CREST HAVEN – The Cape May County Board of County Commissioners approved contracts Tuesday, Nov. 28, with two bargaining units representing the Prosecutor’s Office and the Correctional Center members.
Both contracts were unanimously approved without comment.
The Cape May County Sheriff’s Office Superior Officers Association, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 7 contract covers the captain and three lieutenants at the Correctional Center. It continues from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2028.
According to County Counsel Jeffrey Lindsay, the pact provides an annual increase of 4% to each officer’s base salary.
Their uniform allowance was increased to $1,500 from $1,000. Lindsay stated there were no other significant changes. The unit previously ratified the agreement.
The three-year contract with the Police Benevolent Association Local 401 for Prosecutor’s Office detectives and sergeants covers seven sergeants and 28 detectives. Lindsay stated that it extends from Jan. 1, 2023, through Dec. 31, 2026.
The pact provides an annual average increase of just under 3% to the step guide. It also reduces the step guide from 18 steps to 15 steps.
Lindsay added that it permits the prosecutor to hire experienced detectives up to step 5. Under the expired contract, the prosecutor could only hire experienced detectives up to Step 3.
In other business, the board:
- Appointed, for three years from Jan. 1, 2024, to Dec. 31, 2026, Anthony Caine as a deputy fire marshal. The enabling resolution reconfirmed the appointments of other deputy fire marshals: William Cripps, Stephen Schaffer, Harry Godfrey and Richard Harron Jr., and approved stipends for their service.
- Established a pool of architectural firms for design services at the County Park and Zoo. Of the four proposals received Oct. 4, BKP Architects P.C. of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Design Collaborative Inc. of Baltimore, Maryland, were chosen for as-needed tasks starting Jan. 1, 2024, for one year with two two-year options.
- Awarded a contract to the Center for Family Services Inc., of Camden, for youth shelter services from Feb. 1, 2024, for one year with four one-year options. Two proposals seeking the contract were received Sept. 27.
- Approved submission of a grant for $3.08 million from the state Department of Transportation for the 2024 Local Bridges Future Needs program. County Engineer Robert Church submitted three projects that would benefit if the grant is awarded.
The board also approved a triathlon and a 5K run, one in Wildwood and the other in Lower Township.
According to resolutions, DelMoSports LLC was given permission to use and close some roads in Wildwood from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. for the Mud Hen IPA 5K/Beer Mile on Friday, April 19, 2024.
A second resolution is for the Sunday, June 2, 2024, Escape the Cape Triathlon, which will use various Lower Township roads.
A member of the public, Mary Fox of Cape May, asked the board to consider waiting several minutes after asking for public comment before closing the meetings.
She told the board she is new and wants to become involved. Some, like herself, might need time to consider framing a question and addressing the five commissioners, she said.
Director Leonard Desiderio replied that, in the future, he would look toward Fox before closing the session.
