\ . . i Herald & lantern ,16 lanuary '85 20 — :

Contaminated Well Answers Due Thursday- — ' " Nursing Home I fpran PiaSO It * (From 1) '

( From Page 1 ) Just the west side of the parkway — Atlantic. Pacific and Valley Road, totals _ about 2,200 feet of pipe, estimated by the water company to cost $84,300. The east side, which would require expensive tunneling under the parkway, is another 2,200 feet of pipe and could cost an equal amount, if not more. Homeowners would be responsible for the estimated $300 to $400 cost from the curb line to their homes. But. the Herald-Lantern learned, the township also is researching the possibility of trying to assess homeowners for the whole job, a cost they privately agree is beyond the mean? of many. But, it was pointed out, developers, not the township, usually pay the water company for extending lines. "Normally." said Alexis, "if they wanted water, they'd apply to the water company. This is unique. This is the first time I've seen it done because of polluted wells." Money — or the lack of it — has even ■ t

been a factor in testing wells for contamination. At a meeting in Alexis' office on Jan. 8, John Preczewski or DEP asked, "Who's going to do all the testing?" "We don't even have a budget yet," said county Health Officer Louis J. Lamanna. "It will be a matter for the freeholders." "The state's not doing too much sampling nowadays," 'added Sonny Saroya of DEP. "Hiey're not going to do it* for everybody." "You should take tte first step," said Lamanna. -JjOr "You have to sample," said Preczewski. "We don't budget money for this," said Lamanna. jLV v "We don't either," said Preczewski. "We don't have any money," said Lamanna. "We can carry that message back," said Preczewsi. Preczewski suggested the township and water company go ahead without waiting for Spill Fund approval since "that means the prevailing wage and tends to jack up the cost of the project." He said these

things would add 20 to 30 percent to the total cost. _ _ . „ But Preczewski also conceded that an up-front commitment for funds from the Spill Fund was unheard of . "That's the big problem," ne said. "They can't give you written guarantees. "The township wants to be assured it will be compensated," said Alexis. "We can't get up-front commitments in writing from the Spill Fund," said Preczewski. "They can tell you what you're eligible for." "A patient's got to die before you find out what the death benefit is," commented "The simplest thing is for you to go out there and do it," said Preczewski. "City water is the best bet at any rate. Later on - you find out what you're eligible for." "It's good for the township to take an aggressive position," said Lamanna, "but for how much of an area?" "Right," said Alexis. "It's a shot at a dart board." A state DEP geologist is due in Court House today to try to determine the extent of the pollution. Charles M. O'Loughlin, principal claims investigator for the Spill Fund, told the Herald-Lantern that "whoever suffers damages — municipality, corporation, individual — can file a claim for rehibursement of costs incurred in obtaining an alternate water supply." But he referred questions on how quickly a claim could be paid to his superiors, administrator Robert Hunt and assistant administrator Howard Reading, neither of whom returned Herald-Lantern phone calls.

sider the effects of the proposed septic system upon the ecology of the neighborhood," the association said in a recent press release. "The neighbors sur rounding the construction believe that many decisions, impacting on their welfare, health and safety, were made improperly and without their input. They are of the opinion that their legal rights have been violated." In its appeal to the DEP, the association requests "a stay of all clearing, construction etc. and a stay of the permit." Court House Associates began clearing its nursing home property in October, shortly after the permit was issued and it purchased the 2.5 acres for $235,000 from local lawyer Frederick W.Schmidt Jr. and Realtors Thomas J. Repici, William H. Tozour Jr. and David J. Kerr. They bought : eight acres, that included the nursing home tract, for $167,000 in June 1983. Originally estimated as a $4-million project, the 120-bed nursing home was expected to employ 100 workers. Eugene Mayer and Benjamin Miller of Philadelphia, who own and operate Eastern Shore Nursing Home, Swainton, also will operate Court House Convalescent Center. Unlike the 40-acre Swainton property, the considerably smaller Magnolia Drive tract offers too little ground for septic treatment of the nursing home sewage, its nnrvtnpnts content.

