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Vol. 20 No. 38 September 19, 1984 "

» «. County Crime Rate Declines

By EJ. DUFFY The county's crime rate declined 5 percent last year on the basis of decreases in nine of its. 16 municipalities, increases in seven. According to the State Police Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) for 1983, the number of crime victims per 1,000 residents dropped from 86.5 in 1982 to 80.6 last year. Despite the decrease, the county had the second highest crime rate last year of the state's 21 counties although it has the third smallest permanent population (86,044 — 1982 projection). Atlantic County had the highest 1983 crime rate in the report — 124.2 victims per 1,000 residents — more than a 4 percent decrease over its 1982 rate and based (Mi its projected permanent population of 195,180. "ALL CRIME RATES ARE based on

permanent, year-round population," noted the report authors. "Comparisons of crime rates between individual municipalities should not be made without giving major consideration to the volume of seasonal population, transients, tourists and labor forces." That notation was added several years ago after law enforcement officials from coastal counties complained that crime rates recorded from their jurisdictions in the UCR didn't account for the summer population swell of vacationers. If the number of tourists were counted with a county's permanent population, the coastal counties' crime rates would show a decrease, their lawmen insist, because the number of victims for J', 000 people would be determined from a broader population base. v Cape May County's Chamber of Commerce estimates that 672,078 tourists

visited the county last year, 581,741 in the summer-fall and 90,337 in the winterspring. "We've always argued about the thing (the UCR) because of the summer influx," County Prosecutor John Corino said Friday. IN HIS 1982 ANNUAL REPORT. Corino wrote: "Even though the year-round residents in the county are estimated in excess of 82,000, a comparison of the criminal caseload with other county jurisdictions <- evidences the fact that the prosecutor's office is handling e criminal caseload comparable to a county with a year-round stable population of approximately 250,000 residents." Camden County, with a permanent projected population of 480,367, and even Bergen County with a permanent projection population of 844,824, were listed in the (Page 39 Please)

r~" " Dona Ward

ONE FOR CODY — Cody may be almost 10. but the golden retriever did stellar work chasing "bumpers" during demonstrations at the Wings 'N Water Festival last weekend. He's owned and trained by Bob and Dee Bailey of Wood bine. More festival coverage inside.

News— ^ DigeSt Topfstories Shiver Me Timbers OCEAN CITY — Uncle Sam is tired of paying repair bills for storm-damaged public facilities like boardwalks, so state environmental officials recommended last week that resort leaders consider removing the Boardwalk between North and 5th Streets, and moving it back from the oceanfront bulkhead between 5 and 15th streets. The state also recommended that development stop 25-feet behind the bulkhead and that the changes, perhaps, could be paid for through a tourist tax. Sand Saved AVALON — Who says you can't wrestle city hall? About 35 residents from the 8th Street-Inlet Drive section of town prevailed upon borough officials Mondaymorning to abandon plans to take 7,000 cubic yards of sand from a sand bar off their beach and move it to the eroded beach between 22nd and 26th streets. Mayor Rachel Sloan, Council members Jeannette Glazier and Richard Light, Business Administrator Andrew J. Bednarek and Engineer Alvin C. Herman listened, then decided to use the $29,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency money to haul the sand from offshore borrow pits instead. ' Determination ' Due COURT HOUSE - Look for a "determination" in two to four weeks from a special Grand Jury on whether the Middle Township Sewer Commission has done anything wrong, according to county Prosecutor John Corino. His office subpoenaed all records in the spring after a controversy over additional sewer hookups including one to the Hy-Land Motor Inn without permission. Corino said a grand jury can indict, find no criminal activity, or "make a presentment" alleging conduct that isn't criminal, but the public should knowabout. Hungry Whale SEA ISLE CITY — Commissioners voted last week to pay $125,000 of a $500,000 beachfill project for Whale Beach between First and 25th streets. Commissioners asked the freeholders to pick up a third of the local project co6t but no answer arrived before the state (Page 39 Please)

