14 , Herald & Lantern 6 March, 1985

MUA Chairman Among Six Undercharged for Sewage

By E.J. DUFFY ERMA- Lower Township MUA Chairman Robert Lepor's Cape Island Campground here is one of six local businesses listed by the county prosecutor as possibly under billed last year by the authority At the request of former Lower Mayor Peggie Bieberbach County Prosecutor John Corino ordered an investigation of seven township businesses last month to determine if they were being undercharg ed for sewage by the MUA If those investigated are an indication of what will be found from Township Manager James R Stump's probe of more than 1,000 commercial MUA users, the authority could have lost tens of thousands of dollars in sewer fees over the years ft also could have underrated by tens of thousands of gallons daily sewage volume treated in its Villas plant IN THE PROSECUTOR'S Feb 25 letter to Stump, new MUA executive director. Corino wrote: "Our investigation only con cerned itself with the year 1984 and. possibly the same undercharging could have occurred in years prior thereto "We only reviewed seven establishments" he added "and the results were as follows: • "Enrico s Restaurant. Diamond Beach - Although the 1984 billing for the MUA remains unpaid the seating capacity hilled for at 621 persons reflects no undercharging • Bree Zee Lee Marina Cold Spring — The 1984 MUA billing indicates 66 boat slips over nine feet and 235 boat slips under nine feet when in actuality our investigation revealed 280 of the large slips and 150 of the smaller slips There could possibly be an undercharging of approximately $900 in this operation." The marina was damaged in a Dec 30 fire a week before Mill Creek Marina, also. off Queen Drive, was fire damaged Both are owned by Harry Colson and both fires were under investigation by local police

and the county prosecutor s office. Erma Fire Chief Robert McNulty reported last month ) • "Utsch's Marina. Schellenger's Lan ding - The MUA billing indicates 97 large boat slips and 126 small boat slips Our investigation indicates a total of 275 slips. 25 of which are unusable due to shallow water The remainder of 250 billing allocated 60 under nine feet and 190 over nine feet There could be a possible undercharge in excess of $800 per year in this operation • "Cape Island Campground. Erma — The MUA billing reflects 94 campsites, four washers and 170 unsewered sites Our investigation indicates 100 sewered sites and 225 unsewered sites There could be a possible underfilling of approximately $1,000 in this operation " (Lepor is a partner in Cape Island Associates which owns the campground of Route 9 The MUA chairman was unavailable for comment Monday on the prosecutor s letter He did not return lantern phone calls to the campground although a spokeswoman said then he was left a message •"Lobster House restaurant, Schellenger s Landing - The MUA billing indicates a light industry with 29 employes and a restaurant seating 274 per sons Our investigation indicates a light industry as well as a restaurant and bar seating 249 people, a Schooner Bar seating 60 people and a luncheonette seating 18 people for a total seating capacity of 327 This would indicated a possible under charging of approximately $1,500 • The Anchorage Inn. Schellenger s landing — the MUA billing combines a bouse, motel Boarding house and a 43 seat restaurant Our investigation could not reveal specific numbers concerning the motel and boarding house rooms However the restaurant and bar seat a total of 183 persons therefore reflecting an underreported amount of 140 seats which

could possibly result in an underbilling of approximately $2,500 • "Cape Harbor Yacht Club, Cold Spring — a search at the MUA office failed to disclose a billing for this establishment Our investigation revealed 28 large boat slips and two small boat slips In addition there is a dock approximately 420 feet in length that can accommodate boats tied in sideways Since we could not find a billing, this operation was not only undercharged, but not charged at all." IN CONCLUSION. TORINO wrote Stump. "I would appreciate your taking this matter up with the Municipal Utilities Authority and your council, advising me of what actions are being taken to correct what I call an unjust situation even though, as I indicated prior hereto, we could not find any evidence indicating criminal conduct at this time "if you ascertain any criminality." the prosecutor added, "please contact my of fice immediately " "The MUA - the procedures there are poor .," Stump said Friday "I'm disappointed that we had these type of facts " Corinos' investigation indicates. Stump added, a problem with our billing " Asked if the MUA will back-bill businesses for any sewer fees owed the authority, he replied, "first I want to get a total of" what might be owed by more than 1.000 local businesses Then, he said, he'll look at the "legal aspects" of billing businesses that were undercharged by the MUA in the past "HOW BIG IS THIS GOING to be when they get done? Bieberbach wondered last week, referring to sewer fees lost to the MUA over the years Neither Corino nor Stump blamed the owners of the businesses mentioned in the prosecutors letter for the undercharging Stump, who took over as MCA executive director in mid February, conceded last week that "it looks like the MUA really hasn't been checking out.' . these sewer connections The MUA's at fault there

The (report) from Corino says there was no criminality involved - just sloppy bookkeeping." Stump added Before four of the five MUA members voted to approve higher water and sewer rates Oct 3. Bieberbach and other opponents pleaded unsuccessfully with the authority to first review its rate structure (The authority held its second rate review hearing last week ) DEPUTY MAYOR JOSEPH Davis and Councilman Joseph Lonergan agreed with Bieberbach's Oct 15 call to can Lepor and the three other MUA members who voted for the rate hikes Township council appointed the current members in July Bieberbach also asked council on Oct. 15 to consider a township takover of the authority, and to investigate her allegation that MUA minutes show one of its members received reduced sewer rates for more than 100 connections to his campground Council has not acted to remove the MUA members or to take over the authority but the MUA appointed Stump as assistant executive director in November at least partially in response to Bieberbach's action He promised her an MUA probe last fall. But. when Stump, told the former mayor in January that he instead asked the MUA auditor to review the authority books, Bieberbach said she'd take her case to Torino "I CERTAINLY THINK that's where it ought to go." replied Councilman David F, Brand Jr . repeating Stump's opinion and that of Councilman Robert Conroy. At that time. Bieberbach only made public her allegation against the MUA member she has declined to name Since she first lodged it. she obtained informa tion about the restuarants and marinas cited in Torino's Feb 25 letter The original question, of one (MUA) member having 130 sewer units, is unfounded," Stump said last week "The member has had those sewer units since the (business) was established "

