Herald & Lantern 26 December '84 26 I

County Drops Home Opposition - '

(From Page 1) within a 750-foot radius of the nursing home (40 acres) and "the nearest well is about another 500 feet beyond the arc formed few the 750-foot radius." It also said that the home would have to construct "a state of the art pressure dosing septic system which will reduce the nitrate loading on site" and "a monitoring well ... at the property boundary down dip of septic system. "This well shall be constructed to tap the quifer, Holly Beach Aquifer, that existing wells presently draw from," the addendum said. "The well shall be sampled at an interval established by the Cape May County Health Department. If nitrate samples from the well exceed 10 ppm., the permittee shall take remedial action to reduce the nitrate loads to the ground water." V. COM AX TOLD the Herald-Lantern he could not estimate the additional costs of these measures, but they would be "significant*, but not double." The project cost was originally estimated at $4 million. Clay Sutton, environmental program administrator with the county Health Department, said in response to a question that the monitoring well could be checked "at least quarterly." Key to the Planning Board's decision was assurances that the on-site septic system was a temporary measure that would be ended as soon as the county MUA (Municipal Utilities Authority) regional sewage treatment went into operation. The addendum said that, the Planning Board insisted on it, and representatives of the nursing home said they were just as eager as anyone. "This is truly an interim situation," said Norman L. Zlotnick, Atlantic City attorney representing the home. "We understand the county sewage treatment system will be read in 1987. 1988 on the outside." "WE'RE WORRIED about our homes." said attorney Carmen Alvarez who lives andihas an office in Court House. "Why not wait until the system is available? Why run a risk for a short period of time?" "It's my understanding that the federal government is reconsidering grants for waste treatment plants," said Planning Board member Frederick A. Long Jr., the other "no" vote. "What if we don't have one?" "What if the MUA doesn't get the money and build?" responded Schmidt. "If they don't come on line, we can expand that system. We can compel new people to hook up. The only reason Middle (Township) hasn't expanded (its plant) is that it would get no reimbursement from the MUA. That's why nothing has been done to rehabilitate that system. "I've been over to look at that plant," said Schmidt. "You wouldn't want to go again." THE MOST VARIED arguments in favor of the home came from Schmidt, who identified himself as an attorney who owns a building, "three pieces of property, and may be a future resident" of Court House. Later in the meeting, he also iden-

tified himself as "a seller of the property" (to the nursing home's owner's) He never identified himself as representing the home, as he has. Schmidt, and Realtors Thomas J. Repici, William H. Tozour Jr. and David J. Kerr paid $167,000 for eight acres on Magnolia in June 1983, and sold 2.5 acres to Court House Associates in October for $235,000. "We have a hgih tax rate here," said Schmidt, "one of the highest. This will generate $75,000 a year in taxes: $50,000 for the local schools and municipality, $25,000 for the county. We need more ratables like this, that will not generate more school children. It will reduce the tax rate for the school system; it will not generate a demand for services in the community. This is a good first step for this community and the county ought to be grateful. "WHAT'S BEING DONE about septic systems that have failed? asked Schmidt. Are they overloaded? Is the county Planning Board going to shut down systems that exist today as a health hazard?" Schmidt said he referred to Route 47, Stone Harbor Boulevard and North Wildwood Boulevard, "houses on both sides with no septics and no sewage, putting raw human waste into our backbays. What is being done to shut down these existing health hazards?" "We have spent hundreds of hours reviewing Acme-Jamesway (sites with sewage problems)," responsed Sutton. "Many of the homes on the boulevards have septics, perhaps not the best, but most have functioning systems. And we have made a great deal of effort to bring sewer lines to Rio Grande." "The freeholders proposed to expand the courthouse facility" continued Schmidt. "There will be more employes hooked to the municipal treatment system. This is a massive expansion with an increased flow from employes and the public. Yet you are on record saying the municipal system is over capacity." "YOU SHOULD HAVE QUIT when your team was ahead," interrupted Freeholder Kilpatrick. "You're raising issues thatonly generate ill-feeling. What you say is untrue. There is no record that there will be more employes. And you were in the freeholders' office begging us to expand in Cape May Court House." "At a time when I understood there was additional (sewage plant) capacity," said Schmidt. "One hundred percent of the water we drrtik is drawn from ground water," said A1 Karaso of Romney Place. "This is our i concern. Our street abuts the property of the applicant. We use an existing well to water our garden. We think we are receivi ing an injustice. The U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1975 rated this ground unaci ceptable to septic. It's practically under water. i "This is an area with highly permeable soil" he continued. "Middle purposes in t rural areas 120,000 square feet per family of four for septic, and in more dense areas,

35,000 square feet per family of four. Has anybody walked on this ground? Fourteen years ago I attempted to buy it and a real estate agent told me it was crazy because no one would have been able to build on it. KARASO SAID he took pictures after a late May rain storm and sent them to DEP. "Crooked Creek, now two feet wide, was 30 feet wide then," he said. "The outer limit of this septic system is 325 feet from the center of the creek. Ask 10 people in a barber shop about this. We've seen no scientific evidence this system is foolproof." "I've got to comment," said Zlotnick. "If you don't have anything to back it up. you shouldn't say it. We've done what you asked us to do. Who else can we rely upon? Save SAFRA does its job as mandated by law. Who else can you rely upon? If you look at today's addendum, it addressed every concern. What further questions can you have. What more is there to appeal now? What more do you need? What more can you want other than a complete closing down of the project? "You have to think of the applicant, too," said Zlotnick. "This was funded through the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA). The bonds are floated. Think of the old ladies, the public, the statewide concern. Those bonds were funded because there was no threat of discontent. On that reliance they went forward.

