12 Herald I lantern 17 February, 19>5

MUA: Sloppy But No ' Criminality ' By K. J. DUFFY COIRT HOUSE County investigators and Ixiwer Township detectives have concluded an investigation of the township MUA without finding any criminality involved/' County Prosecutor John Conno confirmed Monday "We had complaints about some establishments possibly being under-

i hunted hir by Ihr liiwrr Township Ml « nnno said <4 .illeg.it ions kdRrd eftHkv Hits month by farmer township Mayvr Peggie Ku-bef hu*- h S he allied for tlir prnhr The prosecutor said lawmen investigated seven businesses It uppearv out of the seven. nor kinked okay, five there were undercharged and the sixth there was no charge 1 for srwage » at all In <*ir investigation, 1 really don't see * any rnmmality involved, Connoaddrd "A Irftrr is going out of her r today to Ml A of finals and they are g<nng to have to cor reef some procedures they mrrncm get some inspectors in or something, hr continued. noting that the businesses investigated seemed to have expanded and increased their sewage discharge » without Ml A knowledge That lark coM the Ml A thousands of dollars m Inst sewer fees over the years that thr extra discharges went undetected from the marinas and restaurants investigated, mostly mi Srhetftevagrr s landing • Well it looks like the Ml A really hasn t been checking out or looking into these sewer connections." /Township Manager James K Stump new Ml A executive direc tor. rnnredrd Mondav The Ml'A sal fault there ft Thr report from ( ormo say* there was no mmmaldy involved fast sloppy book keeping. Stump added The honks are nprn to examine he. continued Tin having every single ccmv mere tal 1 sewer connection » checked I'm trymg to set up a system so this never hap pens again " "Haw big is tins going to he when they get done**'" Kieherharh wondered Monday, referring to thr kont Ml'A sewage fees T still feel the same ' she said 'If should never have gone to the prosecutor 's office " She took her requrst for an invest igat ton to forma, she stressed bee apse she never received any satisfaction from Stump or lumer's munrilmen about the Ml!A probe she first asked them to begin in < k tober that w \S kh.ht utkh four of the five Ml'A members approved water and %r wtr rates over the protests of Rieberhach and other opponent* 'The authority s

reviewing its rates at a 3 p m meeting today » The former mayor asked Lower officials Oct IS to investigate her allegation that one Ml'A member received reduced authority rates for more than 100 sewer connections to his business Stump agreed to probe the allegation after he became assistant MllA executive director in November During council's Jan 7 meeting he told Hieberhach he expected the results of an ML'A audit, being done then by its auditor, by the end of January That's when she told Stump she'd ask the prone rut or to investigate "I certainly think that 's where it ought to go. Councilman David F Brand Jr replied. echoing Stump and Councilman Robert fonroy At the time. Birhrrbach had only made public her allegation against the MUA menr^her Since she first lodged it. she obtained information about the restaurants and mannas that she turned over to Conno THE ORIGINAL QUESTION, of one MCA member having 1.10 sewer units, is unfounded. Slump said, citing the pn* sector's report "The member has had those sewer units since the < business » was established ~ Kwbertiach said Monday that Stump called her to apologize about the probe He told her. she said, that he plans to "check every single business and that he first thought ^hrr request for an MUA investigation was just politics " She said she told Slump she cbdn t like her treatment from him and counnl — that she was talked down to. which wouldn't have happened if a man made the allegation Well. I really couidn t get a clarification on the specifics. " Stump said of Bieber bach s initial allegation and his conclusion that they were politically motivated. "And I was really just an assistant (executive director' when she asked for the inves ligation " That's why. Stump said, he asked the MUA auditor to look over the authority's books The audit has since been abandoned. Stump confirmed "I'm not making any excuses. I just want to get it resolved he concluded "Whatever the problem. I'm going to solve it "

