Mayor Delivers State of the Borough Address at Reorganization Ceremony

WOODBINE – Jan. 7, which incumbent Mayor William Pikolycky noted was the Eastern European Christmas, and thus “his Christmas,” Woodbine conducted its 113th swearing-in ceremony. This ceremony marked the seventh term for Pikolycky having served a previous 24 years in office.
Travelling from Trenton, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno administered oaths of office to Pikolycky as well as new Councilmen Hector Cruz and Dave Bennett. In doing so, Guadagno noted, “Woodbine Borough is well represented by its ‘jewel’ of a council who serve, as the wording of this oath attests ‘under the authority of the people. The mayor and council do not represent any particular party, be it Republican, Democrat or Independent but all the people.” She also commented that Woodbine has the tools to continue its growth because of its railroad, airport, business park and that “all should be proud of the progress the borough makes on behalf of its residents.”
Other local, county and state government representatives who attended the ceremony were unanimous in congratulating Pikolycky and his administration of the past two decades plus during their own brief remarks. These officials included Sen. Jeff Van Drew, Assemblyman Robert Andrzejczak, (both D-1st) and Assemblyman Samuel Fiocchi (R-1st).
“As a past mayor of Dennis Township,” Van Drew commented, “I can attest to the amazing job Mayor Pikolycky has done and highly value the special relationship I have with him and the borough. To be elected your first time is hard but to be continuously elected multiple times is extremely difficult and attests to this mayor’s accessibility and hard work.”
In his State of the Borough Address, (posted below in its entirety), Pikolycky highlighted his administration’s success in 2014 in submitting grant proposals approved by various state agencies including Transportation, Community Affairs, Human Services and Environmental Protection as well as the N.J. Economic Development Authority.
Projects represented by these grants run the gamut from streetscape enhancements, a new ecopark, improved school and fire department infrastructure as well as funding for Woodbine to take a leadership role with the Pinelands Byway’s effort to place signage on the Byway’s route.
Other projects awarded funding include U.S. Department of Agriculture support for the borough’s food bank facility, State DEP grants for recycling and FEMA money for hazard mitigation related to Woodbine’s drainage systems. Pikolycky said he is hopeful about the Borough’s 2015 applications such as its proposal to DOT for “Safe Routes to School” and new bikeways, and USDA funding for preliminary planning for borough sanitary wastewater services.
Pikolycky also highlighted that for the length of his seven terms he has held the line on the local purpose tax rate, and once again even had a slight decrease in 2014. Further, he said, “our ratable base, which decreased over the past several years as those all throughout Cape May County did, has re-bounded to pre-recession levels.” He attributed some of this tax health to the borough’s tax collection rate, which remains strong and stands currently at 98 percent.
“Woodbine’s future continues to be bright and I am honored to be able to serve another term,” Pikolycky concluded.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
The following is the mayor’s State of the Borough Address as prepared for delivery:
Mayor WIlliam Pikolycky, Woodbine
January 7, 2015
• It is my great pleasure to report to you the State of the Borough of Woodbine along with my wishes for the best in this New Year on this “Little Christmas”—our Eastern European celebration of the holiday—and to thank the people of Woodbine for electing me for a seventh term.
• I want to thank my team, both from Council and our professionals. I have surrounded myself with good, strong advisors and I look forward to working with them over the next four years.
• I want to welcome and thank all of you for attending and am particularly appreciative of Lt. Governor Guadagno for taking time out of her busy schedule to be here.
• I am pleased to note that for my twenty-four previous years as Mayor, we have held the line on the local purpose tax rate, and even better, we once again had a slight decrease this past year.
• This was accomplished despite the many financial challenges over those years and this latest recession.
• Our ratable base, which had decreased over the past several years as have those all throughout the County, has rebounded to pre-recession levels.
• Our tax collection rate remains strong, currently at approximately 98%.
• Despite these challenges, Woodbine has prevailed in making sure its municipal needs are met without any additional local tax burden. Only 17.4 cents in every dollar collected in taxes remains with the Borough. The balance is distributed to our school district and to the County.
• I remain committed to hold the line on taxes as we formulate our 2015 Municipal Budget and as a practice today and every day throughout the year as we move forward.
