PIC Snafu Threatens Local Jobs

By JOE ZELNIK A new industry trying to locate in Cape May County may initially hire experienc ed, out-of-county residents rather than in experienced, jobless countians because of a snafu with the county's Private Industry Council (PIC). Container Decorating Co., which plans to hire 100 and locate at the airport industrial park in Erma, had applied to the federally-funded PIC for $101,694 for classroom training and on-the-job training (OJT) for 41 local persons. The firm will decorate cosmetic bottles, toiletries and tablewear

But PIC refused to approve or discuss the proposal at its meeting last week, causing a disappointed Container President William. R. Beisegel of North Wildwood to talk about Connecticut as an alternate plant site. AT THE VERY LEAST, it now appears that the first 25 people to be hired would be persons from Cumberland. Salem and Gloucester counties with glass industry ex perience instead of local unemployed per sons trained via PIC "We would like this to be 100 percent from the county," said Beisegel, "but us ing green people not familiar with the work could cause waste of 25 to 30 percent

instead of the normal 2 percent " Beisegel said he has three obligations "the shareholders, the customers, and the community, in that order See Editorial. "Nine .Months and No Baby," page 26 "He'd be better off to hire 20 experienc ed people from Cumberland County than 40 trainees from Cape May County." said Donald M Kelly, executive director of the county's Industrial and Economic Development Commission, who a-:com panied Beisegel to the meeting "He would be in production in three weeks But part of the program was to hire local people "

BEISEGEL ALSO SAID he was concern ed that "infighting among personalities " would dissuade local investors who. he said, have pledged more than a quarter of a million dollars to bring the new plant to the county " "If there's constant interference and bad mouthing, and that's what this looks like." he said, "how many other things are going to impede this company'’" Beisegel and Kelly came to the meeting, they said, believing the proposal would be on the agenda for approval Instead, a three page outline, labeled "draft" and Page 15 Please)

Dorl« Wo/d 'YOU CANT WIN" — County Freeholder William E. Sturm Jr. tells county airport advocates, above, that It's too costly and user fees should be instituted. At right, facing crowd. Is Freeholder Ralph W. Evans.

Crowds Give Holders 'A Night to Remember'

COURT HOUSE — "This is a night to remember." said Cape May County Freeholder William E Sturm Jr Tuesday. March 8. About 40 county airport workers and users had just departed the freeholders' meeting in the county Library-Office Building and more than lot) county union members were rushing into the room that seaLs less than 50 The first to grab seals sal. reached down beneath them, lifted their bodies and their chairs, and bounced forward toward the awed freeholders like kangaroos in order , to make space for comrades to stand at the | rear of the room THE FIRST SEGEMENT of the four hour meeting revealed growing disagree ment over airport management between

Butter: Late, But Doubled

By BOB SHILES RIO GRANDE — Cape May County needy families will be getting federal surplus butter eight weeks later than first announced, but there apparently will be twice as much. An original shipment of 33.600 pounds was due the first week in February, but delayed by the nationwide truckers’ strike Now. according to Patricia Quinn of the state Department of Agricultire. it appears that two shipments of 38,000 pounds each will be delivered during the weeks of March 28 and April 11. Complete schedule will be announced in the Herald and Lantern as soon as it is available. More than 6,000 county families are Ijclievcd eligible for the 38 Ions of butter based on low income, running from $721 a month for an individual to $2,146 for a

family of seven A combination butter-cheese distribution is believed to be a possibility since the county previously reported it expected more cheese in April. After the truckers' strike, butter shipment has been expected the week of March 7, but "a backlog of paper work at the U S Department of Agriculture" delayed it. Quinn said. "There’s a lot of surplus butter available." she said, noting that many areas have requested additional shipments. Marvin Morrell, a supervisor with the county Welfare Board, previously said that the state didn't like to handle butter in late March because it's loo warm But Quinn said distribution should be finished by April 17 and agencies receiving it have "proven to the state Department of 'Page 14 Please'

Freeholder Director Anthony T Catanoso. acting airport manager, and at least three of tbe other four freeholders Sturm. Gerald M Thornton and James Kilpatrick all indicated they want to in vestigate collecting user fees, landing fees, and tie down fees to reduce the cost of the airport Only Freeholder Ralph W Evans appeared to side with Catanoso in opposition Airport differences peaked 10 weeks ago when the freeholders, then without Kilpatrick aboard and locked in a 2 2 tie. agreed behind closed doors to fire airport ^manager Robert A Lewis Catanoso resigned his control in favor of Sturrh on Dec 28. but changed his mind six days

later

THE LATEST RHUBARB was pro mpted by reports the freeholders were go mg to end the UNICOM radio service that advises pilots of such factors as wind direction and velocity, designated runway, and air traffic in the area. Sturm and Thornton have previously (Page 15 Please) Beer, Wine: Yes COURT HOUSE] — Despite an over whelming membership vote in favor of taking an official position on the controversial beer-and-wme-by-the-glass issue, the county Chamber of Commerce will ask its board of directors not to do it A mail poll of 631 members resulted in a 174 41 vote in favor of taking an official position and a 120 54 vote in favor of the proposal Senate Bill 1863 and Assembly Bill 1969 would establish special permits to allow certain restaurants to serve wine and beer by the glass This is backed by the local chapter of the Garden Stale Restaurant Association and opposed by the county

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News— Diffpst w '‘ ,,ks ■—lop Stones /Vo (r(tiden Hide AVALON A second hearing on the Golden Inn s proposal to build a new section connecting two existing buildings went on past midnight last week The weary planning board now says it will rule April 12 on the controversial pro posal, which is opposed by some neighbors who say it will create trafficproblems and reduce property values

Half a Loaf THE VVILDWOODS Oneway fares on the Five Mile Beach KlecTric Railway s buses will increase from :><) cents to 65 cents Sunday Senior Citizens will ride for 30 cents with a voucher Students fare will be $2 for five tokens The company, which says it loses money on street operations, profits on charters, asked for 75 cents, but the New Jersey Rate Council said 65

/Vo, You Take It COURT HOUSE The state Depart men! of Transportation is spending some $45,000 to repair the vandalized sevenmonth old walkway across the Garden State Parkway because it hasn't approv ed the walkway yet Once it does, repairs will lx* a responsibility of Middle Township, whose residents apparently are the vandals The walkway was built because some township children were crossing the parkway to and from school

( »l>y Cats OCEAN CITY * City Council rejected Wildwood businessman Richard Adelizzi's offer to provide jitney service which has been costing the city $100,0(81 a year Instead, it will try some of the things Adelizzi planned higher fares, advertising, and l(,\ss runs to cut the cost to $35,000

AW What? WOODBINE Eight jx-rsons filed an appeal asking the state Pmelands Com mission to rescind its waiver allowing the county MUA to build a lined landfill within 2,500 feet of their properties That could further delay iLs effort at the already unreachable goal of opening by June 30. the deadline for closing the county's six unlined landfills Nobody knows where the trash will go m the meantime

• ‘Page 14 Please* Unofficially Licensed Beverage Association Chamber executive director Robert C Patterson Jr said the committee agreed with comments on some ballots that "it was too controversial an issue" and "the chamber should unite the business com munity. not split it " "We've got members with liquor licenses and members without." said Pat lerson "We can't make 'em both happy " Patterson said two liquor license holders * threatened to cancel their chamber membership if it took an official position backing the bill 1 Chamber Presided! Ted Roman said the 'Page 14 Pleasei