( ounty 'Key' to Project

Erom Page I > tmn. constructing a »iane howling alley and a theater building with eight mini theaters" where the Social Services Building is. and a new restaurant using the Herald's Inn liquor license which Benzell termed like finding a diamond " Immcalfy the Sorial Services Building us ed to be a 24 lane bowhng alley ben/ei JL SAID he got into tins because of the spillover of inquiries from potential tenants not feasible for hes |4 2 million, » shop renter armnsthe mod Its major an chor lenonf Reynolds Department Store, hi slated to open March 14 People were inquiring about restaurants and other activities not m the rank because of the amount of spore, he said Hr said he got involved 'by fluke and added J am not involved with this " Interviewed by the Herald lantern later however he said it was possible that he mutd receive a finder s tee' for putting the package together and h«s ronstrurtion firm, headed by his brother Ixmt* of North Wtldwood might const rurt if " the mm i M qkvkb Building cur rently houses about IS# workers Benzell said the development would mean ISO to 408 jobs and piiv over f mm win in taxes " The total tax rale m Middle Township last year was $1 99 per fist of assessed valua tton Apphed to an 99 million development if would bring about $154 ww in taxes Hevtaef! and MogeMsky % aid they had come to the county first and had not approached the township yet The only freeholder remark s were an announcement by f brer tor Gerald M Thorn ton that he would oof vote on the issue because *| roufd have a conflict — he ahotexakex wine to Herald's Inn and a „ ■ g t , , a ^ 0 ndMiffql inWI r r^nfnt^T vf V VVVJirvi w * . n UTTn

Jr that - ' there s a I I1 mile backup on Route 9 there on summer weekends " Benzell indicated the project's potential investors, whom he derlined to name, would attempt to finance it via the New Jersey Economic Development Authority < EDA), a low interest funding format IN IDIHTION to the county Welfare Department, thr building also bouses the state Division of Youth and Kamily Services « DYES > . slated to expand from its current 20 people to 39. plus the county Adjuster. Office on Aging. Veterans Bureau. Jersey Uapr Homemakers. state Rental Assistance Program, and an office for Tape Human Resources The county originally intended to move Social Services to the present Crest Haven Nursing Home after the new one is finished next year But other agencies and depart ments got in I me for that space and it quick ly became apparent that wouldn't be feas iWe Brooks of Social Security said that he thought the Rio Grande location prphaMy would be best for his 19 .199 clients That agency serves all of the county except Orean City and a recent study indicated it has about 4.009 clients south of Route 17. more than 1.500 in Middle Township compared to about 4 100 in the Wildwoods When we opened in 1972. ' he said, "the population was here Rut the expansion has taken place in lu»wer and Middle townships We'd like to hem the center where we could best serve the population The county has indicated they would like to see us located in proximity to the Social Service Building It's logical, he said Brooks pointed out t hat the federal General Services Administration <GSA> makes the final derision on where to put the | office and what rent to pay <

iV i ^ oona w ar4 EARLY SPRING — With Spring-like weather, a young man s thoughts likely turn to thoughts of making a pass A forward pass. A forward pass with a football, as far as 13-year-old Chris Martin b concerned. He's the sou of Mr. and Mrs. f George Martin of Ray side Village. Growth: How Much- < Erom Page 1 ) Department have 13 columns, but seven of them all tell the story : the growth limit of the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, the existing number of dwelling units 1 already ex ceeding the limit in Avalon. Stone Harbor and Ixiwer Township), the number of dwelling units permitted under existing zoning regulations, the permissable number under two "scenarios" based on recoverable precipita/ion as a growth limiting factor" < water), the dwelling unit limit for the island communities for the year 2020 based on Ine capacity of the MUA sewer plants, fand the number of units possible under the zoning "alter native" the Planning Department recommends ALL THOSE NUMBERS, by municipality, landed on the desks of municipal plann ing boards earlier this month They included a specific analysis of how to reduce deft sity With the charts and recommendations came a cover letter explaining the board's "concern" that: • " excessive growth could undesirably alter the character of both mainland and barrier island communities " • ".. the environment of the county would suffer irreparable-consequences ' • " the ability of both county and municipal governments to supply the ser vices and facilities necessary for such growth would be impossible, causing significant lowering of the quality of life " Whether lulled to sleep by so many numbers, or in a state of shock, no municipality has responded They may simply feel safe from a county Planning Board that lacks zoning powers But Planning Director Elwood Jarmer has already made it clear that the board can have a great deal to say when a municipality outgrows water and sewer capacity and has to apply to the state for permission to expand In the final analysis, water, only a few feet below most of us. may well determine the future development of the county 8 Yearn for Stabbingn ( OURT HOUSE - Emmanuel Rojas of Pine Avenue. Wildwood. was sentenced by Judge James O'Neil to eight years in jail for stabbing three men in January 1994 during an argument over a drug deal Rojas was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and one count of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose Rojas. 23. must serve four of the eight years before being eligible for parole 14 Yearn £ Burfflarien COURT HOUSE - Robert R Keller of the 100 block of Hand Avenue. Wildwood. wa« sentenced by Judge James O'Neil to 14 years in Jail after pieadtng guilty to 27 counts of burglary and theft in Wtldwood in late IMS and early IM4 More than W.0OO in merchandise was taken from a doren businesses Keller is 23