An Oversight ( From Page 1 ) meeting' said two topics would be discussed : interviewing for A successor to retiring ; county Counsel Albert M. Ash Jr., and a meeting with Ash about "legal rights and remedies, and the discussion of the possible institution of a law suit." BUT THE FREEHOLDERS also inter viewed at least two candidates for the newpost of director of Historic Cold Spring Village in Lower Township. They talked, in closed session, to former Freeholder William Wilsey of Upper Township, and William Sandman of Erma, son of former congressman and current Superior Court Judge Charles W. Sandman Jr. of Erma. The "correcting resolution" approved Monday added "a meeting with reference to interviewing various personnel to determine persons suitable for possible future employment in one or more new positions. Director Gerald M. Thornton refused to discuss the apparent violation. /'I'm not going to comment on anything regarding that," he said. "THAT'S AS MUCH a mystery to me as City's Neglect ( From Page 1 > "We do anticipate some work on Madison Avenue, and also Pittsburgh Avenue," Sturm said. . He indicated that some money would be provided in the county's 1985 budget for needed repairs, and thaj other work would be done perhaps in 1986. The exact amount of funds would not be known until the budget is prepared, Sturm added COUNTY ENGINEER Neil O. Clarke said "probably a half-million dollars" will be required to make repairs to the storm drain system along Madison Avenue "It's not so much clogged as it (the pipe) is under-sized, and new pipe is getting ^pretty expensive today," he said. "Beach Avenue — that's not too bad. Pittsburgh Avenue is mainly surface drains and they're requesting the drains be put underground, thht's a couple hundred thousand (dollars)," Clarke added. The work will not be done all at once, however, but most iikely spread over several years, Clarke said. Sunshine (From Page 1) Open Public Meetings Act, often called the "Sunshine Law." The freeholders last week released to the Herald-Lantern minutes it had requested, on the new format, of closed meetings on Dec. 6. 8 (a continuation of the 6th), 10, 20 and 27, but declined then to release the minutes of the closed meeting on Dec. 11. Those minutes reported the freeholders were discussing in closed sessions such topics as pending and potential lawsuits, lease problems, personnel evaluations, Historic Cold Spring Village, and the upcoming retirement of county Counsel Albert M. Ash Jr., slated to leave around Feb. 1. The minutes also showed that freeholders met with attorneys James Cafiero and Vincent Lamanna, potential successors to Ash.

to you," said new Freeholder Herbert (Chuck) Frederick, who is in charge of admihistering Historic Cold Spring Village. It was donated to the county last month. After checking further, Frederick said he had been assured that it was "a mistake when they retyped a draft of the resolution." Frederick said "quite a few sent resumes. I will meet with them, one on one, and filter them out, and then have them come to the board." Freeholder William E. Sturm Jr. said he arrived at the 5 p.m. session shortly after 6 and "didn't even know it was an executive session. I don't know, unless it was an oversight." Freeholder Ralph W. Evans was out of . town and could not be reached FREEHOLDER JA ME S S . KILPATRICK JR.. who offered the resolution, first said. On Jan. 9, "T/ro not saying anything. I didn't prepare the resolution." He asked to be recontacted on Jan. 11. He was, and said then that failure to list the Cold Spring Village interviews "was apparently an oversight because the interviews were arranged at the last minute." Sources told the Herald-Lantern the persons interviewed were* invited vby mail, which would have meant* this agenda item was known several days before the resolution was prepared. "We are endeavoring to become more specific so as to aid everyone," sai(i Kilpa trick. "The more specific you are at times, the more apt there is to be/an oversight." An Example — (From Page 1) salary was increased $5,876, from $14,124 to $20,000. In his positions as physician for the county prison and youth center, he was changed from a contract paying him $1,676.67 a month ($20,120 a year) to an annual salary of $25,000. THE COUNTY LAST YEAR almost doubled the medical examiner office budget, with wages going from $30,938 to $64,487 and "other expenses" being hiked from $16,000 to $27,685. At that time, the explanation was that the "one-member staff is being doubled." The one full-time secretary remains, but five doctors on call have been replaced by two salaried registered nurses on call. Like Napoleon, they can pronounce death, a task necessary after any unattended death. Napoleon does not do autopsies ; they are referred to forensic pathologists, according to James S. Kilpatrick Jr., the freeholder in charge. ' AT THE PRISON. Capt. William Perry said there are registered nurses and emergency medical technicians on duty, but Napoleon is "on call at all times." At the youth shelter, source^ said Napoleon gives physicals upon admission of new clients and is called "during his working hours." After hours, however, clients are taken to the Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital emergency roonj. ' s. Kilpatrick defended the wage increase as "...facing the realities of today of the employment of a licensed physician toprovide that necessary service to tire couptyT^ "My recollection is that he had b&nat the same figures for some period of time," added Kilpatrick.

