8

Herald & Lantern 4 lanuary '84

Regan Ramp Assured

VILLAS. - Only frozep ground now stands bet^en Frances Regan and a wheelchair ramp. Every other obstacle apparently has been eliminated. The work will be done by the Atlantic City Council of the Telephone Pioneers of America, volunteer organization of telephone company employes and retirees. Cost of material will be donated by Jack Bowman, one of the principals of Bayside Village, a Villas development company. The Pioneers already have the material^ according to' Thomas Henry of Court House, past president of the organization. But the frozen ground last week made digging impossible. He said he hoped woric could be done this week. Cost is now estimated as less than $400. The county Welfare Department, which promised Mrs. Regan a ramp in October, had backed off because of estimates the project would cost more than $1,000 for material. It had a volunteer carpenter, Bill Dwyer of West Cape Mav. AFTER A FRIEND of Mrs. Regan toM the Herald and Lantern that the ramp had not been built, and after the newspapers told their readers, offers of help began Rowing in. Regan, 85, had her right leg amputated below the knee this summer. She hasn't been out of her house since she came home from Betty Bachrach Rehabilitation Center Sept. 13. Design of the ramp was donated by Tuckerton architect Arvand Padwal, husband of a Bachrach social worker, Mindy Padwal. Regan lost her leg because of diabetes and poor circulation. She has been fitted with an artificial limb and a therapist works with her twice a week. She also u> assisted three times a week by a representative of Jersey Cape Visiting Homemakers. Friends and neighbors help her and her family doctor comes to the house, but she needs to get out to her heart doctor, she said. She and her husband, Earl, moved to Villas in 1963. He died in 1972.

'He’d Rather Fight Than Swim-

(From Page 1) requires an extra high tide. When we flood, so do parts of Wildwood,’North Wildwood and Rio Grande Boulevard. We are able to leave West Wildwood and not be able to get through Part’Boulevard in Wildwood, “It’s a shame we have that reputation,” he said. "It upsets me more than anything else. If West Wildwood were built higher, we’d be an exclusive community because we have a perfect location.” That location includes an inland island of less than a half square mile plus a narrow 26th Street peninsula that can be reached only by leaving the island via its only bridge and backtracking into Wildwood. A mile from Wildwood’s beaches, the 40-year-old community has 700 dwelling units, 80 percent vacant off-season. Its year-round population of 360,-60 percent senior citizens, climbs to 6,000 in the summer. THE TOURISTS COME for water views, peace and quiet, and rents Frederick said average $300 a week, $4,000 a season, low for the Jersey shore. A sign at the entrance to the “fourth Wildwood” advertises motels, apartments, marinas, beach, business area, fishing, motels, boating.” It has, in season, four small motels, a dozen marinas, three- restaurants, two "nightclubs,” a couple neighborhood bars. Its "beach” is on the Inter-Coastal Waterway that winds its way around the island, giving residents close looks at small craft. But “we don’t encourage swimming and decided we couldn’t put a lifeguard there -because it implies the beach is safe for swimming,” Frederick said. The state condemned the water for removing shellfish 20 years ago, when many homes, dumped sewage into the bay, a problem Frederick "said is “slowly cleaning itself up.” OFF-SEASON, about all one finds open in West Wildwood is its municipal buildhig, a liquor store across the street, and the nondenominational Union Church — West Wildwood was a marshV portion of, Middle Township until developer Ben-} jamin Harm bought it in If by dredging. “The island was bk Frederick. Harm incorporated the town\rt 1920 at was elected its first mayor.] He

Sturm: Pay Hike Overdue-

(From Page 1)

figures from the state Association of Coun-

Catanoso would also get a $3,000 raise, from $13,000 to $16,000 a year. The board has not received a pay raise since 1980. An increase was proposed early last year but withdrawn. REGARDING BOND-SHIRLEY’S criticism, Sturm presented figures Friday that show four freeholders would be drawing $15,351 annual salaries and Catanoso $1,000 more if the board's yearly pay kept pace with county employes over the past few years. In 1981, the county's general category employes received an average 6.5 percent increase, 6.69 percent in 1982, 5.82 percent last year and are projected to get an average 6.4 percent increase, Stunnnoted If the freeholders received the same pay raises, he calculated, the $12,000 thejj were paid in 1980 would have increased to $12,780 in 1981, to $13,633 in 1982, to $14,428 last year and up to $15,351 this year — or $351 less than the proposed raise, Freeholder salaries throughout the state vary, from highs of $18,000 (director, $19,000) for Morris County and the nine officials in equally affluent Bergen County, to a low of $8,000 (director, $8,500) for the seven freeholders in impoverished Cumberland County. Cumberland's top official^ have not given, themselves a pay raise in several years however, and, like most of the other state counties, they represent a larger population (133,148) than Cape May County (84,229). But, Sturm noted, Cumberland freeholders get secretarial allowances and more generous voucher payments thaft their Cape colleagues. SALEM'COUNTY. which has the only population (65,067) smaller than Cape MayCounty's, pays six of its freeholders $10,794 and the director, $11,423, according to

