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^ - V ~— k VI W CAPE MAY ■ I ■ COUNTY ^ -A

listings

VOL. 15 NO. 24

Shorefront Act Seen as Further Eroding Home Rule

AFTER THE WORKERS had kit for the day late laat Wednesday aflemoan, thla was tl scetie on the railroad eroastay over Seashore Rd. at the entrance to West (kpe May where an Improvemeot project claeed oft the highway toe at least a weefc.

State Supercedes County; Opens Hoad without Permit

UT r’ADC' A \F era ... .. . .

W. CAPE MAY - The sute. wtthout prior public notice, has closed off one of the major accees routes between the mainland and the Cape May area for a project, in cooperation with Conrall, to upgrade the croealng on a railroad siding

here.

The project - to Install a rubber cuahion, drainage appurtenances, new ties and rails on the Seashore Rd. (Broadway) crossing - was done without receiving a county road opening permit. The actual «wk began last Wednesday and was allocated three weeks for completion although only one week may be necessary County read supervisor Leroy Reeves said he was informed that the sute Dept. of Transportation takes precedent overthe county A sute official reed the „ State Supervision

Of Local Authorities Aim of Legislation

authorizing sute atatuU to Reeves after the county officUl, who is alaoa West Cape May commissioner, had roadblocks removed after they were first put up around 2 p.m. Tuesday a week ago — election day Seashore Rd. Is a county

highway.

According to Reeves, he was Informed

the project was to have been underway

over the Memorial Day weekend. Motorists traveling south on Seashore

Rd. last Wethtesday morning found a roadblock and detour signs routing traffic along Stimpson In., a narrow local side •tract, to Bayahore Rd. then back to Broadway via Sixth Aw., another narrow

local tide street.

Seashore Rd. is one of only two highways between the mainland and the Greater Cape May area; the other is Rt . 109

SEA ISLE CITY - Commissioner Andrew J. Bednarek has announced a meeting to continue the discussion of the proposed ‘‘Dune and Shorefront Protection Act” 7:30 p.m. June 12 at the Community Center. 41st and J FK. Blvd. Purpose of the meeting is to discuss with state and local elected officials and residents, the potential impact the proposal law would have on the lives and property of Jersey Cape coastal residents. "We must keep the momentum of dialogue and discussion about this proposed act alive and "before the public." Bednarek commented. "As presently drafted, the commissioner of the state Dept of Environmental Protection, an appointed bureaucraft official, will have complete control of the beach and dune management throughout the State of New Jersey. "When the management of the beaches shifts to state control, so will the revenue generated from beach fees that many of the local coastal towns rely on to .maintain and upgrade their beaches and dunes", Bednarek asserted. % "As a local elected of» ffclal, I believe we should be Just as concerned with the erosion of "home rule", as we are with the erosion of our beaches, he con-

tiniKSl.

"If we. as residents of South Jersey, allow the state legislature to continue to pass 'laws likfc CAFRA. the Pfnelands Act and now this Dune and Shorefront proposal, we have no one to blame but ourselves for not acting swiftly and judiciously to

stop this measure dead in

its tracks."

Among provisions of the act would be strict restriction against building between the beachfront and first street hack. Purpose of the legislation is to reduce storm damage alopg the coast by keeping theduneline intact

TRENTON - Legislation has been Introduced here aimed at involving the state in the supervision of financial operations of authorities such as the Cape May County Municipal Utilities Authority and the MUA in

Lower TOwhship.

Concern over the fiscal soundness of local authorities and the municipal]ties served by these units of government has prompted the Introduction of Assembly Bill 1533. according to the NJr

Taxpayers Assn.

The legislation would make local authority creation, project financing and annual budgets subject to broad review and approval of the Local Finance B<,ard in the Division of Local Gover-

nment Services within the state Dept, of Community

Affaire.

Similar in some respects to authority-but not affected by the legislation—are special districts, such as fire

districts.

Districts, like fire and street HghUng districts, are financed primarily from property taxes; in contrast. authorities derive their revenue primarily from user charges. The state taxpayers group sees the legislation as^pn effort to assure the financial stability and integrity of local authorities; and, further, notes that municipal, county and school district financial operations have been under similar state supervision aince the 1930b.

Pastoral Assn. Pushing Hospice For Jersey Cape

WILDWOOD — The Greater Wildwood , Pastoral Assn, has decided to become actively involved in the creation of a hospice in Cape

May County.

The hospice concept coordinates family, physician and community agencies in a program providing palliative and supportive care for terminally il) patients. The pastoral group was unanimous In Its determination to investigate and create a hospice on the Jersey Cape. A motion to this effect was made by the Rev Bruce Davidson of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, seconded by Fr. Paul Maguire of St. Anna Roman Catholic Church THE DECISION CAME DURING a recent meeting of the group presided over by association president Rabbi Seymour Atlas of Beth Judah Temple. ACCORDING TO THE CLERICS, "there is at) evident need for the establishment of a hospice in Cape May County. ' The pastoral association inlondi to invite represen- . tattyes of the medical, nursing and hospital administration professions, counly government and the puMIe in an opinion-gathering and educational process lo setthe hosp.ce groundwork. To Eye

Clinic

Plan

.RIO GRANDE - The Community Health Council of Lower Cape May County it scheduled to meet at the Social Services Building here this afternoon to decide on a course of action Jor a proposed regional health clinic to serve the Greater Cape May-Lower

Township area.

An application for the quarter-million dollar facility wa* recently withA-awn by the planning aide who drew it up rather than face its possible rejection from the regional Health Systems Agency Review Committee The withdrawal by aide Joseph

•* • P rt, *“ Ids•» that crashed la U» woods with*awol by aide Joseph

yirPoet ia.Errae. Jaae 2. klniag ihre. peeple, b,cl«dl.g Wttdw^Kl Zehora cani dunraT. ,C ^I Srhoels AepertntMwkey Keith Harper, the pIM. Atlaotic CNy Medical Or. review process which yeelerdey reperted the condition of the saly sorvlrer. Thomas Caamll. 2a. dl followed (he plan s earlier ** H * r *’ Ntek Treathetta examines rejection by the county the wreckage mtoatfcs after K was tracked sat af the woods Jam 4. ( Page3Pleaxe»