Sandpiper Players Stymied , 4

By E. J. DUFFY CAPE MAY — Jersey Cape Performing Arts Guild Sandpiper Players have becoming a traveling troupe group — like it or not. "TYiere was never a playhouse; that's the problem," explained Adriana Warner of West Cape May, JCPAG artistic ' director. Its actors have performed in the resort Welcome Center and Pete's Tavern on Lafayette Street and, for the past year and a half, in Qty HaU's auditqrium-

"We were very fortunate that the city council allowed us to perform seven plays there," said Warner, "but now they're revamping it." Consequently, the amature company is looking for a new place to rehearse and perform The Sandpipers might be able to return to City HaD but they will still encounter scheduling conflicts, performances and rehearsals must be staged around government meetings with scenery stored during those sessions; adequate lightning needs to be installed. (Page 39 Please) ,

Doris Ward

GOP SLATE — County Republicans met these candidates at the Republican Party's annual picnic Sunday. Left to right, Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton seeking reelection; James Massie, U.S. Congress; Mary Mochary . U.S. Senate; James Plousis. sheriff; and Herbert "Chuck" Frederick, freeholder.

Whose Hazard? Permit , OK; Pipe, Maybe

By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE - County freeholders - agreed last week to spend $2,000 to apply to the state for a "stream encroachment permit" to replace the piped portion of Cape Island Creek. But they apparently disagree on who will pay the estimated $300,000 to $500,000 cost of doing the job. That question was postponed until further discussions with officials of the four affected municipalities: e

Cape May, West Cape May, Cape May Point and Lower Township. The freeholders have about 90 days to work this out, the length of time it will probably t£ke the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to approve the permit. The 60-inch corrugated iron pipe runs from Broadway, at the Cape May-West Cape May border, 2,000 feet through the city, outfalling at West Perry into Cape Island Creek, which flows into the ocean. Because the pipe is badly deteriorated, residents of the low-lying Fow Tract near Sunset Boulevard are flooded after heavy rains. THE CURRENT freeholder line-up has William E. Sturm Jr. sticking to his position that the job has to be done, with or without help from the communities. Freeholder James S. Kilpa trick Jr., who four months ago had suggested the county "fly now, pay later," took a tough stand at last Tuesday's Freeholder session. "I agree action should be taken," said Kilpa trick, "but let's direct county counsel to look into the legal aspects." He said the four municipalities should assist in the cost, "voluntarily or involuntarily if necessary." The board did not follow up on that sugt Page 22 Please)

5 Get 7% Fishing Loans By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE - The county Economic Development Commission (EDC) has approval the first five loans under its $500,000 Low Interest Revolving Loan Program for commercial fishermen The five total $165, 42S, or 36 percent of the $465,000 set aside for loans. But they already top the program's job goal of creating 35 jobs. The borrowers have pledged that the loans will make it possible for them to retain one job and create 37 new ones, all for low- and moderateincome persons. The program anticipated spending $13,506 for each job created. This amounts to $4,471. EDC Executive Director A.H. (Rick) Chi Ids said efforts will be made to hire the new employes through the county's Private Industry Council/Job Training Partnership Act, headed by Nan Mavromates, an EDC board member. THE SUCCESSFUL applicants also will leverage $110,387 in public/private funds from "owner equity or bank participation," according to Edmund Grant, project manager. That also is better than the program's goals. Grant said. It targeted public/private funds on a 1-2 ratio to money loaned." This amounts to 14 to 2. be said. Grant said the loan selection committee. (Page 22 Please)

.-inside CHRISTIAN lawmen form evangelistic organization. Page 57. COUNTY'S financial institutions resist paying double-digit interest on insured money market savings at. >unts. Page 51. FALL fishing: excellent, and a lo^ more rail space. Lou Rodio, Page 44. YOU MAY THINK ifs between seasons, but Mark Mattern reports on soccer, girts field hockey, cross country and tennis this week. Page 41.