CAPE May COUNTY Herald

Vol. 21 No. 6 1985 Seawave Corp. All rights reserved February 6, 1985 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY THE SEAWAVE CORPORATION PO BOX 430 CAPE MAY COURTHOUSE NJ 08210

News The Digest Week's Top Stories Family Stays SWAINTON — Superior Court Judge John F. Callinan declined Friday to order the Theodore Williams family removed from a toxic waste site off Siegtown Road here. County officials argued for removal after reports that dumping continued at the tract and that the family reportedly persisted in using a tainted well despite a county supply. Callinan. who warned against further dumping last month, said he'll decide next month if the county should continue to supply the family with water. Hooters ' Sunday CAPE MAY — Students from Lower Cape May Regional High School will hear CBS recording stars. The Hooters, during a closed concert 7-8:30 p.m. Sunday in Convention Hall. It was rescheduled from Jan. 22. The Capers "won" the concert by placing fifth in a tri-state WMMR school spirit promotion. Students from more than 100 schools participated by writing "Hooters" on index cards and mailing them to the radio station. Some 25 million cards were received. Filing Suit NORTH CAPE MAY - As some tenants were moving back into their Townbank Manor apartments last week. 60 others agreed to hire Wildwood lawyer Page 19 Please Tubes Lube Pill Bill VILLAS — Lower Township officials became celebrities of sorts last week when their birth control pill hassle spilled over from local newspapers to regional TV stations. Reported first in The Latern on Jan. 23. the controversy about a proposed 1985 municipal budget appropriation of $1,000 for the pills provoked township residents' protests during Lower's Jan. 28 council meeting. The Atlantic City Press picked up the story from the protesters and reported it last week followed by Channel 40. Avalon. Mayor Robert Fothergill summarized his opinion on the pill appropriation during a (Page 18 Please) Tax Rate Held Council Oks 5% Pay Hike CAPE MAY — Holding the line on taxes, the city granted a 5 percent salary increase to non-union employes, including the city manager and police chief Monday night. The cost-of-living raises are retroactive to Jan. l. The city in previous years gave 7 percent increases, noted Mayor Arthur Blomkvest. A contract settlement between the city and union personnel is still pending. "It's in the hands of the council,'', said City Manager Fred Coldren. His salary under a two-year contract will be $40,824 this year and $42,866 for 1986. He made $38,880 last year. Police Chief Harry Stotz Jr will earn $36,433 this year, and $38,265 next year. He made $33,755 in 1984. Both men are worth the money, considering the hours they put in without compensation, said the mayor and Councilman Adrain Capehart. Concerning Coldren's extra hours, Capehart said, "The only thing I'm afraid of, he's gonna burn out." "He gets a little testy at times,' said Blomkvest. "He's worth 50 or 60 thousand a year. The city will introduce its 1985 budget next Monday night at 7:30. It calls for no tax increase, the mayor said. (Page 18 Please)

Lawmen Arrest 9 in Lower

By E.J. DUFFY VILLAS — "More arrests are pending" from the continuing probe of crime in the south Cape, according to Lower Township Detective Bob Martin. Lawmen cuffed nine suspects from the township, including a father and son. by last week, after a "four-month investigation conducted by Lower and Middle police and the county task force," Lower Sgt. Frank Majane noted Friday. 'The arrests and the continuing investiga - tion have solved 136 burglaries, attempted burglaries and thefts of property which were committed in the Villas, North Cape

May and marina areas of the township during the period 1983 to January 1985." Lower Police Chief Robert M. Denny notified township officials Jan. 28. In one phase of the operation. Majane reported, police arrested Richard Gavetti. 24. and his father, Douglass Gavetti. 55. both of Bayshore Road. North Cape May. They're charged with drug, weapon or theft offenses. THREE WOMEN AND four men were arrested during another phase of the probe, said Martin. They are: Robert J Gallagher. 22, Delaware Avenue, Villas; Barbara Slonis, 20. Route 9, Erma; Thomas MacNeir, 41, Scott Avenue, North Cape

