Middle Gets $1.6 Million to Boost Bay Habitat

COURT HOUSE – Migratory birds and horseshoe crabs along with residents of Reeds Beach and Pierce’s Point received great news at the Middle Township Committee meeting Nov. 4. Deputy Mayor Timothy Donohue announced the receipt of $1.6 million from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
The money is for restoration of bayside habitat. Donohue explained that the money will be used to build berms and restore flats before the arrival, next spring, of horseshoe crabs and the migrating birds that feed on them. No matching funds from the township are required.
The committee also approved the amount of $16,000 to replace the broken boiler at the Martin Luther King Center. The old boiler was irreparable, as its parts are no longer manufactured. The center has no heat but should in about a week. Nick Badame Refrigeration will do the installation.
A resolution to appoint Justin Cox as special events coordinator, with a $1,000 raise, brought comments from resident Sam Kelly. Kelly mistakenly believed that the $1,000 was a stipend for work Kelly believed Cox should do anyway as part of his regular duties. It was explained that the increase in Cox’s salary is for added responsibilities.
Kelly next voiced his conflict with committee members Mayor Daniel Lockwood and Donohue regarding what he viewed as unfair comments about Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st).
During questions from the public regarding Patsy’s Way, the proposed development of nine houses designed for the disabled, Judy Andersen had questions concerning the position of committee on the project.
Lockwood told her that they had not approved or funded the project but the developer had dealt with state agencies. “These are both state agencies and well within the purview of our state senator,” Lockwood said. He told Andersen that the comments made by Van Drew at the work session two weeks ago were inaccurate. He suggested that the senator’s constituents contact him about these issues.
Kelly felt these were unfair attacks on the senator who, he said “I am no fan of.” In the meantime Administrator Constance Mahon said the township was in contact with the developer and working to get him to answer concerns of the residents of Patsy’s Way.
Mahon read e-mails she received from the developer and promised she would continue the communication. There will be another work session on Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. on the matter of Patsy’s Way. The developer is expected to attend.
Dana Tyndall and Andersen presented committee with a petition signed by 300 residents living within a two mile radius of the proposed development. Tyndall said that the purpose of the petition was “to get you (committee) to back us.”
“We are the elected officials of Middle Township,” Lockwood responded. “The state senator and assemblymen should be accountable to answer your questions.”
Residents Peggy Mathis and George Tsiomis also raised concerns regarding deed restrictions and notification issues surrounding the development project. Mathis provided the committee with a copy of what she was referring to for Delaware Farms.
Curt Kelly of Reeds Beach brought worries about debris that has accumulated in his neighborhood along the water and building materials that are “floating into the bay.”
Lockwood told him that “the bay is not our jurisdiction.” Mahon suggested if Kelly had specific concerns that he report them. She also told him that the township had hired a company to remove debris.
Mahon reminded everyone of the Energy Fair that will be held at the King Center Nov. 13. There will be two sessions, one for businesses at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. for residential consumers.
There will be guest speakers and several vendors from a variety of energy producing and servicing companies.
To contact Helen McCaffrey, email hmccaffrey@cmcherald.com.