CAPE MAY

COUIVTY ^

unlit

News* rh . Digest 2nd is First In People & Places

Vol. 16 No. 18 oi*

l«SI S«ow«-« Ct>. AD rt

May «. 1981

Rate Hike Hearings DueFri.

Lower Township Committeewoman Peggie Bieberbach announced last week that the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) will conduct public hearings May 8. on Atlantic Electric’s request for a rate hike that will raise the average residential user’s bill by about 14 per cent. The hearings are scheduled to be held at. the Millville City Hall, S. High St., Millville, from 11 a m. to 2:30 p.m., and at the Atlantic City City Hall, 1201 Bacharach Blvd., Atlantic City, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. ATLANTIC ELECTRIC is asking that it be permitted to increase its energy adjustment figure from .7914 cents per kilowatthour to 2.0071 cents per kilowatt-hour. This change would become effective on or before July 1, and would allow the utility company to increase its revenue by some $76 million. In March, the Township Committee unanimously passed a resolution requesting the BPU not to grant any utility rate increases until Inflation in the U.8. is brought under control. Hie resolution stated that the Committee “deems it inappropriate that any increase in the utility rates be grafted in the near forseeable future.”

IN FULL BLOOM, lilacs signal the advent of warmer weather and longer days, e\en if

the nights are still chilly.

Expansion Slowdown Pledged by Utility

Fisheries Seen Aided By Authority TRENTON — A two-part package of legislation aimed at moving South Jersey into the front rank in sports exposition and food distribution facilities is scheduled to be unveiled tomorrow by State Senator Barry T. Parker, Republican Minority Leader and GOP gubernatorial candidate, who sees the commercial fishing industry is among the beneficiaries. The legislation calls for the creation of two public authorities - the South Jersey

(Page 18 Please)

Times Have Changed It Takes 6 Weeks to Get A Social Security Card

BMTTHVILLK — Atlantic Electric must embark on a new program to reduce construction of mw electric.facilities by promoting conservation, alternate energy sources, and efficient use of electricity, according to company president John D.

Fcehan.

Feehan announced the local utility s “New Direction” at the company’s annual meeting here. ••WE HAVE CONCLUDED that we cannot conduct our business in the same fashion as the past,” Feehan said. He cited growing demand for electricity, the need to replace worn-out equipment and coal conversion expenditures for adding to the Company's need for facilities in the future. ‘‘To give you an idea of the problem, We will have to spend almost $900 million on construction over the next five years. That means that in five years, we will have to double the $900 million that we’ve invested in Southern New Jersey’s electric faeilities over the last 95 years. And we will hate to triple our investment in the next 10 years," Feehan explained. ••SUCH UNBRIDLED growth in our electric loads and our construction expen-, ditures is not in the interest of our customers, who will face higher and higher energy costs. It is not in the interest of our shareholders who will face greater

aUA

and greater dilution of their investment as the result of the major financing required,” Feehan said. “Unbridled growth is not in the interest of the nation, because it fosters Inflation. The more we have to build, the more we fan inflation. In such circumstances, utilities become part of the problem, Instead of the solution,’’ Feehan explained. FEEHAN SAID that his company must ipeke every reasonable, and a few unreasonable efforts to reduce the massive construction program it faces. Feehan outlined four basic strategies the Company will use: — Aggressive promotion of conservation and more efficient use of electricity. The company will redouble its already aggressive approach to conservation and energy efficiency in a program that could include discounts on energy-efficient appliances, promotion of energy conserving devices, promotion of substitutes for the conventional electric water heater, and regulations to mandate energy efficiency. — PROMOTION OF electric load control or load management. Special demand control devices could be installed at the customer’s point of service, but Atlantic Electric must first find systems which are cost-effecitve In its service area. (Page 18 Please)

WASHINGTON. D C. -1 lion and housing statMia f Census Bureau this week <■

the Second Congressional District, which includes Cape May County along with moat of South Jersey, experienced by far the greatest growth during the past decade of any oftbe state’s 15 Osngre*

sional districts.

The home district of Congressman Bill Hughes of Ocean City showed a S7.7 per cent increase in population (tourer 610,000) and a 35.8 per cent jump in housing units (to almost 31i,(M) between 1970 and 1980. The next doeest district, the Thirteenth, had gains of JB.7 and 29 per

cent respectively.

Nine of the 15 experienced a decline in pop illation with one, the Tenth, showing a drop even in the number of housing units. The number of people and housing units in the Second was also the greatest numerically of any other district in New

Jersey.

Paneling Unordinary TRENTON - The latest interpretation of the state : wide construction code by the Dept, of Community Affairs would require the homeowner to obtain a con struction permit for the installation of paneling, but not for plastering or drywalling over an existing waB. Under the interpretation, which became effective last month, paneling isn't included as an ordinary repair. Permits or notification of the local eons true lion official aren’t required far ordinary repairs. InstaDation rtnuk a^jrflrtpcerhent of plidiiefti* or Sywal Is Con sidetedsn onfihaty repair. Four Local Elections Tues. Polls will be open 7 a.m. to S p.m. May 12 for the municipal elections In Sea Isle City, Avalon, Wildwood Crest and West Cape May. Seeking three scats in City Commission in Sea Isle are Mayor Dominic Raffa and Commissioner William Kehner, former Commissioner Alfred Ligndle, anfl William Van Artsdalen and J. Allan

Gansert.

In Avalon. Councilmen Raymond Gray Jr f , Philip Judyski and James Busha are seeking the three seats, while Jeannett Glazier is out to upset at least one of them. There’s also a question on the ballot (tee ttory inside). The three seats on the Crest Commission are sought by Commissioner Louis Del Conte and former Commissioner Ar thur Schard , and a slate consisting of Commissioners Charles Guhr and John Pantalonc, and Frank McCall. (Page 18 Please)

thru Delton Brooks Young people in the county planning to work for the first time this summer should be aware that the first step is to get a Social Security number — and the time to take that first step is right now. Many young people may not realize that getting a Social Security number takes a little longer today than it did for their K rents. Mom and dad probly walked into a Social Security office one day and walked out with a Social

Security number and card. Today many of you can even apply by mail if you wish, but either way it takes about six weeks to receive a Social Security number and card: THE MAJOR REASON for the difference is that the application is now more closely scrutinized to assure the applicant's correct identity, citizenship* or lawful alien status, and age. When the Social Security system first started 45 years ago and in its early years, the concern

was to make it as easy as possible for people to get a Social Security card. Now that the system is a household word — the nation’s primary means of providing an income to a family at the retirement, death, or disability of the breadwinner — the major concern is that the card and the rights it represents are protected from fraud and abuse. MOREOVER, the Social Secbrity number represents your key to your (Page 18 Please)

M FT REPLICA of the renowned aircraft carrier U88 Waap docked to front of the Golden Eagle Motor Inn. Cape May Sunday. The craft was to be present atVreunion for the Wssp’s 750-member crew scheduled for this weekend.