News The Digest SS*. Hepatitis Help COURT HOUSE - Two federal and two state health specialists in venereal disease joined county authorities last week in investigation of the stubborn hepatitis outbreak which is nearing the 100 mark. At the same time last Wednesday, the county health coordinator revealed some cases apparently haven’t been reported and are spreading the disease. Chinnici Running BRIDGETON — Assemblyman Joseph W. Chinnici (R-lst. District) has announced he will be a candidate for reelection. A 10-year veteran of the lower ;date house, Mr. Chinnici has indicated he will campaign with announced Assembly candidate Guy Muiiani. the mayor of Wildwood, and Assemblyman James Hurley, who is running for state senate, in an effort to gain the Republican nomination. Trial Continues COURT HOUSE - The murder trial of Patrick Fulmer, 53, of Villas, accused of the March 3 rifle killing of his wife of six v'eeks, Nora O’Neill Fulmer, continues into its second week. It is expected that the prosecution's case will wind up this week, with the defense case continuing into next week in Superior Court here. Baby Parade Cut WILDWOOD - Elimination of the baby parade, summer concerts along with other drastic cuts in the city’s public relations budget were made last week as officials here grapple with bringing the municipal budget within the state imposed ‘cap.' As a follow-up, officials of the N.J. VFW announced a move to boycott local businesses that don’t ante up to the city to help pay for the veterans organization to bring their annual convention to town. Layoffs Maybe WILDWOOD CREST — Some needed vehicles, including police cars, won't be purchased this year; and there is the possibilfty that some workers may have to be laid off later in the year. That was the outlook as the $3.6 million municipal budget was introducedAast Wednesday. Despite the tightn^sTbfjthe fiscal measure and its just squeezing under the ‘cap,’ it will nevertheless necessitate an almost 3 cent increase in the local purpose tax rate, to 90.2 cents this year. Athletics Cut Out WILDWOOD - The Board of Education cut 13 per cent out of it proposed budget last Wednesday, and in the process excised funds to pay for all athletic programs, foreign language instruction and social studies and business course electives. The ultimate $2.9 million budget represents a cutback of some $400,000 from the previous figure that the week be / ore was considered so high, the board actually refused to introduce it. (Page 15 Please)

Nurses, Hospital Seek Accord

By BobShiles COURT HOUSE - Nursing and administrative personnel at Burdette Tomlin Hospital are currently Working to resolve a number of problems which have the potential of seriously affecting staff morale and the overall quality of patient care. Allegedly, a large number of the nursing staff are upset with overcrowded conditions and understaffing they’ve had to

ERMA — Population changes, as indicated by I960 census figures, may alter the makeup of the Lower Cape May Regional School Board for the third time in the district’s 24-year history. The present nine-member board consists of six representatives from Lower Township, two from Cape May City and one from West Cape May. Should census figures be such that state law requires a redistribution within the regional setup, Cape May City could lose one seat the the

deal with during the winter months. One hospital employee told The Herald thqt staff morale is low and several nurses are in the process of seeking jobs elsewhere. “WITH THESE understaffed and overcrowded conditions you can't give the patients the attention they need," he said. Another member of the staff said that his first night on the job he was told by a nurse that he wouldn't like working at Burdette Recently, the nursing staff presented top

Township gain one. WHETHER OR NOT board makeup irill have to change, and if so what affect it will have on the upcoming April 7 school election, is being researched by Regional solicitor, George James. The final decision concerning seat distribution will be made by the county Superintendent of Schools. If the superintendent rules in favor of redistribution, Mr. James explained, state law allows for the regional school board (Page 15 Please)

hospital administrators w<th a list of grievances. The list included such requests as: -Nurses should be paid for a 40-hour ^ week with time and a half for overtime (currently they are paid for 74 hours per day); -A personnel committee, consisting of nursing personnel but no administratois, should be established to represent the nurses before the hospital’s Board of Directors; -Nurses should receive time and a half for holidays. -The charge nurse during any shift should receive additional compensation for serving in this^capacity Hospital administrator William H. Waldron told’The Herald on Friday that although there had been overcrowding and understaffing problems earlier this year, these problems have been corrected Although he' declined to comment on the nurses grievances, he acknowledged meeting with them and said problems are being worked out. He added there might be some morale problem among the staff, but ** very little Concerning understaffing, Mr Waldron said additional staff have been added, and when needed nurses are hired through the Nurses Registry (The Registry is a private agency Although it has helped in reducing the staffing problem, some hospital nurses disapprove of its use because nurses hired through the registry are paid more per day • than staff nurses) BOTH SIDES acknowledged that meetings between nursing personnel and hospital administrators have been somewhat productive. It has been learned that Overcrowding and staffing problems have significantly improved during the past couple of weeks. It is also said the administration has agreed in part to some of the nurses requests As Waldron sees it, the source of the problem is the overall lack of registered nurses in Cape May County He cm phasized that what is needed in this area is a good two-year associate degree program in nursing, coupled with additional extension courses "You can't get a complete RN course in this county." Waldron said. IN AN EFFORT TO meet the shortage of nurses in the area. Burtiette Tomlin offers an orientation program for nursing per sonnel who have not practiced lately but would like to re-enter the profession. Members of the hospital staff evaluate the individual’s strengths and weaknesses and provide the training necessary to help them feel comfortable working in the hospital environment. )

BURDETTE TOMLIN HOSPITAL, where nurses and administration are seeking to resolve problems. Township’s Gain Could Be City’s Loss on School Board

Water Table Way Down

Building? Beware of Drought’s Effects

MAYS LANDING 7- The current drought in New Jersey can mean more than less time under the shower and less green in this summer's greenery, warsn Thornton Hole, district conservationist for the Cape-Atlantic Soil Conservation District. It can also mean failing septic systems and flooded basements for the unwary home builder or owner in the area, he says. BECAUSE OF the drought, seasonally high water tables are 4 to 6 feet lower than normal for this time of year in the coastal plain, Hole explains. Accurate determination of the normal seasonal high water tables is necessary for installation of septic systems and deciding whether or not to include basements in new home construction.

ACCORDING TO the Cape May County Soil Survey, about 25.000 acres of mainland area in the county have seasonally high waters at depths less than one fiot during the winter and spring Another 34,000 acres have high water tables at 14 to 4 feet Included with the Soil Survey report are maps showing the location of different kinds of soils in the county. A percolation test to determine a soil's absorption rate is required before a septic system can be installed. At the same time, depths to the seasonally high water table are determined. These tests should be performed during the winter and spring, since the groundwater table at that time approximates the seasonally high water table in years of normal rainfall. WITH THE DROUGHT, this procedure

should not be used this winter and spring The depths to seasonally high water tables can be determined at other times by a soil scientist through observing soil colors Septic systems designed and installed on the basis of the depth to present ground' water table haye a high probability of failing during penods of normal rainfall in. many areas of the county, Hole says Individuals who are buying or building homes shoujld check the Soil Survey to determine if they are in the area of soils with high water‘tables The Soil Survey Report is available for review and individual survey sheets can be provided at the Cape-Atlantic Soil Conservation District, 1200 Harding Highways, mays Landing, or by calling 625-9400 or 625-3144