"This is a private facility," he added, but it is for the senior citizens of Cape May County. There is a need." ZLOTNICK. and the two partners who will own and operate the home, Eugene Mayer and Benjamin Miller, both of Philadelphia, who disputed 18,000-gallon-a-day effluent figures that were quoted. "Let me correct that," said Zlotnick. It probably is no more than 9,000 gallons a ^Long, explaining his opposition, called the DEP "experts that prepared this (addendum) remarkably inconsistent." He said that, even if he accepted the opinion » that nitrates were safe within a 40-acre radius, "what about at the boundary of the property? What about the remaining 36 acres?" "This decision says they'll accept excess (nitrates) beyond the property line as long as it does not affect wells or the water supply," said Jarmer. "THAT'S THE GUT ISSUE," said MacLeod. "Can a property owner use others to dilute his nitrates? Is this their standard policy, or in response to this appeal?" "What remedial action is there if nitrates exceed 10 ppm? asked Kilpatrick "Pre treatment, said Jarmer. "None of us will know whether it will pollute until it happens." said MacLeod. "We've gained something; we got some conditions. Hopefully this will be temporary."

B ^roHcHRlSTMAS i 1 ,i5i,!L 9 ■I 75% OFF - All Cruisewear ■ H 25%-50% OFF - Shoes [| H ALL SALES FINAL | H THE IN SHIP and SHORE SHOP H I IN THE SOUTH JERSEY MARINA ■ in inc ovum u

B- RTE. 109 Kjrt.pr »*v

MON.-SAT. 10-5 F9 SUN. 12-4 3

[?]

[?]

News Digest ( From Page 1 ) It's Who You Know NORTH WILWOOD - Timothy O'Leary, who quit his post on city council so he could be hired for $20,153 as public works foreman, was officially appointed to that job after it had been vacant for 13 years. Mayor Anthony Catanoso, who pulled the strings for O'Leary, retires on Monday, after 26 years as mayor. Ralph Johnson, president of the school board, was given O'Leary's old job on council. Rudolph Appointed COURT HOUSE - Freeholders last week appointed Diane E. Rudolph, depu^r""""^ ty clerk of the board, to the position of / county administrator effective Jan. 1, V with her salary to be set. Rudolph, 39, of Ocean City, has been with the county since 1976. She was deputy county clerk until being appointed deputy clerk to the freeholders last January. She succeeds Kathryn A. Willis, who is retiring. Charges Dismissed ATLANTIC CITY - Superior Court Judge Michael Connor dismissed charges of conspiracy and misconduct in office against former county MUA attorney John Mead of Avalon last week. Charges of conspiracy, misconduct by a corporate official and use of a corporation to defraud were also dismissed against Mary A. Vinci of Court House, wife of former MUA chairman John Vinci. Connor ruled, and the state Attorney General's office agreed, that the evidence did not warrant March indictments against Mead and Mrs. Vinci by a Cape May County grand jury probing an alleged MUA kickback scheme. It also indicted John Vinci, PQA Engineering Co. president John-Sykes and former PQA president Francis Pandullo who has turned state's evidence.

Maybe A Closet? TRENTON — The Chamber of Commerce in Cape May County may eventually get some token space, if it's lucky, to give out vacation flyers at the Roy Rogers-Exxon gas stop in the Parkway at Seaville. The local chamber got free space for 18 years before the Marriott Corp. cut a deal of its own for tourist info centers with the state. However, a compromise may yet be struck. Child Molesting COURT HOUSE - A Superior Court jury deliberated only 15 minutes before finding Richard Kohler, 40, of Somers Point, guilty of molesting a 9-year-old ^-txiy-at a Cape May beachfront condominum where Kohler worked as a nfaintenance man last summer. The boy .testified that Kohler had fondled him on three occasions between July 25 and Aug. 16. Sentence is pending. You Can't Win TRENTON — Your old garbage must be valuable, because the state senate has come up with four new ways to put a tax on it, aU at landfill dumps. The scheme is supposed to raise $18 million a year to help build incinerators for the day when there are no more landfills left. And the burning garbage would be a means of generating electric power. / Tax Increase — (From Page 1) showing minimum and maximum salary limits for each position. That's required by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission to be updated each year. But the city council has yet to approve the list for 1985. The proposed range for the city manager is $33,000 to $46,658, for the tax collector from $27,000 to $38,150, and the tax assessor, from $20,000 to $28,259. OTHER SCALER: building inspector, $20,000-$28,259; fire captain, $20,000-$28,259 ; municipal judge, $15,000-$21,195; police officer, $15,000-$28,259. The list goes on. The scales do not reflect what any job holder is actually making, said Coldren. As for the pay raise matters and the work contracts being left in limbo, City Clerk Virginia Petersen said, "That's not unusual. This used to happen a few years ago." Employes will continue working under their old contracts until the new ones are settled, she added.