• Woodbine has scored high on our State “Best Practices” rating in promoting financial accountability, sound management, sustainability, and transparency.
• “Best Practices” are taken into account when State aid is allocated.
• We will continue to be resourceful by leveraging multiple resources, and through shared services. In this regard, I ask for your support as well as ideas.
• The Borough is continually looking for ways to engage in shared services including with the Woodbine Municipal Utilities Authority, the Woodbine Port Authority, Woodbine Developmental Center, the Woodbine School District, Middle Township Court System, and with both Cape May County and the State of New Jersey.
• In fact, well in advance of shared services becoming a State mandate, Woodbine had established shared services agreements with the School District and our Authorities which has resulted in ongoing savings to our taxpayers.
• This partnering and collaboration with both private and public entities is a part of how we accomplish cost savings with no reduction in services, with in fact some expansion of services. Some examples:
• Among the shared synergies we have with our local branch of the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey is our collaborative effort with them, with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Center, the Cape May County Technical School, and other partners as we work toward developing our Open Space environmental educational and eco-tourism park on 25 acres of land adjacent to our Community School Complex/County Library Branch and a short walk from Stockton’s Woodbine site.
• Cape May County freeholders have awarded an engineering design contract for Routes 550 and 638 which could not have come at a better time as it would leverage our DOT Transportation Alternative Program and Municipal Aid applications. This will include the reconstruction of Route 550 from the intersection of Route 557 down to approximately the Route 610 intersection.
• Another example of this cooperative mind-set is the partnership between the Cape May County MUA, the Woodbine Developmental Center, and Woodbine’s own MUA who are working together with the USDA in taking a regional approach in addressing current and future wastewater needs.
• Woodbine is set to be the home for Cape May County’s first public-use Compressed Natural Gas Station.
• I applaud the efforts of the County MUA in working with my office to site this $2 million facility here in Woodbine.
• We are pleased to welcome the Clean Energy Corporation, a nationally recognized leader in this field, who own and operate this facility.
• Our Woodbine State Police barracks have become very involved in community activities, partnering with our business community, non-profits, and faith-based organizations in a number of outreach activities.
• Speaking of faith-based & non-profits:
• We are nearing completion of the upgrades to our former Ambulance Building for the monthly food distribution administered there by First Baptist Church.
• The Neighborhood Outreach Center at St. Casimir’s offers High School Equivalency and English Language classes, and has served as a resource to our Municipal Alliance.
• I want to commend Cape Assist for the programs they have brought to Woodbine at our Community Center, at the Stockton Anne Azeez Hall, and to Woodbine Elementary School.
• We were an active participant in the now successful effort to have Cape May County designated as a Coast Guard Community. Woodbine is home to the Uniform Distribution Center and also hometown to two retired Admirals, who lent their support in obtaining this designation.
• The Coast Guard uses our airport for helicopter training on a regular basis.
• Freeholder Will Morey has announced a County-wide Coast Guard Celebration to be held in early May.
• Woodbine was chosen to be the distribution site for Cape May County for the State’s Tree Recovery Campaign—this based on our sterling record with New Jersey DEP’s Forestry Division.
• We have accomplished additional savings by combining our single-stream recycling and our trash pickups onto the same weekly schedule.
• In addition to shared services as noted above, our long-term relationships with Federal, State, and County agencies have resulted in our obtaining recurring grant funding for much needed and planned community and economic development projects.
• Allow me to elaborate on some of the many projects planned, underway, or recently completed.
• Our municipal airport and the airport business park continue to grow as an economic engine for the Borough.
• Airside improvements include rehab of our runways and taxiways, improvement of our safety areas, helicopter parking apron, removal of obstructive debris– all making our municipal airport a first class general aviation airport.
• All this has been made possible with the support of the Federal Aviation Administration and New Jersey DOT Aviation Bureau.
• We take this time to also thank our Legislators who, in recognizing the importance of these efforts, have endorsed these projects so as to assist us in obtaining the necessary aid.
• I believe this cooperation and support is in recognition of the needs in our community but also of the opportunities that exist to create a sustainable economy built on a solid foundation of infrastructure, public facilities, and public services.
