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Vol. 22 No. 2 1986 S«"0" Corp All righti reiofved

January 8, 1986

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McCall Nixes Aid of 'Crest Priority One' *

By GREGG LAWSON WlLDWOOD CREST - Borough Commission said thanks, but no thanks, to a local group's offer to guide improvements on the sewage system at\ Monday's workshop session. The borough has had a state-imposed moratorium on new construction since sewage-polluted beaches off the Wildfroods were closed for six days in early August. About 75 people came to the Edwin S. Nesbitt Center here to view a presentation by Crest Priority One, an anonymous group of local residents and business people who want the borough to get moving on

needed sewage system improvements. The meeting was scheduled to be held at borough hall until the crowd overflowed that tiny chamber. HARRY GREINER. the group's spokesman, and Anthony J. DeFaico, an engineer hired by the group, presented an infiltration and inflow report garnered from information gathered by the borough. Earlier in the day. Greiner told this newspaper his group would suggest ways of routing inflow and infiltration, extraneous water that burdens collection and treatment facilities. Two solutions would be capping sewer vents to prevent rainwater from entering the sewage system 4

and replacing manholes that let in water, hk said. However, Mayor Frank McCall told Greiner and DeFaico that the borough has already rembarked on its own improvement plap. "I don't object to groups coming, in with ideas and goals; we seek input.'-' McCall said. "I do have a problem when all the work has been done beforehand. Nothing has been presented here that the borough hasn't addressed or isn't addressing. "I'M NOT SAYING what you've done is meaningless, but it's all been discussed in our plans." he added. McCall said its plan calls for removing sludge from the treatment plant, repairing

or replacing the weirs that are used to remove sewage and replacing force mains, laterals and other faulty piping. According to the borough's agreement with the Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA). excessive infiltration and inflowmust be eliminated before the Crest can hook up to the planned Wildwood/ Lower sewage treatment plant. The plant is expected to be 80 percent completed by June 1987; which Crest Priority One lists as ils goal for sejvgge improvements. The borough's plans should be completed "months" before that date. McCall said. DeFaico, of Roy F. Weston. Inc.. was (Page 37 Please)

ISP^NEwr INfev DIGEST ) 77 Ai / Week's ' I // // "v*™ Resort Accepts Order WILDWOOD — City Council has ; approved a state consent order, requiring improvements to the city's sewage treatment plant and removal of sludge from it. The order, placed on Wildwood and neighboring resorts, also requires a sewerage hook-up moritorium and a freeze on most construction until sewage treatment systems meet accepted standards. Wildwood plans to spend $840,000 for improvements to avert another beach closing like August's because of raw sewage on local beaches. No Gentlemanly Debate AVALON — Mayor Rachel Sloan declines to debate her opponent, James Redditt, before the recall election Jan. 28, according to John H. Warren Jr., chairman of the Avalon Committee Against Recall. In a committee press release last week, he wrote that Sloan's position on vital issues is well known and established through her 6' 2-year record. "No purpose would be served by debating with Mr. Reditt who has already demonstrated ... that he is rudely caustic, abrasive, and would undoubtedly (Page 37 Please)

Freeholders Had 41 Secret Meets in '85 By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE - County freeholders ended their 1985 deliberations behind closed doors, a tactic they used 41 times in 1985. Their final secret session (they used to be called "private" and now are called "excluding the public" began at 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30. The closed meetings are preceded by resolutions, always adopted unanimously, that describe in general terms the matters to be discussed. The matters include "personnel, legal matters, litigation, and possible litigation," all of which are permissable closed door topics under the state's Open Public Meetings Act commonly known as the "Sunshine Law." IN SOME CASES, minutes subsequently released indicate that the topic of "litigation" has been broadly interpreted, enabling the freeholders to discuss topics not normally permitted by the law. For examEle, because the county was a party to a iw suit involving the Williams toxic wapte site in Swainton. freeholders in closed session discussed "requests for water testing by landowners..." Under the umbrella of "personnel" it has discussed behind closed doors such topics as mandatory use of seat belts and training courses for county employes. Other curious closed topics included damages to the Upper Branch Library and an apparent lapse in Bridge Commission insurance. ANYTHING TO DO WITH property acquisition has consistently been a closed (Page 21 Please)

HOW MANY FINGERS. PHIL? — Freeholder William S. Sturm Jr.. right, who was not yet freeholder-director when this photo was taken Saturday, makes a couple points to county Treasurer and Republican chairman Philip R. Matalucci, left, while Sheriff James J. Plousis, seconc froi/left, and Freeholder Ralph W. Evans look on. It took place at the freeholder orgnniattion meeting in the old Court House in Cape May Court House.