Other state counties, with five-member freeholder boards like Cape May, defy paycomparisons with this county’s board because of the differences in population, size and other factors, association figures show. Atlantic County's seven freeholders, who currently collect $13,200 (director, $14,300) annually, are proposing a 16 percent salary increase over two years. That would boost their pay to $17,000 by 1985, Sturm said, “We haven't moved in four years,” be added, “and, in light of the wort load” carried by the Cape freeholders, a salary increase is warranted. Although some of the day to day chores will now be handled by Kathryn A. Willis, the newly-appointed clerk/administrator, and her deputy, Sturm maintained that each freeholder will still “be up to his ears’- in wort, studying the pending administrative code. “I think that they all feel the same way,” he continued, referring to his fellow board members. “We feel (the 25 percent increase) is fair and justified." “My position remains steady,” countered lannone, repeating his argument that the freeholders are not full-time. Sturm’s argument, that Cumberland County freeholders, for example, are paid in excess of their $8,000 if expenses and secretary allowances are included, "is a poor excuse” to press for increases in Cape freeholder salaries, lannone added. Linking freeholder pay to taxes, he said the freeholders should be denied any increase until taxes decrease. “I don’t think anybody would argue with that, ” he said of a pay hike after a tarf cut. “The main thing is to build up public trust” lannone concluded, “and the proof of the pudding is the tax rate.”

homes, but no bulkheads. “We were at the whim of any full moon tide'o»i northeastern storm,” said Frederick. A bulkhead requirement came in the 1954-60 administration of Mayor. Edwin Lusk, Frederidc’s uncle, who died of a heart attack during a public meeting. THAT ORDINANCE required every waterfront property owner to construct and maintain a bulkhead. The city did the wort for those who couldn’t afford it and assessed the owner with a monthly payment. Thus the city was “in pretty good shape" by the time of the 1962 storm, which took about 50 homes. That storm provided the benchmark for bulkheads. They now must be 7.8 feet above sea level, the height of the ’62 storm. All lower ones have been replaced, Frederick said. His goal is the elimination of the minor flooding that still occurs. A $13,000 large storm outfall project at Neptune and Popular, due to be started this month is supposed to help get rid of water quicker. “We have everything any community has,” pointed out Frederick: “fire department, police department, civil defense, water and sewer, trash collection ...” It lacks industry — and Democrats. The Republican Club on the other hand, is 'almost a community, rather than a political organization. It sponsored the Town Watch program that began in October, encouraging residents to report suspicious activities to police. That was prompted by four break-ins last winter. “We have no local problems,” the mayor said, “just outsiders." WEST WILDWOOD has its own water lines, but buys water from Wildwood. That, ironically, results in lower water rates for West Wildwood’s residents than Wildwood’s. That’s because the water is metered at the bridge into town at a bulk rate lower than the rate to individuals. West Wildwood also does “pretreatment” of sewage at its own plant, then pumps it to Wildwood “which completes. the processing !’ The borough payroll includes its threemember (two-car) police department, two maintenance employes, and two clerks. Two senior citizens in the state Green Thumb program also do maintenance. The volunteer fire department has 30 active members and four vehicles: two pumpers, a van and an emergency truck. The municipal building, which houses the borough office and police and fire departments, also serves as a community center for organisations and Wednesday night bingo. FREDERICK SAID West Wildwood is having a “building boom" with 15-18 houses constructed in the last year. There are many lots available, although bargain prices are starting to climb. Recent ads offered 85x100 lots for from $15,000 to $30,000 and two larger, waterfront lots, were listed for $65,000 and $125,000. West Wildwood's small size and population are both a blessing and a problem. "I enjoy it being small,” said Frederick, “but our size is against us. We have difficulty getting federal/state grants, money for bulkheads, drainage, etc. Frederick, 33, is a West Wildwood native, born at Shore Memorial in 1950 five months before Burdette Tomlin opened in October. His parents, Robert and Catherine, were Philadelphia natives. His father was a bridge tender for the state for 25 years, retiring at 70 five years ago. His mother, 65, is an administrator with the county health board. HERBERT CHARLES (“everybody calls me ChUckT) was the middle of seven children, with \ four brothers and two sisters. His brother, Robert Jr., is police chief in Wildwood Crest. The mayor lives several blocks from his parents in a two-story salthox he built himself in 1979. " Frederick graduated from Wildwood High School in 1970. After a six-vote loss for freshman class president, he bounced back to be elected senior class president Fellow students were already predicting that he would be the mayor of West Wildwood and he concedes it was "an ambition since I was h kid.” Frederick graduated with honors from Glassboro Stole College in 1974 with a BA in education and a major in industrial education and technology. His first teaching job was at Middle Township High School in 1974 He left two years later for Wildwood High where he teaches five woodshop classes a day The course is required in seventh and eighth grade, an elective in high school Fredenck s course includes what to look

