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Vol. 20 No. 47 1M4 c^, »ii ,i^». „~..d November 21. 1984

Health, Planning Split over Home

By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE — A "cooperative agreement" links the county's Health and Planning departments with environmental health responsibilities. But the two departments apparently split last week over the issue of the proposed Court House Convalescent Center on Magnolia Drive. Predicting that "a lot of flak will fly," the county Planning Board has charged the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) with "a flagrant error of omis-

sion in its approval qf the septic system" for the proposed nursing home. '% Planning Director Eheood R. Jarmer i appealed DEP's granting of a CAFRA I (Coastal Area Facilities Review Act) permit to the builder, Court House Associates, and requested a hearing More an administrative law judge. Jarmer also asked i that construction be delayed until the matter is resolved. JARMER'S APPEAL said it was filled I "in the interests of protecting the ground water quality of the area, and the public health ... "

Asked why the Health Department wasn't appealing the permit, Jarmer said, "You'll have to ask the Health Department. Health Officer Louis J. La manna, asked why his department okayed a septic system the Planning Department opposed, said, "It was approved because the system conforms to Chapter 199 (the state sewage disposal system code)." Lamanna said he would discuss the issue with Jarmer. NEITHER Court House Associates principals nor their local attorney, Frederick

W. Schmidt Jr., returned Herald-Lantern phone calls. John Weingart, director of DEP's Division of Coastal Resources, said he "shouldn't discuss this because it is under »PPe*l. . , , "We made our decision, ' ' said Weingart "The point of this appeal is that we did not specifically address nitrate dillution If there is an omission, my hope is that the applicant, the county, and state agencies can get together and resolve it." The county Planning Board maintains (Page 8 Please)

News— ~ Digest ^Stories Out of the Pipeline 4 SWAINTON — Out of the past this week came a resurrected "Pipeline Newsletter" from the county MUA (Municipal Utilities Authority). The glossy, two-color pamphlet included articles about grants, plants, MUA board members and "positive steps following consultant Indictments." Don Hutchinson of the MU| said about 800 were printed and sent to elected officials, service clubs and organizations. He said it will appear monthly and is prepared by James Hurley Associates, p-r firm. He didn't know what it cost. Stump's New Hat VILLAS — Lower Township's MUA named Township Manager James R. Stump as its assistant executive director last week. He'll officially serve in the non-paying post under MUA Executive Director Joseph Roop until he steps down in February. Stump asked township councilmen to appoint him to the first vacancy on the MUA next year in the wake of protests about MUA water and sewer rate increases last month. Beitel Resigns COURT HOUSE - Barbara Beitel, Middle Township grants coordinator, resigned her 820,700 post Friday, saying she "couldn't do my job in the present situation." She told the Herald-Lantern she "lacked the help to get my job accomplished." Beitel took the Civil Service position in 1877. Vinci Dissenting NORTH WILDWOOD — Councilman Lewis Vinci wants resort residents to (Page 12 Please)

Building Ban Opposed

Doris Ward uoris warn

THANKFUL — John Klebaur, left, and Javanda Harris, right, get a little help with their Thanksgiving art projects from Middle Township Elementary No. 1 art teacher Donna Bender of Stone Harbor. John s the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Klebaur of Court House; Javanda's the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Harris of Swainton.

Growing Septic Problems Cited COURT HOUSE - Upper Township Planning Board has "strongly objected" to the county's intention to ban building on unsewered lots with seasonal high water tables. The county Proposal, which had its first public bearing last week, would prevent creation of new lots on "unsuitable" areas and require "an alternative means of waste disposal" where lots exist and sewers are not available. The County Planning Board's proposed amendment to its subdivision and site plan resolution classed berryland, coastal beach, muck, pocomoke and tidal marsh as "unsuitable soils" and woods town, hammonton and klej as questionable for development." * The amendment followed, a 1983 study which found "malfunctioning and polluting on-site wastewater disposal systems (septic systems). ..a growing environmental problem." . UPPER'S PLANNING BOARD, in a letter from its solicitor, Gilbert O. Gilbertson, called that proposed prohibition on soils with seasonal high water table at or iuop Oil foot nf IKa tanH cnrfaiNi "or. feet "ar-

bitrary, capricious and illegal." "Your present proposed amendments unfairly penalize the Mainland municipalities," said Gilbertson, "and have the effect of limiting their population growth and, therefore, their political clout." "This is not a proposal that will lower density," said Jarmer "It will prohibit development on soil that never should have been developed anyway." Mainland communities apparently are not the only protestors of "the proposal NICHOLAS MAMOLOU, of the Sea Isle City Planning Board, was present at last Tuesday's meeting and commented, "This would eliminate just about everything along the coast." 7 * "That's right," replied Jarmer. "Except where served by a municipal (Page 8 Please)

Cramped, and Looking for Space

By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE — Some Realtor could make a bundle. Cape May County Government is looking for more space to relieve overcrowding. And Atlantic Community College wants a. building to house offices and classrooms for a "bonafide branch campus," according to Kenneth Yowell, vice president for academic and student affairs (see related story, below). There might even be a chance that the two could share a facility, but that's still in

the idea stage. The county intends a new building at the airport in Erma, and the college also has been looking at that as a potential site. "There are facilities there," said Yowell, "but it may not be centrally located enough." THE COUNTY, already spending about $15 million for a new Crest Haven Nursing Home and courthouse expansion, last jveek formed a committee to take a comprehensive look at space requirements for the next 5-10 years.

"Cramped" seems to be the best word to describe some county offices, especially the Social Services Building in Rio Grande where Welfare director Ralph I Schellinger said he has 22,000 square feet and could use "half again that much." He said the already overcrowded DYFS (Division of Youth and Family Services) will be adding ten new people and probably will have to put them in a "temporary trailer". DYFS, a state agency renting space (Page 45 Please)

Competing, and Looking for Students

It looks like a million-dollar year. Despite several steps by the county this year to tighten eligibility requirements,

the number of local persons attending community colleges, and, the "chargeback" to this county, is growing. Last year the cost was just under $800,000. This year, it looks like $1 million. In recent months, the county's been flirting with Cumberland County College — which has a 130-per-credit-hour chargeback — in preference to Atlantic Community College, whose chargeback is $86 a credit hour. That seems to have promoted a competition between the two schools for the local

student, with the result that both have more students. CUMBERLAND SAID its Cape May County credit hours are up about 20 percent, from 489 to 588, and its chargeback to the county for the fall semester went from $12,667 last year to $17,900 this year. Atlantic said the total number of county residents taking classes — part time and full time — up 2.5 percent, from 877 to 899, and its enrollment at locations in the county is up 5 percent ova- last spring (Page 12 Please)

'—Early Deadline — If you want news or advertising in next week's issue of the HeraldLantern, drop everything else and hustle it over. Our office is closed Nov. 22 and 23 for Thanksgiving and the deadline is 5 p.m. today, Nov. 21.

pinside ... WHAT did Cape May lose to Court House? Page 4. MIREILLE replaces Pierre. Page 2. TOURIST Information Center dispute settled? Page 3. CONTROVERSIAL teachers out at Cape May. Page 8. NEAR misses in a lifetime of fishing. Lou Rodia, page 40.