News Notes from Seven Mile Beach M'Ellen Rowland 368 2294

Stone Harbor's Planning Board met Feb 25 to hear reccomendations of Cape May County's planning director Elwond Jarmer Jarmer told them that each community has to assess ils own needs To curtail proliferation of unneeded stores and condominiums he suggested doing what other areas have tried with success - limiting stores or condos to a specific number per square acre The borough has already passed legislation restricting height of condos to two stories Jarmer expressed approval of borough self government We missed the meeting but chairman Bob Sellers brought us up to date He reporter that at the January meeting a committee was appointed comprising represen tatives from the police dept Realty Owners' Assoc and planning board with consultant Dick Reese, who bicycled thousands of miles world wide to promulgate safe and happy use of these vehicles. The committee will weigh various plans for

bicycle regulation and make its feelings known to borough council George Gadsby p r man for the Avalon Seniors called to tell us that in addi tmn to enticements listed in this column last week, their St Paddy's Day luncheon at noon in the Golden inn on March 12. prizes will be awarded to guests wearing the greenest outfits Our shamrock pen is ready to go and sure and our dress is trimmed with the right col or too It may he too late to make arrangements but the way to be part of the action is to call George Robin son at 967 4233 *** We have never con sidered a trip to the den tist's a laughing matter but Dr. William F Robinson in Avalon has taken a step in the right direction when we went to get our not sopearly whites cleaned the other day our eye fell on the dental technician's chair It was a large white plastic molar so help us! *** THE SEA LIONS threw a Champngne Bash Feb 24 that was a dilly! A benefit

for the Diller Vacation Home as usual and the Lionesses provided all hors d'oeuvres It was cochiaired by Carol Brennan and Joanne Mascia and held in the Brennans' dreamy home in Avalon Tom 'he's the one who's opening a new real estate office in partnership with Wayne Diller on 96th Street) Brennan met us at the door looking splendid in a dinner jacket with red tie and cummerbund. Carol was equally gorgeous in white lace Peg (Mrs George) Johnson collected the tickets and to her left was a bar with a piano and cir cular staircase leading to the large upstairs living room which in turn leads to the third level game room It's a nifty place for parties Among guests checking out and supplying goodies were Vince Mustico (he's planning to open the 36-seat restaurant in CMCH » and his wife Nancey ; Milt and Elsie Kuhn. Dr Joe and Catherine MrMenamin, and Jack and Ginny MrHagh. who supplied those puffs stuffed with chicken The sea lions never stop their efforts for the Diller Home. Next event is an observance of the first day of spring. They'll be taking a bus tour to the Renault Winery in Egg Harbor City March 21 - if you'd like to

swing into spring with a pride of lions call June Miller at 368-5549 It's be top drawer all the way, you know this group settles for only the best *** Dan Shenamen. owner of S.H Exxon and its new taxi service, is to be con gratulated on the rehabilitation of what was previously a horrendous landmark With a spanking fresh coat of cream paint with Williamsburg blue trim it is now not only keep ing up with but surpassing some of the renovated or new buildings in the business district of downtown Stone Harbor • • • LEARNED EROM Dana Burns in the student publication "Avalon

Courier that the Robert D Narrigans of 67th Street have a new daughter. Amanda, born at home on Jan 30. 9 lbs 1 ounce Dana Burns reports that older sisters Heather and Jenny enjoy holding Amanda "in spite all the crying she does" In the same news bulletin Michelle Robinson gives us an excellent tip on how to cut down on trash which had never occurred to us Another important thing to remember is to always buy the product with the least amount of packag ing Makes good sense, doesn't it? • • • SPENT THREE days last week with boating buddies Norm and Etta Mae Park at their home in Moorestown. which is always a beehive with family and friends coming and going constantly Among those who came for cocktails were Dirk and Evelyn Schirmer. Evelyn

spends at least one week a summer at Ted and Dotty Van den Beempt's in Avalon It's Dotty's "bridge (Scheinwold. not 96th Street) week" when she imports all her friends for serious bridge and everyone down here knows it's off limits to others Another duo from this area at the party were Herman and Lydia Magee, who own the Victorian Rose Inn on Columbia Avenue in Cape May We lunched one day at Serena's Kingsway Plaza. Maple Shade, owned and operated by Marilyn and Harold Sams. who catered a party for us three years ago best one we ever had too launch was yummy and very exotic We had carrot soup and artichoke strudel and the others had quiches which were "shrimply delicious". If you like unusual gourmet food drive up some nice day and take your own favorite wine with you

FESS UP- Don Cardwell of South Dennisville questions witness Marian Holz Court House Curtain is at 8:30pm March 8, 9, 15, 16, 22and 23

Cat's Thursday Meow SEAFOOD TAKEOUT FEATURING A VARIETY OF COOKED PLATTERS & RAW SEAFOOD open 11am - 9 pm 68th st & OCEAN