Growth Capacity • < Erom Page 1 ) under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 6.290 under the county's zoning alternative STONE IIARBOK was limited to 3,217 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, has 3.254 now. has an MUA sewer | limit of 3.207. could go to between 2,038 and 2.753 according to ground water supply, would go to 5.278 under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 3,704 under the county's zoning alternative NOKTII WILDWOOD was limited to 8.732 dwelling units in the 1975 Com prehen sive Plan, has 8,442 now. has an MUA sewer limit of 8.717. could go to between 14,622 and 19.752 according to ground water supply, would go to 37.866 under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 12.300 under the county's zoning alternative wildwood was limited to 13,221 dwell ing units in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, has 10.155 now. has an MUA sewer limit of 12,869. could go to between 7,787 and 10,519 according to ground water supply, would go to 20,167 under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 13.270 under the county's zoning alternative WEST WIIJ)W(R)D was limited to 2.120 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehensive plan, has 775 now . has an MUA sewer limit of 1.272. could go to between 1.984 and 2.680 according to ground water supply, would go to 5.138 under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 2.599 under the county's zoning alternative WILDWOOD CREST was limited to7.562 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, has 6.964 now. has an MUA sewer limit of 7.517. could go to between 5,148 and 6.954 according to ground water supply, would go to 13,331 under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 8.429 under the county's zoning alternative CAPE MAY was limited to 6.878 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, has 5.174 now. has an MUA sewer limit of 7.448. could go to between 4,681 and 6.323 according to ground water supply, would go to 12.122 undo- existing zoning, which would be reduced to 8.488 under the county's zoning alternative WEST CAPE MAY was limited to 1,976 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, has 996 now. has an MUA sewer limit of 1.232, could go to between 13.329 and 18,006 according to ground water supply, would go to 34.520 under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 3,746 under the county's zoning alternative CAPE MAY POINT was limited to 1.000 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, has 515 now. has an MUA sewer limit of 636. could go to between 293 and 395 according to ground water supply, would go to 759 under existing zoning, which would remain the same under the county's zoning alternative UPPER TOWNSHIP was limited to 8. 169 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, has 4.423 now. could go to between 12.266 and 16.569 according to ground water supply, would go to 31.765 under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 12.538 under the county's zoning alternative WOODBINE was limited to 1.876 dwell ing units in the 1975 Comprehensive Plan, has 786 now. could go to between 2.026 and 2.736 according to ground water supp!y. would go to 5.246 under existing zoning, which would remain the same under the county's zoning alternative DENNIS TOWNSHIP was limited to 4.920 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehen sive Plan, has 3.107 now, could go to between 8,141 and 10.997 according to ground water supply, would go to 21.082 under ex isting zoning, which would be reduced to 9.134 under the county's zoning alternative MIDDLE TOWNSHIP was limited* to 9,730 dwelling units in the 1975 Comprehen sive Plan, has 7.465 now. could go to bet ween 6,017 and 8.128 according to ground water supply, would go to 15.583 under ex isting zoning, which would remain the same under the county's zoning alternative LOWER TOWNSHIP was limited to 11.451 dwelling units in the 1975 Com prehensive Plan, has 12.187 now. could go to between 14.970 and 20.222 according to ground water supply, would go to 38 788 under existing zoning, which would be reduced to 23.141 under the county's zoning alternative