Wednwday, Feblmary 18,1«81

The Herald and The Lantern

Page 15

Mayor’s Message Stresses Service

by Ellsworth Armacost AVALON - "Service to our citizens and property owners has been the No. 1 priority <in 1980 and will continue to be during 1981. "UNDER THE leadership of Council Presidents S. R. Gray Jr. and Philip Judyski the new council elected in 1979 has been extremely progressive in their thinking and .ection concerning borough problems and projeetk^both large and small. "The sewer and water distribution system revamping is in its fourth and final stage. When completed this modernized system will give service second to none in the county. ••A QUALITY WATER and'sewer system is a must for the health and welfare of our residents and our council has stayed right on top of the project." "Dredging has been a major concern, especially for a barrier island such as Avalon. The Bctrough council of Avalon did not settle for a piecemeal approach, but acquired a 18-year permit for the dredging and maintenance of Pennsylvania Harbor, Princeton harbor, Third Ave. Waterway, Graven’s Thorofare and Ingrams’ Thorofare.”

"WE ARE CONTINUALLY working to see our waterways kept open. A major part of Avalon’s charm and recreation centers on.our waterways, making upkeep a must." Backed by the support of the Borough Council, I joined with the mayors of Stone Harbor. North Wildwood, and Sea Isle City and freeholder Ralph Evans in battling the state to see that Townsend’s and Hereford inlets were dredged. This was accomplished with the full funding coming from the state. "EROSION PROBLEMS between 7th and 16th Street have been a top priority and will continue to be during 1981. Avalon has long been the leader in Dune preservation. We have probably the longest on-going dune grass project of any municipality in the state.” "The Borough Council and myself take the attitude of trying to solve this type problem before it becomes a major disaster." "A good example is the new bulkheads ahd docks at 13th Street and Ocean Drive." ‘•STREETS AND ' ROADS make up a major

part of Avalon and with $100,000 in state aid toward the project we repaved 10 blocks of Dune Drive, one of our major arteries." "Our new curbing project was completed during 1980 and certainly adds to the safety and convenience of our citizens." "Public Safety has been another high priority item on the council’s agenda. Police Chief Joseph Foley was named public safety director and with this reorganization came greater service. "PERSONAL PROPERTY checks and checks on the elderly were increased. Ordinances on noise, traffic and dogs were updated and improved. Public safety cannot be mentioned without paying tribute to the Avalon lifeguards. They carried off just about every major championship, including the South Jersey Championship once

again.

“The dedication of this group to the safety of our beach enthusiasts and the extra time put into training is unequalled. "1980 again saw Avalon take a lead in recycling by adding alurfitnum to the established glass recycling project) Our residents have

always taken pride in the look of the town. "We have continued to keep trash pick-up at a maxium and added three new area dumpsters. We scheuled 12 major ’clean-up days’ dur-

ing the past year.

"NOT TO BE overlooked is the very active recreational schedule that is maintained by that department. This year the activities have grown — With additions to interest every age group, from preschooler to senior citizen. Activities have been designed to suit the needs of all interest groups. \

"I. ALSO,'HAVE to say a special thank you, for the living memorial erected in memory of my departed wife; to all the officials and local residents who had a part in making it all possible." "The new Sport Fishing Complex was completed this year and some slips are still available for ren tal. "AVALON NOW HAS a full scale rescue squad and 1980 saw the institution of the Fire Safety seminar and Emergency Evacuation sessions "A great deal of time and effort went into a plan to keep open space. After a resident survey was .com-

pleted, plans to purchase 2.94 acres of land were underway when soaring interest rates stifled the plan "AS WE APPROACH 1981, the Mayor and Council of Avalon have rededicated ourselves to keep giving our citizens and visitors the best possible service and protection w? can "With dedicated people like James Busha, Stewart Gray. Philip Judyski. Grace Keen and Rachel Sloan on the’ council Jhe people of Avalon can rest assured their interests are well cared for "

Ellsworth Armacost is Mayor of Avalon

News Digest

The

Week's-_ Top Stories (From Paget)

Mayor says No

To Revaluation SEA ISLE CITY — If Mayor Dominic Raffa has his way, this resort will refuse to comply with a directive from the Cape May County Board of Taxation to revalue property here next year. In stating flatly that the city will refuse to undertake what the mayor claims would be a $100,000 revaluation expense, Mr Raffa indicated last Tuesday that the , county is deriving more from this resort's multi-million dollars in ratables than the city is from the county. He pointed to Landis AVe. as one of the worst sections of county road in the county. Shot After Fight CAPE MAY — Terry Bradbury, 29, of the 600 block of Lafayette St., surrendered to local police Saturday night following the Wednesday night shooting of Gregory Louis, 23, of North Carolina at Mayer’s Bar in the Schelenger Landing section of Lower Township. , According to authorities, the victim, who reportedly hadn’t been involved, was shot thru a window following a fight outside the bar involving fishermen. At last report, Louis was listed in critical condition at Shore Memorial Hospital, Somers Point. Bradbury was charged with aggrevated assault. Fisheries Meeting Called Important COURT HOUSE - Clifford lioRsignol, state field representative for the U.S. Economic Development Administration, along with representatives of other federal and state agencies will be on hand for a public meeting on the future of fisheries development in Cape May County, 7:30 p;.m. Feb. 19 in the Freeholders’ meeting room on the second floor of the County Library building here. County officials are urging any person or group with an interest in the fishing industry on the Jersey Cape to attend "this most important meeting." The session has apparently been precipitated by competiUng applications

for government, funding submitted on half of Sea Harvest Industrial Park (SHlf*), a private fisheries venture, and another proposal for such development by Middle Township.

Ratables Up, Tax Rate Down

COURT HOUSE - The value of property throughout thp Jersey Cape is on the increase each year as the building boom at the shore continues, and once again this year it is enabling the county to lower its tax rate. With ratables increasing almost 17 per cent over last year (from $3.5 billion to $4.1), an almost 10 per cent hike in taxes (from $15.4 to $16.9 million) nevertheless results in a 6 per cent drop in the tax rate. The 1981 county tax rate of 41.44 cents per $100 of assessed valuation is almost 2.75 cents below last year’s rate. .Cape May’s Loss-—- < From Page 1» itself \U> decide if the order will alter the format of this year’s school election or whether the ruling will be implemented at the time of the next election. CtJANGE AND ADAPTATION to a new distribution of representation would be nothing new to the Regional Board. As explained by district superintendent Ephraim Keller, the original makeup has changed twice before, once after the 1960 Census and once after the Ifltfo Census. The first Regional Board was appointed, rather than elected, in June 1956. On that Initial board. Cape May City held five seats, Lower Township three, and West Cape May one. IT WASN’T UNTIL February 1962 that the first district distribution change was initiated. At that Ume, Cape May City lost two seats to Lower Township. West Cape May wasn’t affected. The last change took place shortly after the 1970 Census. That time around the city lost one seat, the township gained another seat and the borough held on to its one representative. Should Cape May City be forced to relinquish one more seat to Lower Township, the city's total represenUtion on the Regional board will be reduced to one seat. This, according to state law, is the least number of representatives any constituent distritt can have on a regional board.

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