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Hwald & lantern 17 Augurt '83

Worthington to Tony: ‘Stuff It’

(From Page 1) SDA in the next go-round,'* said Worthington, but he added that he did not know when that would be and he would not be in office since his term expires this year. John Bettis, director of Atlantic County's Division of Training and Employmeht, which includes PIC, said it was "not necessarily true" that it would be trying again for its own SDA. "Atlantic will have 200,000 people,” he said, "but that alone will not say separate. I don't think the state will allow us to change” Worthington said Catanoso had objected to the fact that, when Bettis was on vacation several weeks ago, his staff members wrote to Mavromates with various questions. "WK ASKED THEM for input," said Worthington, “and Tony was bitching about the inappropriateness of delegating authority to our staff members. I told him to stuff it. I fail to see rhyme or reason for thatreaction.” Catanoso's letter said he was "willing to agree to coordination between us, but not to the extent that Cape May County relinquish its control over their own employment and training programs." He asked "that both chief elected of^. ficials share the lead role and maintai^T equal authority." "Are we equal in population?" responded Worthington. Catanoso also asked that each county prepare its own "local job training plan." "There will be one plan," said Worthington. "This is set by.law." Catanoso requested that each county receive a separate federal grant and maintain its own "administrative entity." "That is not possible under the legislation." said Worthington. "There will-be one PIC and one administration." "I IK) NOT WANT the staff from my county answering to the dictates of the director of Atlantic County, who may not understand or be concerned with local issues," wrote Catanoso. "Our employment and training programs have always been responsive and worked closely with local private enterprises in economic development activities, and I don’t want to see these procedures burdened down through an extensive Atlantic County bureaucratic system." "I am very concerned that Cape May County is faced with a possible inequity of services," wrote Catanoso. "Atlantic County has 10 per cent unemployed," said Bettis. "Cape May County has 16 per cent. Since we are a single serWe delivery area, we would certainly have to address those geographicatr areas where unemployment is the most; sev^e.” Bettis said he estimated that 40 per cent of/4he federal money PIC will receive "would have gone to Cape May County, based on its unemployment rate, and I would think at least 40 percent would be spent on the county." Catanoso also said he was concerned that ‘'based on the lack of transportation,

Salvage Syndrome

OCEAN CITY — Perhaps to help pay the resort's ever-escalating legal bills, Mayor Jack Bittner told the city solicitor last week to file claims for a share of whatever two Maryland divers might salvage from the Sindia, which went aground off 17th Street while sailing from the Orient in 1901. To avoid that and other hassles from the city, the salvagers might operate strictly off-shore.

it is not realistic to try to place our residents in jobs in areas in Atlantic County if they can’t get there." "Let the facts show that and we’ll try to place.them elsewhere, said Bettis. . CATANOSO WROTE that he was con(cemed about Cape May County being Vheld liable for any misused funds in Atlantic County." "Any disallowed funds would be applied geographically," said Bettis. "If the participant is in Atlantic County, Atlantic County would assume that liability. How much fairer can you be?" Cape May County PIC hfts expressed concern that fhe mefger will mean an end to its local office at the airport. "There will be one administrative office," said Worthington, "and I would hope a whole series o( district offices that we won’t have to pay for a man 100 per cent of the time. We want to centralize the administration and decentralize the point of contact where appropriate services are offered." AN IMPORTANT ISSL'E beneath the surface is what will happen to any federal money left over at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. ’ Cape May County PIC has said Atlantic County has no extra money left. “We do have money left," said Bettis, "and will transfer $130,000 (into the new PIC)." Cape May County’s financial records show a balance of more than $300,000, effective July 31, but Mavromates said it would be spent for "close-out, auditing, and start-up. There is not going to be too much left over." "We did ask them if they intend to transfer (surplus)," said Bettis, "but they told us they didn’t have any money. There’s no way in hell they could have spent $1.9 million on the few participants they serve." Catanoso reportedly has been concerned that Mavromates’ job will be eliminated in the upcoming merger. "I'm surprised Tony said that," said Bettis. "This can't be looked at as two little units of local government. As a professional, I can understand and appropriately react to the concerns and needs of the citizens of Cape May County. Catanoso said he wanted to "ensure that Cape May County has enough ad- x ministrative staff to run efficient and effective programs under a director with enough authority to make decisions for local government of Cape May County. Reporting to an administrative entity of Atlantic County would clearly be unacceptable to the freeholders and PIC members k of Cape May County." "I hear a lot of concern about employees and positions and 'power," said Bettis, "but I don’t hear anybody talking about participants and the unemployed, who have a need for these services. "THERE’S A SEVERE philosophical breakdown between these two counties," he added. “My concern is that we develop a training and employment system to deliver these services tp the people that need them in both counties. That is what the issue ought to be, not trying to save someone’s job or influence. Personal issue^ are taking precedence over the prograqtf, and I find that very disappointing." "I am very concerned that Cape May County is faced with a possible inequity of services,” wrote Catanoso. "Atlantic County has 10 per cent unemployed," said Bettis. "Cape May County has 16 per cent. Since we are a single service delivery area, we would certainly have to address those geographical areas where unemployment is the most severe."

