STONE HARBOR – Ever since Clint Bunting and his partners purchased the old Franks Theater complex on 96th Street, there has been a love fest of sorts with borough officials.
The newly-restored theater is set to open soon, and borough council has repeatedly praised the new upscale movie house that all feel will be good for the business district.
The July 19 borough council meeting saw a subdued Bunting apologizing to the council, some of whom had some harsh words for the man who has led the theater restoration.
It all started with a tree situated in front of the new 12,000-watt marquee. Bunting, apparently either ignorant of the borough ordinance covering trees or in haste to get the long-awaited complex open, had the tree severely trimmed back from his marquee.
He told council he took the action to avoid a potential public safety issue.
Some council members, among them Council President Karen Lane, briefly lectured Bunting saying that his actions were not only in violation of the ordinance but also that the tree was trimmed in such a way that it probably will not survive.
Accepting that Bunting did not intentionally violate the ordinance, Lane did say “There must be restitution.”
Council member Joan Kramar argued “The council needs to support a viable business district,” adding that she was willing to just accept Bunting’s offer to plant two trees to compensate for the damaged one.
In the end, all agreed that the Natural Resources Committee and the Shade Tree Commission would look where the two new trees would be most useful.
Next Female Police Officer
What seemed like a routine process of approving a resolution to appoint a new police officer had some greater significance. The appointment of a full-time female officer marked the first time that has happened in 30 years.
The last and only time it happened in the past was for the appointment of Davies-Dunhour, who retired from the department seven years ago, sits on the council, and who won the primary election to run as the Republican candidate for mayor in the November election.
Other Business
Council heard from Council member Judith Davies-Dunhour that a new ambulance was needed and that the best option appears to be buying a demonstration vehicle at a cost of $175,000.
Administrator Jill Gougher reported that the borough is working with its consultant and its contractor to prepare a necessary submission to the state Department of Environmental Protection to secure the needed permits to reactivate its dredging program in the fall.
The plan is to again use the marina area at 80th Street for the dewatering function.
Council member Mantura Gallagher reported that the planning board discussed the possibility of alfresco dining in the municipality. The popular practice has grown rapidly in Cape May, and the city council there has recently established a committee of officials and representatives of the public and business interests to help draft an ordinance to better regulate it.
Gougher also reported that Atlantic City Electric is working to complete its work aimed at identifying the costs of taking the new transmission lines recently installed on large steel poles and converting it to an underground conduit.
The potential costs are needed by the borough before officials can respond to residents who desire the change. The electric company has maintained that any reversal of the newly-installed transmission process would need to be paid by the borough.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
