Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 28 August '85 77

Six County College Options Outlined

(From Page 1) "to lay the foundation for the establishment of a separate community college when and if" the freeholders thought it desirable. Both proposals are really the nucleus for further negotiations with the county, which is currently spending $1 million a year for chargebacks for students attending out-of: county community colleges. POINTING OUT that she could not make recommendations, only "make you aware of regulations." Jones said she was "neutral." but urged the committee to consider both short-term and long-term goals. "One caution." said Jones. "When you enter into a contract, your business is important to whichever you select. Spell out your rights. They're going to be reluctant to lose your business. Don't lock yourself in. "You may want to approach the department (of Higher Education) for a feasibility study." she suggested Jones urged the committee to negotiate carefully forwhat it wants from a college. "You have something the colleges want." she said. "Now is the time, not after you buy the used car. "TAKE A GOOD LOOK at what you have, and what you're spending and the needs of the county." she said. "Look at what your county is ready for. Sometimes it's better to wait if you're not ready. You're in the driver's seat and you have a lot of options. " The committee agreed it wants to hear, at separate meetings, from a representative of a community college other than Atlantic or Cumberland (Salem was mentioned because it is the smallest), from a joint community college spokesman, and from a county with a commission format. There were other indications that the committee may take considerably longer to make recommendations than first suggestions of this winter with a branch campus opening next fall. Freeholder James S. Kilpatrick Jr., committee chairman, said it "may consider a questionnaire to the community which, obviously. is a long process." HE WAS RESPONDING to a question from Carol Bruno of Ocean City about "a mechanism for community input, and for informing the community." There also was indication the freeholders, long opposed to a county community college, may have one in mind. "If we were to want our own college 5. 10, 15 years from now," asked Freeholder Herbert Frederick, "is the branch the route to go now?" "We would not have control with a branch campus." observed Kilpatrick. Jones pointed out that community colleges are funded primarily from three sources: tuition, county, and state, with the state aid based partially on enrollment (FTEs). "Your students are part of their FTEs," she said. THERE WERE SEVERAL comments on the difference in chargeback costs, with Atlantic charging the county $66 a credit hour and Cumberland $31. Jones pointed out that chargebacks are based on the home county contribution and "county contributions can vary considerably." N She suggested that chargebacks cpuld be a negotiable item in the branch dampus question. "If you are providing the facilities." she said, "obviously there should be some newmechanism. But this has not happened before and will have to go to the Attorney General for interpretation." Vo-tech Schools Supt. Wilbur J. Kistler Jr. asked if "the objectives and mission of this committee could be clarified and stated so we know the ultimate direction to go in making recommendations?" Don't Forget (From Page 1) what you need," advised Bronk. A CHART, accompanying ACC's proposal, indicated that Cape May County has a smaller percentage enrolled than Atlantic County in the 45-55. 55-64, and 65-plus age groups. One factor could be the need to commute for most ACC courses. A recent publication of the county Planning Department, using 1980 Census statistics, reported that 20.3 percent of the county's 82,266 residents is 65 or older. The number was 16,733. That compared to 15.9 percent in Atlantic County 11.7 percent in Cumberland County, and 11.7 percent for the state. The county's figures ran from a lowpercentage of 8.4 in Woodbine to a high of 40 in Cape May Point.

"THE PURPOSE," said Kilpatrick, "is to review, analyze, and make a recommendation or recommendations to the freeholders. It might include accepting one (proposal), rejecting both, or even some other approach. The broad aim is to improve higher education." Rev. Charles Rowe, pointing out that both proposals relied on college credit for vo-tech courses, asked what percent of county students currently attending community colleges is in academic programs and what percent is in vo-tech. "Almost 100 percent is currently in academic." said Kistler. "Did Rutgers make a proposal?" asked Rowe. "I don't believe that was considered." said Kilpatrick. Rowe asked if employes at a county branch campus would be county residents. "It appears they would try to have as many as possible." said Kilpatrick. "I WAS ON AN Atlantic Community College study committee 10 years ago." said Dr. William Lauer of Ocean City High School. "What happened that we're looking at both (colleges) since we accepted ACC eight or nine years ago? "Over the years," said Kilpatrick, "Cumberland has been increasing its presence by offering programs not offered by ACC. Being without a community college, and considering whether we should go to the expense of our own or work with the two, it just evolved. Both have approached us in the last year and a half and offered to establish a branch campus." "What precipitated this," added Kistler. "is that the county wanted more participation. We offered programs through ACC, but we were landlords with no input into the kinds (of programs > and numbers. The idea is to try and broaden the kinds of programs they're offering so one can start and finish his education in Cape May County and cut down on the cost." "The purpose is to begin and end in Cape May County," added Loy Ehlers, assistant superintendent of the Special Services School District, subbing for Supt. George Bailey. "They may still have to go to the main campus," observed Gene DeGenova. "Even with a branch," agreed Bruno, "they would still have to take some courses at ACC." "That's possible, depending on the courses," said Frederick. "IF IT'S OUR branch, don't we set the standards?" asked Rowe. "With a branch." said Kilpatrick. "control would rest with the board of trustees. Cape May County would have an advisory board." The committee named Rowe and Ruth Miilward of Upper Townshp to be liaisons with Higher Education. Kilpatrick agreed the county would supply a clerk to take minutes, and also agreed with Bruno's suggestion that a chart, comparing major proposals of the two colleges, would help since, Bruno said, "the narratives are informative, but confusing." Because the start of school makes afternoon meetings difficult for many on the committee, it decided to meet evenings Next session was set for 7:30 p.m Sept. 12 at the vo-tech school. Wild Dogs SCHELLENGER'S LANDING - Lower Township Councilmen Robert Conroy alerted his colleagues Monday night" to a pack of "vicious" wild dogs that prey on cats around the docks here. The witness who reported it to him feared that the pack presents a danger to humans, particularly children, in the vicinity. Conroy said.