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Bettis said he estimated that 40 per cent of the federal money PIC will receive "would have gone to Cape May County, based on its unemployment rate, and I would think at least 40 per cent would be spent on the county." Catanoso also said he was concerned that "based on the lack of transportation, it is not realistic to try to place our residents in Jobs in areas in Atlantic County if they can’t get there." "Let the facts show that we’ll try to place them elsewhere, said Bettis. CATABISI WRITE that he was concerned about Cape May County being "held liable for any misused funds in Atlantic County." “Any disallowed funds would be applied geographically," said Bettis. "If the participant is in Atlantic County, Atlantic County would assume that liability. How much fairer can you be?" Cape May County PIC has expressed concern that the merger will mean an end to its local office at the airport. Catanoso said he wanted to "ensure that Cape May County has enough administrative staff to run efficient and effective programs under a director with enough authority to make decisions for local government of Cape May County. Reporting to an administrative entity of Atlantic County would clearly be unacceptable to the freeholders and PIC members of Cape May County." "I hear a lot of concern about employees and positions and power," said Bettis, "but I don’t hear anybody talking about participants and the unemployed, who have a need for these services. "THERE’S A SEVERE philosophical breakdown between these two counties,” he added. "My concern is that we develop a training and employment system to deliver these services to the people that need them in both counties. That is what the issue ought to be, not trying to save someone’s job or influence. Personal issues are taking precedence over the program, and I find that very disappointing." "I am very concerned that Cape May County is faced with a possible inequity of services," wrote Catanoso. "Atlantic County has 10 per cent unemployed," said Bettis. "Cape May County has 16 per cent. Since we are a single service delivery area, we would certainly have to address those geographical areas where unemployment is the most severe.” Bettis said he estimated that 40 per cent of the federal money PIC will receive “would have gone to Cape May County, based on its unemployment rate, and I would think at least 40 per cent would be spent on the county." Catanoso also said he was concerned that “based on the lack of transportation, it is not realistic to try to place our residents in jobs in areas in Atlantic County if they can’t get there.” "Let the facts show that we’ll try to place them elsewhere, said Bettis. CATABISI WRITE that he was concerned about Cape May County being "held liable for any misused funds in Atlantic County." "Any disallowed funds would be applied geographically," said Bettis. "If the participant is in Atlantic County, Atlantic County would assume that liability. How much fairer can you be?” Cape May County PIC has expressed concern that the merger will mean an end to its local office at the airport. Catanoso said he wanted to “ensure that Cape May County has enough administrative staff to run efficient and effective programs under a director with enough authority to make decisions for local government of Cape May County - Reporting to an administrative entity of Atlantic County would clearly be unacceptable to the freeholders and PIC members of Cape May County." “I hear a lot of concern about employees and positions and power,” said Bettis, "but I don’t hear anybody talking about participants and the unemployed, who have a need for these services. "THERE’S A SEVERE philosophical breakdown between these two counties," he added. "My concern is that we develop a training and employment system to deliver these services to the people that need them in both counties. That is what the issue ought to be, not trying to save someone’s job or influence. Personal issues are taking precedence over the program, and I find that very disappointing." "I am very concerned that Cape May County is faced with a possible inequity of services," wrote Catanoso. "Atlantic County has 10 per cent unemployed," said Bettis. "Cape May County has 16 per cent. Since we are a single service delivery area, we would cer-