Sewerage Candidates 'Debate' Mon. —

(From Page 1) "You do not have to be a user," said John L. Ludlam, commission solicitor, "but almost all are." ALTHOUGH ALL candidates are voicing their independence and their concern about pollution, a key issue that should surface at next Monday's program is the question of expansion of the sewage system. Currently at capacity, it has limited growth in Court House. It is presumed there are differences over whether, how, and when to provide for additional sewage capacity. Some of the candidates have been denying they are members of organized slates, and issuing statements about the important tasks that the new commission will face. Among those tasks is sure to be a. rate hike. The commissioners last week approved sending out the usual annual bills, but including a notation that these are "preliminary" and will be followed by "an adjustment." Sewage rates — reported $75 a year for single-family homes for almost a dozen years — were based on a tentative $54,307 budget adopted last week. It is assumed the new board, expected to reorganize on Jan. 31, will be forced into a new budget and new sewage rate. . Among certain changes is the position of solicitor. Ludlam told the Herald-Lantern he "will resign and not accept - reappointment." \ Court House attorney Frederick W. Schmidt Jr., who has been involved in garnering candidates for the boafd. told the Herald-Lantern he does not want the job as solicitor. SCHMIDT DENIED that four persons recruited to run at and after a meeting in his office Dec. 29 are part of a Schmidt-( Thomas J.) Repici slate, as reported in the Herald-Lantern last week. Repici, a business associate and friend of Schmidt, also was at that meeting. "Those four are running independently," said Schmidt. "We did use the term 'slate,' but we were only interested in seeing qualified people run. We didn't need or want groupings to polarize the community." A letter to the editor from Schmidt discussing election issues appears on page 38. Schmidt is not a resident of the sewerage district, but he owns property in it. Present at that meeting and filing to run were Dr. Lawrence Macatee, Dr. John Napolean, Michael Mills, Gregory Willis and Joanne Tinney. WILLOW AS "nominated" to run by „ RepiefcU that meeting. ^ Tinney said last week she is running in\^£jtpendently. Her name appeared this week oa a news release signed by three other persons. Mills, an electrical contractor, called the Herald-Lantern to deny that

he was part of any slate. And Macatee said he "decided to rim only because I see there are problems that have to be dealt with. I'm not sure I have the answers, but they won't be put in my mouth by anjtone else. "I don't represent the opinions of Schmidt-Repici," said Macatee. "This is not a cabal to push an opinion or a position. I though I could be of some benefit." He said his military experience included three years at a nuclear stockpile site in the Southwest where he was the only medical officer and, therefore, responsible for sewage treatment. "There are certain facts for sure," said Macatee. "The feeder system leaks, both in and out; in, overburdening the system; out, risking contaminating wells of people who use well water. These are prime things to be dealt with promptly." ALSO DENYING last week's HeraldLantern report that they are a "slate," four candidates together released a statement on the issues. Albert C. Karaso Jr., Jean DeVico, Joanne Tinney and Madeleine McNicohol said their main goal is to "provide for the health, safety and welfare of the community." Their statement said they would continue the current moratorium on hookups, propose a sewer system evaluation survey, "establish an equitable user rate chart," seek federal, state and local grants \ for "system rehabilitation and expansion projects," and attempt to renegotiate an , county MUA (Municipal Utilities Authority)) contract which is expected to force the district to do considerable work to its feeder lines, reported to be infiltrated by ground water. That MUA contract is one of the biggest worries iq many minds. The Seven Mile/Middle Region sewage treatment plant is expected to be in operation by the summer of 1987. Middle's lines will have to be ready to feed it. Nothing has been done yet. OTHERS RUNNING for the commission include incumbent Leroy Westcott; Phil Heck, who the Herald-Lantern linked to the Karaso group, but did not sign its news release; Louis Irmler, James Killian, Lawrence Parks, and Edwin Stites Sr. This election was supposed to have been held a year ago, but red tape delayed it. A grand jury presentment in October sharply criticized the three-member commission for poor busihess practices and Superior Court Assignment Judge Philip A. Gruccio reportedly ordered it to get moving. The same grand jury indicted Repici for "theft of services" for allegedly connecting his Hy-Land Motor Inn to a sewer line without permission in December 1983. Questions on voter eligibility, absentee ballots, etc. should go to commission secretary Helen B. Westcott at 465-7432.