s- g* Hu P \ v\%k' SAFARI BOUND — With his bottle and supplies of toys and candv. David Chance Jr!?7o months, is ready for his trek in last week's Wildwood Babv Parade. He is the son of David and Debra Chance of Millville.

Lower Hall Likely Maritime Museum

(From Page 1) as a focal point of a Route 9 entrance, much as the old Grange building does at the village entrance on Seashore Road Because of its similarity to the Grange, the old municipal hall seems better suited for that antf a maritime museum, "but there's nothing set in stone yet." Frederick stressed. "WE WON'T BE TAKING both buildings, I believe, but that's up to the advisory board." he noted. "We're looking at both buildings". The nine-member board, however, already rejected Szathmary's offer. But freeholders postponed a decision on it earlier this month while costs of moving and renovating the 25- by 40-foot structure were reexamined. "I haven't heard anything... since the last freeholder meeting." Szathmary said Monday. "They may take the ix>wer Township building before mine because I've made so much noise." The township hall, however, is firedamaged while his schoolhouse is "good solid structure." he noted. He said he's "totally" supported by the county Home Builders' Association which is willing to help move the schoolhouse. "I'm trying to help them (county officials) out. but they're giving me a hard time." he added. Szathmary said he's considering changing a 600-name petition, favoring county acceptance of the schoolhouse. into a ballot referendum. Southern Flush VILLAS — Lower Township MUA is lending a hand to relieve backbay and beachfront pollution that closed the Wildwoods waters last week by treating sanitary sewage from there in its plant here. Citing the "major health emergency," James R. Stump. MUA executive director, said the plant started its second 55,000-gallon sewage load late last week. The plant's peak periods are on weekends, he noted, so it can handle extra sewage on weekdays — at $1,000 per 55.000. Reputation Remains VILLAS — Lower Township Deputy Mayor Joseph H. Davis, 69. of Village Road, died of heart failure and complications late Monday night in Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital. A Navy veteran of World War II. he will be buried Friday at the county Veterans' Cemetery, Crest Haven, after a Thursday night viewing at Evoy Funeral Home. Fishing Creek. Retired in 1977 after 32 years as an employe counselor with the Philadelphia Gas works, the South Philadelphia native and Republican independent won his council seat in May 1984. He has earned a reputation and respect as an honest and hard-working official.

"MORE IMPORTANT" than the cost factors considered by freeholders. Frederick maintained, are the questions. "do we have a use for it" and will the building fit in with the village? Nevertheless. he observed, it's going to cost "quite a bit of money" to restore either structure. While serving as a municipal court, he conceded, the second floor of the old township hall was damanged in a July 1977 arson. Frederick said however, that the damage appears "only superficial." The township, which bought the building in August 1941 for $4,000 from a patriotic organization, has been using it for Public Works Department storage since a new municipal hall was built in Villas six years ago. Calling the land mark a fire hazard. Stump proposed to bulldoze it Jan. 1 because the county seemed uninterested in taking it with $1,000-$3.000 toward moving expenses. Demolition was repeatedly delayed until April when Lower Mayor Robert Fothergill announced a formal stay of execution while the county reconsidered * the building for the proposed Route 9 entrance "THAT WAS THEIR original proposal," Frederick said of the township offer of moving costs "Hopefully, that's still part of the plan — we're banking on it. "But," he added, "we definitely do need a building at the other (Route 9) end." If approved by the freeholders, township officials, and Conrail, the new entrance would cross the abandoned Penn CentralReading Seashore Railroad track, south of Lower Cape May Regional High School. Erma. "We would like, if possible, to put that back into its original condition.'' * Frederick said of the spring near that entrance which gave this town its name. "It's been vandalized pretty badly." Restoration of the spring, he added, would "probably be something separate," though. "ACTUALLY. I DON'T know what they're doing," Frederick said of Cape May Fishermen's Memorial Inc. members who want to build a maritime museum and memorial to lost seamen off Cold Spring Inlet in Cape May. "They have no proposal yet." One of its members, Frederick said, misquoted him as saying the proposed county maritime museum would focus "strictly" on the whaling industry that i once flourished at Town Bank. It may start out that way. the freeholder explained, but it will expand into other * "historical aspects" of the county's commercial fishing industry. "WE DON'T WANT to work against each other," Fishermen's Memorial member Richard Beard said after a July 23 freeholders' meeting on the museum. "If we're vying for the same dollar, the community will be confused." With a $150,000 budget and $25, 000- $30. 000 in pledges, most of the group's money is earmarked toward a 17-ton, 11-foot memorial for a 60- by 200-foot site at Missouri and Pennsylvania Avenues.