tainly have to address those geographical areas where unemployment is the most severe." Bettis said be estimated that 40 per cent of the federal money PIC will receive "would have gone to Cape May County, based on its unemployment rate, and I would think at least 40 per cent would be spent on the county.” Catanoso also said.be was concerned that "based on the lack of transportation, it is not realistic to try to place our residents in jobs in areas in Atlantic County if they can’t get there." "Let the facts show that we’ll try to place them elsewhere, said Bettis. CATABISI WRITE that he was concerned about Cape May County being "held liable for any misused funds in Atlantic County." "Any disallowed funds would be applied geographically," said Bettis. "If the participant is in Atlantic County, Atlantic County would assume that liability. Hbw much fairer can you be?" Cape May County PIC has expressed Concern that the merger will mean an end to its local office at the airport. 'Hiere will be one administrative office," said Worthington, "and I would hope a whole series of district offices that we won’t have to pay for a man 100 per cent of the time. We want to centralize the administration and decentralize the point of contact where appropriate services are offered." AN IMPORTANT ISSUE beneath the surface is what will happen to any federal money, left over at the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30. Cape May County PIC has said Atlantic County has no extra money left. "We do have money left," said Bettis, "and will transfer $130,000 (into the new PIC)." Cape May County’s financial records show a balance of more than $300,000, effective July 31, but Mavromates said it would be spent for "close-out, auditing, and start-up. There is not going to be too much left over." "We did ask them if they intended to transfer (surplus)," said Bettis, "but they told us they didn’t have any money. There’s no way in hell they could have spent $1.9 million on the few participants they serve." s Catanoso reportedly has been concerned that Mavromates’ job will be eliminated in the upcoming merger. "There would certainly be room for their director in our overall PIC project," said Worthington "but she would not be separate but equal..." IN THEIR ONLY successful meeting last month, Worthington and Catanoso did agree that the new PIC board of directors would have 33 members, 22 from Atlantic County, 11 from Cape May County. "We had to give in them to get the show on the road," said Catanoso. "We have 70 per cent of the population (of the two counties)," said Worthington," and they have 30 per cent. But we gave them 33 per cent of the board, which is more than fair." When it came to the list of 33 nominees, however, Bettis charged that Catanoso "didn’t want to sign without job guarantees. It took a lot of pressure from the state for us to get together.” One of.the Cape May County’s nominees — Frank Szymanski of the state Job Service — was subsequently ruled out by the state. "I’D LIKE TO KNOW why," said Mavromates. “We’re fighting it." Dee Rosebrock, executive assistant to Fred Raddleman, director of employment policy and grants administration for the state Department of Labor, said guidelines prohibit more than one representative from the state employment service. And Atlantic County has nominated its own job service manager, William Norcross Rosebrock said it was the state employment service that decided in favor of Norcross over Szymanski.^ Cape May County’s other 10 nominees: Representing business: Jerry McCargo of McCargo Landscaping, Robert Davenport, of New Jersey Bell, Marie Britton of Century 21, Robert C. Patterson Jr., of the county Chamber of Commerce, Thomas Wark of Everlon Fabrics Corp., Peter Berkowitz of Group W Cable, and builder Gregory Willis.. Also, Daniel L. Money of the county vocational school, education, George Plewa of Jersey Cape Diagnostic Training and Opportunity Center, rehabilitation agency; and county planning director Elwood Jarmer representing economic development. Jarmer is the only new face; the others are members of the county's current PIC.