PETERSBURG – Upper Township Committeeman Zachary Palombo said at the May 12 committee meeting that dune erosion at Strathmere beaches has been one of the biggest concerns mentioned by residents. He assured the public that the township was addressing the matter.
Palombo gave a PowerPoint presentation that outlined efforts beginning on Jan. 3, when he and two other new committee members, Tyler Casaccio and his cousin, Sam Palombo, were sworn into office.
At that time, Mayor Curtis Corson spoke of the importance of protecting the beaches and properties of Strathmere and said the five committee members are committed to preserving those beaches. At the same time, Corson addressed concerns about erosion occurring on the north end of the island. The north ends of barrier islands traditionally suffer the worst erosion.
Palombo said that on March 7 there was a meeting with the state Department of Environmental Protection that included himself, Corson, the Department of Public Works, Beach Patrol Chief Bill Handley and the Seaville Volunteer Fire Company to discuss moving forward with beach replenishment.
“We were not given any specifics (from the DEP) other than to document as much as possible,” Palombo said.
The next day, Palombo said, drone video recordings were made of the damage that was done on the north end, which was part of the public record at the committee’s March 24 meeting.
On April 14, Palombo said, beach erosion had reached as far south as Tecumseh Avenue, or about halfway down from the north end of the island community. The next day, Palombo and Casaccio spoke to Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2) about the situation, and each committee member followed up with correspondence to his office.
Palombo said he visually surveyed and photographed the latest damage on April 18, six days past the April full moon, and he provided pictures of the scarping and cliffing. On April 28, he said, the township engineer, Ryan MacNeill, filed for emergency authorization permits in the hope that something could be done by the summer. Palombo said that, so far, there was nothing the township could do.
“Anything done by the Army Corps of Engineers you cannot touch,” he said.
On Monday, May 5, there was a meeting of township officials, including Palombo, Corson, interim business administrator Joe Verruni, Handley, Mike Jones of Public Works, MacNeill and Bruce and Brian Riordon of Seaville Fire to discuss what the township can and cannot do for the closed beaches.
At the May 12 meeting of the governing body, Palombo said a full moon tide was scheduled, which would result in higher than normal high tides and possibly more beach erosion.
He said the township anticipated receiving a DEP emergency authorization permit within the next two weeks, which would allow the township to complete crossover modifications.
Palombo said emergency vehicle access points at Willard and Sumner avenues will be modified by Public Works. Pedestrian access points at Tecumseh, Vincent and Webster avenues also will be modified. Modifying the pedestrian access at Williams, which is 4 to 5 feet wide, would be reevaluated over the next few weeks. All other access points, including Whittier and north of Williams, will be closed for the season.
Besides waiting for permits, Palombo said, the township would have to see the effects of the May 12 full moon tide. The township, through a Sourcewell National Cooperative Contract, has secured the rental of a bulldozer for the summer, at a cost of $22,686, to be used by Public Works to help sculpt pathways.
He advised residents to be aware of possibility of bulldozer use during the optimum times for resculpting.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
