West Cape Delays Water Amnesty Ordinance Vote

WEST CAPE MAY — Borough Commission delayed passing an ordinance Weds June 9 that would set procedures in place to offer amnesty to those with illegal water connections.
Mayor Pamela Kaithern asked the ordinance be tabled until it is determined if any results will come from an investigation by County Prosecutor Robert Taylor who attended the previous Borough Commission meeting.
The ordinance would allow the borough to declare water amnesty “from time to time,” when “persons not in compliance with the borough’s water connection and use requirements may bring themselves into compliance.” Some clarification were made in the water amnesty ordinance since the last Borough Commission meeting including noting negotiated penalties would be made on a case-by-case basis.
Eliminated from the ordinance was the wording “without penalty.” An amnesty period would not exceed 90 days.
“Under no circumstances will water amnesty relieve a person of potential criminal liability,” Kaithern read from the ordinance’s new language.
Commissioner Peter Burke reminded the audience the ordinance did not create amnesty but created a mechanism for Borough Commission to set up such a program by passing a resolution.
Borough Solicitor Christine Cote said the ordinance did not set the standards for amnesty.
The mayor said the ordinance was recommended by a forensic accountant trying to determine where West Cape May’s missing water has been going. From 2003 to 2009, West Cape May had an unaccounted water loss of 121 million gallons valued at $695,000.
West Cape May Taxpayers Association member Kathy Gallagher said one its members acquired the borough’s tax map which showed blocks and lots and compared it to an earlier water meter report that showed blocks and lots and highlighted the water meter users.
“He’s condensed it down to approximately 125 that are not identified which would be a great avenue go to pursue,” said Gallagher.
She said if a committee were formed to look at the information, “we could have some answers in a day or two of who is on a well and who isn’t and who is on the meter report and who isn’t,” she said.
Kaithern said she wasn’t sure if that information had been given to the forensic accountants, Eden Water Recovery. She said she would be happy to share the information from the taxpayers association with the accountants.
Kaithern requested figures from Commissioner Ramsey Geyer on the amount of water consumed by fire hydrant flushing be corrected in the minutes from May 26.
Geyer said the borough flushed the water system each year, which involves opening 25 hydrants, letting the water run freely for a length of time which may use 200,000 to 500,000 gallons.
Any water that goes through fire hydrants is not metered. Maintenance is performed on 65 fire hydrants each year which uses 700,000-800,000 gallons, said Geyer.
Kaithern said Public Works monitored the amount of water it used for hydrant flushing which came in around 95,000 gallons, less than half of Geyer’s lowest estimate. The mayor said the cost of that water was about $900 which equated to about $1 per water user.
Kaithern also questioned Geyer’s estimate of how much water the West Cape May Volunteer Fire Company used for hydrant maintenance. He said public works rather than the fire company has been flushing hydrants.
Geyer said the fire company tested a 1,500-foot hose last month, charging the line for 12 to 15 minutes and discharging the water. Kaithern said the fire chief reported in a four company drill, 30,000 gallons of water was used. The fire company holds drills four to five times per year.
Kaithern said if the fire company held six drills per year, about 180,000 gallons would be used. She said Geyer quoted a number of 700,000 to 800,000 gallons used for flushing and fire company drills last month which was incorrect.
Kaithern said letters were sent to the City of Cape May and the county Municipal Utilities Authority and were at the point of coordinating a face-to-face meeting with the two agencies providing water data requested by the borough. She said she expected the meeting in 10 to 14 days.