Sea Isle Council Holds First Regular Meeting

SEA ISLE CITY — Despite some of the other things going on in town, the new council’s first meeting still managed to draw around 50 citizens eager to see what the new governing body would do.
The hottest ticket in town on July 10 was the free concert on the Promenade where a Bruce Springsteen tribute band entertained a couple hundred spectators and a summer league basketball game at the JFK Boulevard courts also had dozens of spectators.
But, many of the residents who fought for the city’s government to change in a referendum last year chose to forego the games and entertainment to keep a watch on their newly elected officials.
Council passed resolutions four thru 23, most of which dealt with housekeeping issues like setting up bank accounts, authorizing bill payments and appointing department heads.
The group unanimously passed each resolution, but member Frank Edwardi had to abstain from voting on a resolution approving vouchers of payment to city vendors. Edwardi’s company, Pineland Construction, holds a public works contract with Sea Isle.
Solicitor Paul Baldini explained that elected officials are allowed to finish out existing business contracts with the city, but cannot gain any new work while in office. When the current one expires, Edwardi will not renew the contract.
Following regular business, council tried to bring the public up to date on some ongoing city projects.
Acting Administrator Richard Deaney announced that six pieces of equipment no longer used by the city were auctioned online for a total of more than $10,803. He said the county and other local municipalities were successfully using the Internet to auction used equipment and the city was happy with the results.
Deaney also explained that the city’s engineer, Andrew Previti, would not be attending every council meeting. Under the new form of government, Previti technically works for the mayor. He will be asked to attend one of two council meetings each month.
Council President Mike McHale asked Deaney to update council with a schedule for the repaving of 44th Street, a topic important to residents of that area.
“Homeowners have been waiting for over a year,” McHale said. The administrator said he would have a complete schedule by the July 24 meeting.
Baldini said a deal with Omnipoint was close to complete for the telecommunications company to place an antenna on a city water tower.
The professionals updated the public on the proposed lifeguard station on the Promenade, which failed to get state CAFRA permission from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Baldini said the decision was being appealed, but the city should consider revising the station’s architectural plans to get the project moving forward.
“The appeal process is a two year ordeal,” he explained.
He said council had to decide if they wanted to wait that long or alter its plans.
Council also got a fluoride and north end sewer extension update.
Deaney described the addition of fluoride to the city’s water system as an expensive proposition and suggested a complete capital improvement plan be completed before throwing money towards any projects.
The city used to have a fluoride program, but it was discontinued when equipment failed and many residents are angry because of it.
Now the chemicals used in the process are considered dangerous and the city would have to build additional resources to restart the program.
In a recent meeting, Baldini said, DEP officials discouraged the north end sewer project describing them as “willing to listen, but not overly accepting.”
“I wouldn’t say the idea was dead, but it was definitely wounded on arrival,” the solicitor said.
He said they would continue to pursue any options available to them.
Residents seemed grateful for the updates on the various projects and happy with their officials’ willingness to keep them involved in the process.
Resident Barbara Jedlicka voiced the sentiment of those who attended the meeting and told council members to keep up the good work.
“The town is behind you right now,” she said. “Please don’t let us down.”
Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com