a raise.”
Beck also addressed Conrad by advising that this was just the first reading, and that he has two more months to get answers to his questions.
When discussion ended, the vote went along political lines with Beck, Clark and Neville voting yes, and Simonsen and Conrad voting no. The document will be published in the official newspaper and a public hearing held after that publication. After a hearing, the matter will receive a council vote that will determine final disposition.
The second related ordinance regarding the creation of a Water and Sewer Division to accommodate the dissolution of the MUA was passed with the same voting breakdown.
Public Information Officer
The Township Council also passed a resolution to appoint a new public information officer that names Lauren Suit, a Villas resident, as the new person in charge of that duty. All members praised her credentials and competence. That vote also broke along political lines with Beck, Neville and Clark voting yes, and Conrad who objected to any new hires at all, voting no. Simonsen also voted no although he had kind words for the new public information officer.
To contact Jim McCarty, email jmccarty@cmcherald.com.