SEA ISLE CITY – City Council met Nov. 29 and quickly moved under “pending business” to discuss status reports on several infrastructure and building items outlined in its Master Plan budget.
“We need a specific timetable with clearly defined decision points to mark when we should be hiring, allocating budget and all per a definable plan,” said Council member John Divney to Business Administrator George Savastano.
“I’m thinking specifically of any pumping stations we might want to front-end load now in terms of our budget while not making our capital plan unbalanced. Per the city’s figures, it looks like there is only a $10,000 difference to get this project moving now rather than waiting for 2018 action. My goal is to keep the pressure on city administration to get going with a study and consultant.
“Next week, county municipalities are meeting at Stockton (University) with the Army Corps of Engineers to talk about flooding, drainage, and pumping. Ocean City is a bit ahead on the topic, but maybe we can get going sooner rather than later,” continued Divney.
“I’ll talk to our CFO because I believe we have some flexibility on timing. Of course, we need to realize that just because an item is in the master plan for funding, we still need to introduce a funding ordinance for council’s approval and then adopt and implement any project. I think the best course of action is to continue what we’re doing and then come up with plans to get more aggressive on pumping which is consistently considered the number one priority by residents,” explained Savastano.
Divney also raised the status of the old school building at 4501 Park Road and asked that city administration try to advance this project as well.
“We need a timetable here too. Let’s hire the consultant, so we can move forward with our determined needs and pay attention to moving forward,” Divney said.
Council President William Kehner raised another issue which he said has elicited complaints from residents: “Whether you’re at the half-century mark or older or children it’s really difficult to get up and over the new dunes that have been built this last summer season.” Savastano replied, “This is the first season they’ve been in place, please give us an opportunity to groom them. We have a lot of work come spring to work with the gravel, and we still need to wait for the immature vegetation to grow and better hold the sand in place. The situation will be much improved for summer 2017.”
During the public comment period, resident John Henry implored council to use its microphones. He said it is “Extremely difficult to hear what you’re saying. Also, please project on screens for all to see the documents you are referring to because that will make it much easier to follow along. As is, we have no idea what you’re talking about,”
Another comment addressed the newly-approved ordinance to permit “bump outs” for corner properties and asked the council to extend this provision to other properties.
“Why limit permission of bump outs to only the corner properties when all properties can benefit?” he queried.
“I am not stating any view as to whether I am for or against what you are asking but if council did move in that direction it would change entirely the whole concept of this recent ordinance.
“An architect can easily maximize the footprint of a property so these bump outs are not necessary. We allowed them for corner properties because they do not have side yards available for this purpose,” noted City Solicitor Paul Baldini.
To contact Camille Sailer, email csailer@cmcherald.com.
Cold Spring – Going to be very interesting when the people who clean your chickens, farm your fields, work in meat packing, build your houses, are deported. Wait just wait. Prices are going to go higher. Say it…
