Water Utility’s 12% Rate Hike Opposed

CREST HAVEN – Freeholders passed a resolution July 10 that opposed New Jersey-American Water’s proposed 12 percent rate increase.
It noted the board “believes an immediate 12 percent increase instead of a gradual increase may cause a negative economic impact on its customers.”
The utility, which supplies water and wastewater services to several Cape May County municipalities, notified customers June 15 of the rate hike and took effect that month, would increase the bill of a customer by $5.90 if they use 6,000 gallons monthly.
The increase must have the approval of the state Board of Public Utilities, however, the utility is able to implement the rate hike provisionally with the assumption that the BPU will consent.
Should BPU nix the hike, customers would get refunds from the utility, according to the resolution.
Freeholders urged BPU to deny the proposal.
In other action the board:
* Named Greg Neill as county fire coordinator effective Jan. 1, 2018 until Dec. 31, 2019. Deputy fire coordinators also serving that same term will be Chris Walters, Ronald McGowen, Jonathan Schwartz and Jerome Inderwies.
* Appointed and reappointed members of the county Animal Shelter Advisory Board: Leonard Desiderio, Robert Nolan and Lisa Burkhead, permanent by title. All others’ terms expire June 30, 2020: Sue Keen, Avalon, Clarence Lear, Cape May, Steve O’Connor, Cape May Point, Tracy Robinson, Dennis Township, Roland Roy, Lower Township, Madelyn McCarroll, Middle Township, Robert Berardo, Wildwood, Ken Merson, Sea Isle City, Angelo Caracciolo, Stone Harbor, Jay Potter, Upper Township, Suzanne Stocker, West Cape May, Chris Riding, West Wildwood, Chris Wood, Wildwood, Joseph McGrath, Wildwood Crest, Lisa Garrison, Woodbine.
* Approved mutual agreement with the county Municipal Utilities Authority for temporary staffing of the position of microbiologist supervisor, who is employed at the county Health Department.
* Passed a resolution modifying by $88,454 a contract with Urban Engineers Inc. for services in connection with a round-about that is to be placed at West Perry Street, Myrtle Avenue and Park Boulevard in West Cape May. The long-planned project calls for extra right-of-way services. The project will be funded by federal aid, which has multiplied the documentation, according to County Engineer Dale Foster.
* Approved a change order in the amount of $92,313 with South State Inc. for street signs, electrical service for the parking lot and roadway lighting and resetting electrical service for the Lower Township Public Safety Building at the county airport.
Public Comment
Also at the meeting, Georgina Shanley of Ocean City questioned the telephone rates paid by inmates at the Cape May County Correctional Center as too high and exceeding state-set limits. Similarly, she complained that the $10 for 20 minutes of internet visitation was excessive.
Sheriff Robert Nolan told the Herald that “telephone service provider Securus’ service rates are not in violation of N.J.S.A. 30:4-8.12. As I understand, because the contract for telephone services is still under the original contract, those fees are still applicable until that contract expires or is renewed.”
According to Nolan, County Counsel Jeffrey Lindsay and Attorney Frank Corrado are looking into the matter.
“If it should be determined that the vendor in which we use was overbilling… we’ll do everything in our power to correct that.” 
Shanley also asked whether there would be face-to-face, personal visits at the center. She was told by Freeholder Jeffrey Pierson that visits are through a glass and by phone.
Dr. Steven Fenichel expressed concern of the number of cancer cases, especially among children, in the county. He said it was the highest among all counties in the nation.
He questioned the use of certain chemicals used by the Mosquito Department as being potentially harmful to humans.