Sturm Named Director Of F reeholder Board

By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE - It came to William E. Sturm Jr. at noon Saturday, one day late for his 54th birthday and several years later than log cal by most methods of calculation. Freeholders unanimously elected the Rio Grande resident freeholder -director. He is in his 15th year on the board and later this year is exp<;cted to seek a sixth, threeyear term. Previous director Gerald M. Tliornton of Villas, who's txien on the board 10 years, stepped down jo vice director after one year in the top spot. He had succeeded Anthony T. Catar.oso, director for 13 years until he retired in 1964. * UNDER WHAT STURM called "the general thinking," the freeholders now will rotate the chairmanship yearly, by seniority. That would put Thornton back in the post in 1987, followed by Ralph Evans. James S. Kilpatrick Jr., and Herbert Frederick. No one would discuss for the record why "the general thinking" on the allRepublican bojrd changed between last January and this January. Sturm's prom otion came despite the fact that be was first elected to the beard as a Democrat (in 1R71; he switched parties in

1973), is known for his independence, and suffered a number of setbacks in 1985. They included the replacement of Purchasing Director William C. Deaver and Roads Supervisor Leroy Reeves, both departments Sturm headed. He subsequently turned over Public Works (which includes Roads) to Kilpatrick. WITH THE DIRECTORSHIP comes some additional prestige, some new powers, I he now heads administration and personnel), automatic membership on the county Planning Board, and $1,102 a year more than the other four freeholders ($17,640 compared to $16,538). Although qualifying his goals with "if the board will agree," Sturm told this newspaper Monday that he hopes to strengthen department heads, boost the power of the position of administrator (held by Diane Rudolph), and get an adi ministrative code "that would specifically define responsibilities and document methods of procedure. " Administrator powers and an administrative code were among the more • important recommendations of a county management improvement study released in November 1963. "THERE IS A LOT of talent lying latent , (in department heads) that we can utilize i (Page 21 Please)

Two Slates Vie to Head Local 1983 By GREGG LAWSON COURT HOUSE - Two slates will vie for control of Local 198(1 of the International Brotherhood of Painters and Allied Trades (IBPAT) at an election from 11 a.m. to 6rp.m. tomorrow. Jan. 9. at the union office here. Local 1983 represents about 1.000 government employes of the county. Cape May. Wildwood. Stone Harbor and Avalon. and the Servicemaster Corporation, the firm that has the contract to clean Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital. The election is another step toward phasing out the trusteeship imposed July 1984 after the local rufused to pay about $26,000 in dues to the IBPAT Ralph Williams, special trustee of the IBPA .". managed the t local from that time until he appointed eight officers and three trustees in October. Current Business Manager C. Joseph Tracy will be opposed by LouifrGinsburg. a shop steward with the Youth Services Department. The union job pays $23,000. TRACY LEADS the "incumbent" slate, . which includes Fred Decollewaert. president ; Larry Cellucci, vice president ; Mary Ragowski. treasurer; Sam Force, warden; and trustees Bill Belles. Paul Salvo and Marie Lepak. On Ginsburg's opposing slate are: Frank LoMonaca. president; Joseph Dorr, vice president. Kathy McMulIen, treasurer; Nick Nardicchio, warden; and trustees Alice Austin, Ron Maston, and ^ Joe Paynter. Belle Alto Oleferuk, financial secretary, Marie Donohue, recording secretary, and Domingo Ortez, conductor, are October appointees who are running unopposed. GINSBURG SAID his group is dissatisfied with the three-year contract the local and the county settled on in August. It provided a five percent pay hike (Page 20 Please) inside SOME anglers are hypocrites; Lou Rodia, page 28. COUNTY Library columnist Kathy Duffy starts an alphabetical trip through the card catalog, page 12. FREEHOLDERS okay controversial pay hike, page 6. COLUMNIST spurns S10-million prize, joyride, page 39. FOREIGN travel frustrating dilemma. From the Principal, page 14.