May; Gergory Hewitt. 22. Frances Avenue, Villas; Carl Mathis. 22. Wayne Avenue. North Cape May : Francine Smith. 30, Bayshore Road. North Cape May; and Kathryn Hall. 32. Schellenger Avenue. Villas. Martin reported He said Gallagher. Slonie. Hewitt and Mathis were arrested on burglary and theft charges. Gallegher was being held Friday in the county jail in lieu of $10,000 bail, the detective added, where Mathis was being held on other charges Slonis. Hewitt and MacNeir were released on their own recognizance. Martin continued. MacNeir. said Martin, is charged with (Page 18 Please)

Ban Blocks Project

CHILLY SCENE — Reed's Beach in Middle Township looks like Siberia Pilings and piers were dislodged last week by ice. taking over the bay front community.

DEP: Permit's Valid

By JOHN DONOHUE COURT HOUSE - Middle Township Sewer District 1 treatment-plant still has a valid permit to discharge waste into U.S. waters, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said Monday. New sewer commission chairman Albert C. Karaso said last week he was informed the permit expired.

The Herald-Lantern was told by the DEP on Monday that the permit "is still considered in force" by that agency "The permit they're operating under is a federal permit that was transferred to us on Jan. 1. 1983. and is among thousands turned over to us," a DEP spokesman said. "Since then, we've been rewriting them The federal permit that Middle Township (Page 18 Please)

Regional Names Super.

By E.J. DUFFY ERMA — Dr. Richard Strauss will replace Ephraim R. Keller as superintendent of Lower Cape May Regional (LCMR) School District on July 1. District board members from Lower Township, Cape May and West Cape Maybegan their search for a replacement last fall when Keller announced his retirement for this coming June 30. They ended the search during their late January regular meeting when they selected Strauss, 46, superintendent of Paulsboro School Distrip Gloucester County. from three finalists and some 20 candidates. Keller, a 13-year district veteran, was given a $6,000 raisk last year, from $44, 000- $50, 000, and another this year. His replacement will be paid $47,000 during his first contract year and $49,350 in both of the two following years, according to the terms of Strauss' agreement, approved by the board and mailed for his signature Friday. THAT PACT ALSO calls for Strauss to be paid $2,432 toward his retirement, use of a Ford Escort and $2,000 for moving expenses

(provided he relocates here from his Wood bury home within the next 35 months ) "It's going to be a while." Strauss said of any move east with his family Although his eldest son is in college and the youngest son will be graduating high scnool this year, his daughter will still be attending high school for a few years. He'll be commuting across state for a while, he explained. Strauss has six years under his belt asi superintendent at Paulsboro, a district with two elementary schools and a junior-senior high school — compared to LCMR's middle and high schools. Before Paulsboro, he served as assistant superintendent of Pennsgrove-Carneys Point Regional School District, Salem County, and, earlier, as principal of its high school. Previously, he was a department chairman at Greenburgh Central School No. 7, Hartsdale. N.Y., and a teacher from 1961-'69. The New York City native earned his doctorate degree in education from Nova University in Florida, his master's and bachelor's degrees in education from the University of Illinois.

Avalon Awaits DEP Notice By JOHN DONOHl'E AVALON — New sewer connections to the borough's treatment system have been banned by the state Division of Water Resources. The borough said Monday it had heard about the ban, but received no written notice of it. The ban was disclosed two weeks ago by the Department of Environmental Protection. Division of Coastal Resources, which told developers of a proposed. 42-unit. bayfront townhouse project they may have to wait three years before they can build The permit is sought by Tozour-Kerr Custom Builders Inc of Avalon which proposes to erect the 42 townhouses in 12 buildings on two-and-a-half acres at Cornell Harbor, with a marina and swimming pool The site is at 8th Street and Ocean Drive. A hearing on a CAFRA permit was held Jan 23 in the Avalon Municipal Building. Opposing the development, the Avalon Home and Landowners Association said the additional townhouses "would add onehalf year's average construction in a single effort and break down an already . sevdbely overloaded sewage treatment (Page 18 Please)

DR. RICHARD STRAUSS