Where’s Middle’s Budget? Lockwood Asks

COURT HOUSE ─ Daniel Lockwood, who lost his seat on Middle Township Committee in the November election against Jeffrey DeVico, expressed several concerns March 7 about the 2016 budget that has yet to be introduced.
No budget document is yet available to the public, so the public did not find it easy to follow the exchange. The November election changed the majority on committee from Republican to Democrat which also led to Timothy Donohue being replaced as mayor by Michael Clark. The tensions over that change in party control are clearly evident.
Lockwood was expressing concern about timing, the fact that no budget had yet been introduced by March 7. He was assured by both DeVico and Clark that the budget was being worked on and would be the main agenda item at the committee’s March 21 work session.
Lockwood took the step of challenging the zero-tax increase he said was in the yet to come budget. “No one likes a zero budget more than I do,” Lockwood said, “but you don’t do things that will be harmful for the future to achieve zero.”
Lockwood added that a zero-percent increase in the local purpose tax levy was always a goal when he served on committee, but “It wasn’t a requirement.” 
Donohue joined the exchange saying he hoped that some of the long-term planning goals set during his administration had not been sacrificed in the new budget. He claimed the budget “needed work” and that some maneuvers used to achieve the no-increase bottom line “looked like double dipping” with respect to portions of salary charged to the water and sewer utility.
“We have a new majority, a new auditor, a new CFO (chief financial officer),” he said and let the comment trail off with a shrug.
He also complained “Here it is March 7 and I have not yet met the new auditor.”
When Clark suggested that he, Donohue, might reach out to John Clifford, the CFO, or others about the budget, Donohue replied, “They work for me, I don’t work for them.” The implication of Donohue’s comments is that he has not been kept well informed in a budget process directed by Democrats on committee. Tensions were evident.
An argument about the budget, in the absence of a budget document, dissipated and committee moved on. What remained was a clear sense that the March 21 work session will probably see some significant debate.
DeVico played the peacemaker role throughout even offering to share the budget in its current unfinished state with Lockwood.
Foreclosures
The township is completing the first wave of foreclosures against abandoned properties, many just vacant lots. Responding to a question from the public, Business Administrator Connie Mahon cautioned that the township was starting a second list of foreclosures and might not engage in any actual sale of the properties until after that second round. “There may be some properties we can combine and get a better price for,” she said.
Rescue Mission
The committee passed a resolution of support to establish a relationship between Cape May County and Atlantic City Rescue Mission. The county has no homeless shelter and that lack is of particular concern to a township that has many of the county’s homeless concentrated in the Rio Grande area, near county services and motels that accept county vouchers.
The township, largely through Donohue’s efforts, has recently taken the lead in promoting a relationship with the rescue mission as an alternative service location for the county’s homeless.
Donohue has taken this issue to other municipalities and a string of similar resolutions are finding their way to governing body agendas. Donohue noted both Ocean and Cumberland counties benefit from a relationship with the Atlantic City non-profit. “They have a full-range of capabilities: counselling, rehabilitation, training, job placement and others,” he said. “This will also end up costing the county less,” he added.
Other Business
Clark and committee presented March’s Employee of the Month Award to Steve Mills, Sewer Department administrator.
Citing Mills’ dedication to customer service and general good humor, Clark thanked Mills for providing “great customer service” to residents.
Donohue reminded the public of the Saturday 8:45 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony at the Robert “Ockie” Wisting Recreational Complex just prior to the start of a county Disc Golf Association tournament. “This is the beginning of something many have worked on for a long time,” Donohue said.
The Veterans Advisory Board announced a “get acquainted breakfast” March 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. The event will be at American Legion Thurston Elmer Post 198. They urged residents go and learn about the Post and the Veterans Board.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.