• Gentilini Motors has doubled its influence with the opening of its new Chevy facility next to the existing Ford dealership, both of which are now gateways to our Airport Business Park.
• The Department of Transportation, along with other funding sources such as FEMA, continues to provide the Borough with funding towards streetscape, bikeways, road reconstruction, sidewalks, curbing, and enhanced drainage, thus addressing these transportation needs without increasing the burden to local taxpayers.
• Our Safe Routes to Schools education and infrastructure programs are progressing well and were featured in Cross County Connections transportation magazine.
• That same magazine cited our Complete Streets program in its most recent issue.
• Relating to Public Safety, we have received grants from the Department of Community Affairs for both our water tower and firehouse.
• Our water tower serves the area as a communications tower, and this aspect was upgraded as well.
• Our Firehouse is receiving needed repairs and restoration, bringing it up to state-of-the-art status while preserving its historic value and architectural character.
• Woodbine also realized savings through our record of safety with the Joint Insurance Fund.
• We have also been a leader with the Pinelands Byway’s now successful efforts to obtain signage for this and other municipalities on the Byway’s route.
• During 2014, Woodbine received or administered approximately $ 4 million in grants for community and economic development projects as well as for our municipal airport and business park.
• There is over $ 3 million in project applications pending or under review from various Federal and State agencies.
• Our Recreation Commission continues to provide youth-oriented programs, including sports, and we welcome long-time Commission member Hector Cruz to Borough Council.
• I especially want to congratulate Coach Bob Lasko and his Woodbine South Jersey Rams girls’ basketball team who won the 2014 Ocean City Summer Basketball Girls 7th to 9th Grade Championship.
• They have also won the Dixie Howell Grade School Championship, the Lower Township Christmas Tournament and the Woodbine Invitational Tournament.
• And I also congratulate the 7/8th grade boys “Woodbine Rams” team, who won the South Shore Basketball League title and their coaches Torey Harris and Melissa Rodriguez.
• A pilot program for Meals on Wheels offered three days a week at the Community Center was successful, but the County’s program funding expired.
• We are now working with the County to share senior services, including meals, with the Upper Township Senior Center, which has these programs five days a week.
• Woodbine AARP continues its presence in our community, meeting currently at the Anne Azeez annex of Stockton College.
• This is one example of the community outreach by Stockton, which has increased its course offerings and provided employment to several Woodbine residents as well as bringing students into Woodbine’s business district.
• Woodbine Municipal Alliance also continues its anti-drug, tobacco, and other substance outreach throughout the community, with assistance from volunteers from many sectors of the community, all of whom we thank at this time, including Stockton who hosted an Alliance/Cape Assist presentation at Anne Azeez Hall.
• A major project is the “Revisit Lincoln Park” which resulted in the painting of the pathway for the Born Learning Trail, and a now-to-be annual Park Cleanup event.
• The “painting the town red” Red Ribbon Week display of red ribbons throughout the town promoted drug prevention and violence awareness.
• The Born Learning Trail itself had its ribbon-cutting Grand Opening in April. We thank the County Department of Health for their efforts in locating this Trail in Woodbine.
• I would like to extend our gratitude to the peer leaders of Woodbine Elementary School for their Clean Communities Cleanup, for their help with the Municipal Alliance Lincoln Park cleanup, and for their planting of red tulip bulbs throughout the community during Red Ribbon Week.
• Very near Lincoln Park, we have our reinstituted Head Start and Early Head Start Programs under the stewardship of Gateway Community Action Partnership, who are frequent users of the Born Learning Trail.
• The Grand Opening of the Born Learning Trail was combined this year with our now annual Mayor’s Day of Volunteer Recognition—which especially honors Senior volunteers in our community.
• The Borough, in partnership with the Cape May County Animal Shelter Alliance, continues to promote the health and safety of the Borough’s animal population, and to hold an annual rabies clinic.
• Also promoting our pets’ health and safety is our Animal Control service, Shore Animal Control, who keep our residents updated with frequent bulletins in our local papers.
• The Cape May County Library has added monthly hands-on workshops to their presentations at our Woodbine branch.
• And on the subject of reading, I was a proud participant in the New Jersey League of Municipalities-sponsored Mayor’s Book Club.
