Herald & lantern 16 March '83

15

<»

Snafu Threatens Jobs

(From Page 1) focusing primarily on cost, was included in the PIC agenda. ‘This is incomplete for me to give to the committee," said Nan Mavromates, PIC director. "It was a lot more complete than this yesterday,” said Beisegel. "We had a 10-page report. This is unfair and embarrassing." "WE NEED MORE details,’ said Caren Gross, PIC’s principal planner Beisegel appeared dumbfounded. "Is there a reason for this to be this way?" he asked. "Don’t ask that question," said Armand Gagnon, PIC vice chairman who was presiding in the absence of chairman Gregory Willis. Gagnon refused tp permit Beisegel to continue. After the meeting Beisegel called the PIC draft report "an absolute abortion" and its request for more information “totally ridiculous. I was shocked that they repsented only figures. This was apparently put together to indicate out company is looking for a handout. This is not true We put together a complete program at their suggestion." Mavromates. however, said Container Decorating fii*st approached the county •I CAN’T FIGURE OUT what they're doing or why they’re doing it,” said Kelly "We met on this 12-15 hours in the last two weeks " "This is something I don’t want to rush through," said Mavromates "I want to review the whole thing so the state can't come back at us ” Beisegel said PIC actually had approved - a $104,000 proposal six months ago Gross said money was "set aside," but no approval given Gross said comparable wage rates for the glass industry and proof that persons involved in classroom training would not be making a profit for the company were among the missing items "Our hands are tied by federal guidelines," she said She also called the program "questionable." BEISEGEL SAID the company had "a tremendous opportunity offered to us to move to Connecticut — untold funds and advantages " And he said the company's vice president for marketing lives in Connecticut. "My main reasons not to go to Connecticut," he said, "are that I live here, most

of the management people we’d bring in live in South Jersey, and all the hard work Don (Kelly) put into this." "The way these people are being treated," said Kelly, "if they want to go to Connecticut, I’d say. God bless 'em." "WE WANT a new company in the county." said Mavromates. “I want it to go through, but I don't want it to rush through." Mrs. Mavrofnates said a similar proposal dates back two years when Decora Inc., a subsidiary of Wheaton Industries, considered bringing a plant to Cape May County. After it decided not to, Beisegel, vicepresident of sales for Decora, opted to try on his own. Beisegel said he worked for Decora until a few weeks ago when they learned ot his involvement with this project and dismissed him. Container Decorating in January ac cepted a county price of $4,450 a month for leasing building No. 12 at the airport, "conditioned upon the availability of adequate funding." BEISEGEL SAID the company needs $1.3 million over the next 12 months. It has the quarter-million dollars in "private investment," he said, plus $450,000 in bank financing and from a "503 program” a new federal program under the Small Business Administration administered by the Corporation for Business Assistance in New Jersey. Beisegel said two banks have agreed on the financing and the state has given the "503" tentative approval Beisegel said the company also had approval from the New Jersey Economic Development Administration for $500,000 in tax-free industrial bonds, but decided against that move because it would be more costly A FEDERAL UDAG (Urban Development Action Grant) loan of $300,000 is no longer being discussed at this time because the company's application "missed the deadline." Beisegel said. That is 2 >sible for later expansion, he said. Money is not a problem." Beisegel d. Beisegel said the company already has "orders on the books, ready to go " And he said he envisions four other industries that would follow Container Decorating to the county, "one complementing the other "

'A Night to Remember-

(From Page ) voiced concern that the county would be legally liable if an air accident resulted from faulty information given on the UNICOM radio by untrained county personnel. Sturm said he’s waiting for an answer from county counsel Albert M Ash Ash told the Herald and Lantern the topic "has been discussed in private caucus, but there was no request for a formal opinion." After a half-dozen advocates, led by Ed ward C. Kotz, assistant airport manager, and Robert Gardner, chief pilot for Southern Jersey Airways, called UNICOM vital, the freeholders assured the audience it would not cease. THORNTON OFFERED a motion that the service be continued, that a contract by which South Jersey collects tie-dowa fees be "reviewed," and that the county "institute landing and user and tie-down fees as soon as possible " In the hubub, the motion was never seconded and Catanoso never called for a vote. But both Sturm and Kilpatrick spoke in favor Sturm charged the airport was costing the county $042,700 a year and bringing in $115,700, a 7-1 ratio he said was not sufficiently cost-effective "How much of that (cost) is federal dollars?" asked Catanoso. "Zero," said Sturm "Ninety percent," said Catanoso "You are absolutely wrong," said Sturm. "Those (federal dollars) are capital costs for runway extension. WHEN STURM complained that there are 29 employes at the airport, Catanoso said there were 14, "Not counting guards " Catanoso charged that the county Revenue Department under Sturm had grown from two people to 15-20. "That's mandated by law," said Sturm "Operating the airport is an option You can't win that one " "Something's wrong," said Sturm, "and I think a user fee is in order "