for in buying a home or fumiture.Ncareer opportunities in the building Industry, etc. At the loth-year level, be makes something over $18,000 a year. His students, he relates with pride, have placed first and second in each of the last eight years in the New Jersey State Craftsman Fair vrith such items as a rolltop desk, dropleaf desk and grandfather dock “I’m proud, of what they do,” he said. “I’d compare our program with anyone in South Jersey.” At Wildwood High, one can major in industrial arts as well as in business or college prep. FREDERICK LIKES KIDS and compares the stereotype of wild teenagers with the unfair reputation of West Wildwood as being flood-prone. “The good things they do outweigh the bad,” he said. When Frederick was in high school, he worked for West Wildwood’s Maintenance Department for two summers, patching streets, cleaning storm drains, spraying mosquitos. He got involved with his home town as a volunteer fireman while still a student at Glassboro. And as a summer police officer in 1971 and 1972, he suggested and designed a holding cell. Until then, short-term prisoners had to be token to Wildwood. Political involvement was always present. He was named for his Uncle Herbert Frederick, who served on West Wildwood Commission from 1954-62. His mother was a tax collector-in the 40s, before be was bom. His father was building inspector in 1960-62, a job Frederick held in 1976-80. And his Aunt Mary, former Mayor Lusk’s wife, was a GOP committeewoman for 10 years in the '50s. FREDERICK WAS APPROACHED to run for mayor in 1976, but declined "because I couldn’t give it 100 percent.” By 1980 he was ready. “I felt there was a lot to be done and I had something to offer,” he said. West Wildwood elects a three-member commission every four years. Two ihcumbents declined to seek reelection that year and Frederick and William Chatbum teamed up with incumbent William E. Braker. The Election is nonpartisan, but they were endorsed by Republicans and, had no opposition. His fellow commissioners named him mayor, a job that pays $100 more a year than the commissioners' $850. "Neither I nor the others are in it for the money,” he commented. Frederick estimates he works 15-20 hours a week at the job. A The city’s budget totals $286,000. It was reassessed at 100 percent in 1982 for a total assessed valuation of $26.3 million. The 1983 local purpose tax rate was 1.081 per $100 of assessed valuation, a cent less than in 1982 “thanks to streamlining and a lot of volunteer help,” he said. There also is a .49 per $100 school tax, primarily for tuition and busing about 55 students to Margaret Mace and Wildwood High. West Wildwood is one of three communities in the state with school boards, but no school (Cape May Point is another). FREDERICK CAMPAIGNED for Ronald Reagan, was president of the West Wildwood Republican Club for the last 10 years, is the town’s GOP municipal leader, and wears a gold elephant tie tack. He said he has no other political ambitions “at this time, but if an opportunity turned up, I’m not saying I’d turn it down.” He participates in county affairs, he said, for two reasons: “to make our island more informed of what’s going on at county level, and so the county will realize we - are a viable part of the county.” That active participation led to his being elected president of the county League of Municipalities last year. He s a local history huff who likas to hunt small game in ,1116 winter and relaxes with his woodworking. In the summer (and winter weekends) be is a building contractor, but only hiring one or two persons and always being on the job himself. SIX MONTHS AFTER becoming mayor, Frederick developed an Ulcer. “I can’t necessarily attribute it to that,” he joked. “I tried to give the job 100 percent. I found out you can’t please evenbody, which is what I was trying to do. So, you do what’s in the best interest of the community. A bachelor who neither drinks nor smokes, Frederick said he was “working off, neglecting myself, and eating fait foods.” He weighed 165. His doctor, he said, rtold me to cool it and put me on a diej'." * Now he carries 185 pounds on his 6-1 frame, l^ves food, and is taking oriental eookiftgat VVildwood’s night school.