• The efforts of the participating children, who read over 1600 books, earned $1000 in funding for Woodbine Elementary School.
• The Experience Works Program continues to be a big help to our municipality
by providing funding for workers being trained throughout the Borough, and who staff our Community Center.
• At this time, I would like to once again thank that Federally-funded Experience Works Program and all the many Experience Work-ers who have labored in our community, especially those in our municipal buildings.
• I thank the Greater Woodbine Chamber of Commerce as it continues its
hard work throughout the community and Woodbine Region promoting Woodbine –and wish them better weather for their third annual car show this coming year.
• Please check the Chamber out on their website.
• The Chamber uses monies from the car show to sponsor a college scholarship for a Woodbine high school senior.
• The most recent recipient was Ariel Cooper, daughter of Dr. & Mrs. Cooper of Woodbine. Ariel attends Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland, where she is a member of the Cheer Squad.
• The Chamber also sponsored an informational session on the affordable care act.
• And, again, I thank the Lt. Governor for her appearance last year at the Chamber Luncheon at Anne Azeez Hall.
• I would also like to thank the Borough Council, appointed officials and members of our Boards, Authorities, and Commissions, first responders, Borough employees, and Borough professionals for their dedicated work for Woodbine and all those committees who volunteer their time and lend their experience, time, and talent. My thanks to all of you!
Mayor’s Remarks to Lt. Gov. Guadagno at start of ceremony:
I recognize that Lt. Gov. Guadagno has a very busy schedule and I wish to express my sincere appreciation to her for taking the time to swear me in for my seventh term as Mayor of the Borough of Woodbine.
Lieutenant Governor, you are no stranger to our community: you showed your commitment to Woodbine when you were guest speaker at the Greater Woodbine Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at Stockton’s Anne Azeez Hall here in Woodbine.
At that time, you graciously gave out your phone number and Paul Gentilini of Gentilini Motors took advantage of this opportunity. He thanks you for your assistance.
Just the other day, you spoke at another Stockton location, the former Marriott Seaview Inn, at which time you provided a very positive and optimistic look for New Jersey’s future.
Woodbine has always taken an aggressive approach to pursuing grant funding to help offset our local property tax. But this is not something that can be undertaken alone and we very much value the relationships that have evolved over the years, including and especially the streamlining that we benefitted from through your Red Tape Committee.
I wish to thank the Christie Administration and to recognize the extraordinary help from the Departments of Transportation, Community Affairs, Human Services, and Environmental Protection as well as the Economic Development Authority, all of whom have made prudent investments in Woodbine, money well spent with very positive impacts throughout our community.
I believe that this partnership with the various Departments and Agencies of State is a reflection of the proactive, prudent policies that have been set by the Governor and yourself for which I am most appreciative.
The future remains bright for Woodbine.
Lieutenant Governor, as we progress into that future, I may need to call you on your cell phone and I am confident that if and when I do, you will, as you always have, be there for me and for the Borough.
I am delighted and most appreciative that you have graciously taken the time to be here and to allow me to share Woodbine’s vision and ask for your continued support as we move forward and take important next steps to promote the State’s agenda here in our Borough.
Lieutenant Governor, I know you have a very busy schedule and need to move on and so I once again wish to thank you for attending and wish you a Blessed Eastern European Christmas– which is today, “my” Christmas, consider this letter my wish list.
Awarded in 2014: Received:
FEMA Hazard Mitigation drainage Project
DOT—Heilprin Ave drainage
DCA—Firehouse
USDA for Food Bank facility
USDA-SHARE- Landfill Leachate Feasibility Study
Contracts Awarded
Water tower (DCA)
USDA for Food Bank Facility
USDA (foodbank)
DCA Firehouse
DOT
Municipal Alliance
DEP Clean Communities funding
DEP recycling grant
CMCMUA recycling rebate
DEP Green Communities grant
DEP CSIP grant (Jefferson Avenue Tree survey)
Some Pending applications:
DOT—TAP for Town Center
DOT– Safe Routes to Schools
DOT—DeHirsch, Sumner, Bikeway
USDA-Preliminary Planning Application: Borough Sanitary Wastewater Services
HDSRP—site remediation
DOT/FAA Airport Projects Applications