March 12 Freeholder Actions

CREST HAVEN – The March 12 meeting, freeholders took the following actions:
• Awarded to Smeltzer and Sons Inc. of Court House a contract to furnish and deliver animal food for the County Animal Shelter and K-9 Unit of the Sheriff’s Department. Purchasing Agent Kim Allen told the board it amounts to about $40,000. It was the only bid submitted on Feb. 20.
• Awarded a contract to Ford Scott and Associates, LLC for auditing and financial services. The competitive contract was for $88,000. The firm was the lone one to submit a proposal to perform the work, according to Purchasing Agent Kim Allen in a March 1 letter to the board. The firm is the present provider of that service to the county. “Ford Scott’s costs are reasonable,” she wrote.
• Agreed to take part in planning and implementing goals, objectives and projects for the Shore Homeland Security Region, with a primary goal of determining how to allocate Homeland Security funds.
• Approved a shared services agreement with Upper Township Board of Education for shelter facilities, in the event of “adverse weather” or other disasters.
• Approved an agreement with Jewish Family Services of Atlantic County, Inc. in amount of $16,472 acquired through donated sources and in-kind contributions. The state Department of Children and Families donated that amount to the agency for social services.
• Authorized use of competitive contract to provide coin operated concession equipment at the County Park and Zoo. That was done, said Allen, because the county wishes to supplement some vending equipment in the park and zoo.
• Approved Commercial Fishing Revolving Loan to JJC Boats, Inc. for $108,500. The entity has a Cape May post office box, and intends to replace bulkhead at the Starlight Fleet Dock, 6200 Park. Blvd., Wildwood Crest. Interest rate is 3 percent, the term, seven years.
• Approved cooperative action with Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts and Humanities to assist the county with management of travel shows. County share will not exceed $20,000.
• Granted permission for the Ocean Drive Run Club, Inc. to conduct March 24 Ocean Drive Marathon from Cape May to Sea Isle City using county roads and Ocean Drive bridges. Among those bridges, the Townsend’s Inlet Bridge, closed to vehicular traffic because of devastated roadway on the Avalon side. County Engineer Dale Foster said the path could be made safe for runners, but no vehicles over the bridge.
• Approved contract documents to repair Cape Island Creek tide gate, which affects land in West Cape May and Cape May due to Hurricane Sandy. Bids will be received March 27 at 2 p.m. by Clerk of the Board Elizabeth Bozzelli.
• Accepted proposal of Hatch Mott MacDonald for $13,800 to provide professional engineering and license site remediation services at the Sea Isle City Branch of Cape May County Library.
• Accepted proposal of Modjeski and Masters, Inc. of Moorestown for $238,204 for professional services for Ocean Drive Bridge at Townsend’s Inlet for rehabilitation of the bascule and tollhouse spans.