"The airport was never meant to make money." said Catanoso. "The user fee always went to Southern Jersey since the airport's been there If wouldn't change tomorrow if you were in charge of the air port Maybe Southern Jersey would move and 50 people would lose their jobs " HOW MANY TOURIST dollars would be lost said pilot Gardner "If that pilot wants to land, let him pay a landing fee and a tie-down fee," said Thornton. "How much revenue does Southern Jersey get from these fees'’" Sturm said pilots "can effort it a damn sight better than the individual taxpayers of Cape May County.” "Why don't you just tell pilots to send their money and stay home," shouted a man in the audience "Why don't we go to other airports and find out what they’re doing," suggested Thornton. "Airports do not make money," said Evans. "Philadelphia throws a lot of money into its airport People land with money in their pockets "THAT’S RIGHT.” said Catanoso “They get off and go to hotels, motels, restaurants, gas stations. The airport is an accommodation to Cape May County " Kilpatrick who would have the deciding vote as the freeholder lineup now appears, said he "shared the concerns of Mr Sturm and Mr. Thornton regarding the burden the airport places on county taxpayers It 'Should be investigated I want to see it more cost^ffective " Airport advocates trooped out after Pa hours and the county's union members, who'd been in the hall all that while, rush ed in Their contract expired Dec 31 and talks are stymied. SAM KELLY, business manager of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades, AFL-CIO, which bargains for 625 county employes, urged the freeholders to come "face to face to the bargaining table " (Page 28 Please)

Dofl» Ward TOUGH CHOICE — Kalhy Leahy of Stone Harbor selects a silk floral display at the Antique and Craft Show held Saturday to benefit the Middle Township High School Panther Marching Band.

Imgwes! • Movto listings • • 522-3838 J • HI* t* <7 Rio Mall mt rn • RJo OrwuV MM0M IVJtKJNG T • ! • Held (Krr...tKh Wrrk... * • WINNER OF THREE J • GLOBAL AW ARDS! # • DUSTIN HOFFMAN • ; "TOOTSIE" (F6) • • Evp«.'6:50 and 9:00 P.M. s • (All PanneR Su*|M-ndrtl| 9 ® laat Nlatu, Thun.. March 17 q I “THE YEAR OF LIVING • • DANGEROUSLY" (PG) • • STARRING MEL GIBSON I

Chamber’s ‘Stroll on Mall’

CAPE MAY - Easter bonnets and finery will be on display 2-4 p.m. Easter Sunday during the "Easter Stroll on the Mall." The traditional event, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of Greater Cape May, will provide an oppor tunity to show off Easter Sunday best while enjoying the arrival of spring on the mall Musical accompaniment will be provided by "The Blue Horzons" group of local young people, led by Tim Cohen S E V E R A L CATEGORIES have been set by Stroll chairman Joyce Snover, including:

family, couple, man, lady, teenage boy (13-16 years), teenage girl (13-16 years), boy (6-12 years), gifl (6-12 years), boy (5 years and under), girl (5 years and under), hat, eldest lady, and three new categories, Victorian-costumed cou pie, Victorian-eoslumcd couple. Victorian costumed lady, and Victorian-costumed man Prizes for the winners and runners-up in each category are being donated by Cape May merchants Judging will "be 2-4 p m from the strollers on the Mall For more informa lion, contact Stroll chairman Joyce Snover at 084-7617

1 Evrnlnga 6:45 and i:45 pm

STARTING FRIDAY.

MARCH ia TOM 4EUECK

BESS ARMSTRONG AN ADVFNTURF VOu II NFVfPFORGIT TA»F THf

“HIGH ROAD TO

CHINA" (PG)

Aha Starring Joti Watton

Evening* 6:3S ami *:C» P.fc.

WILDWOOD OPENS ON FRIDAY, MARCH 2STH ED rktAfFI (KMl Allonlx A •n W.ld-ood ill 1*n "THE BLACK STALUON RETURNS" (PG) Evening* 7:00 ami 9:00 PM inaiiffynpf It ACAOVMY AWARD NOMINATIONS INOUDING Of st eiciuHF • Bis - ac:ro»i "GANDHI" (PG) I fur f.trnlna *h«m 7-M I’M |A| 1 PASSrs SUSP! N[)f III

I Full Service Banking Night & Day Convenience Over 300 Locations

Take a George demonstration at our Cape May Branch and receive a free gift.

dj]i guarantee bank —w™™- Your Personal Bankers