Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 15 January '86 ) 41

Sachs Strategy: Bring Island Industries to County Airport

( From page 1 ) and convincing business and industry from the island communities to move there. "We have to improve how things look and function (at the industrial park)," he said. "How do you find it? It's not easy. There's a lack of landscaping, colors, material. Parking is topsy-turvy." AFTER THAT, and with a master plan telling "what we have and how we could add to it," Sachs thinks a case can be made for attracting some businesses "on the islands that don't have to be there." He cited auto parts distributors, linen services, food distributors. "Drive around the islands," he said. "You'll look at some of the stuff and say. 'Why is it here? It doesn't make sense.' "They shouldn't occupy valuable island space which could be better used for tourism," he said. "If there is a higher economic use on the is^nds. that would be better for the county in general and individual communities." Short-term, he said, that will create opportunities for other businesses on the islands and, long-term, "dynamic growth will create jobs overall." BUILDINGS in the industrial park, with the exception of the closed 195,000 squarefoot Everlon Fabrics plant which used to employ 400, are filled. New tenants will require new construction. Whether the county does that, or merely leases land, remains to be determined, Sachs said. County courts will be moving to an empty building at the park this spring for 18 to ;24 months. When they leave, Sachs pointed out, "it will be like a world's fair, something we could use. " Sachs likes the term "leisure industry ' because "it's broader than tourism. It's a lot more than that." Sachs feels tourism has been getting a bum rap because it is "not publicly fun- * dable (the state and federal governments don't throw money at part -time industry, he said), does not create "permanent employment," and is viewed as "not sufficiently diversified." SACHS SAID the leisure industry is diversified because it requires support industries such as law, accounting, banking real estate. And they, in turn, are supported by others. Sachs said he thinks the county's "Appalachia image" of thousands of unemployed people on the dole has been used to try to entice new industry (come hire our cheap labor) and federal funds (help these poor folks. Uncle Sam). But that ploy has not been particularly successful, he said, and adds to the county's "image problem." "This is neither Appalachia nor Tahiti," said Sachs. "Why are we here?" he asked, addressing the reporter. "Why did we come?" Probably because of the county's "richness of opportunity," he answered, plus a low cost of Hving. "THERE IS A TENDENCY to be negative and accept the philosophy that this is the tail end of New Jersey," said Sachs. "I don't know where it comes from, maybe the old Piney attitude? There is an intense inferiority complex that this is a cultural desert at this time of the year.

"Certainly there is plain living, almost a Mennonite value. It is probably the historical attitude that frills and high living are not good. It's pro thriftiness and plain living. Fun, frolic and painted women are not here; basic values are. This place has its own genius loci' (the protective spirit of a place, the dictionary defines). But people who have lived here for quite a while think you have to apologize for it." The leisure industry must extend the . season, Sachs said. "Some people hate the I idea and the Chamber of Commerce says j it's essential. "There has to be a lot of interesting things to do," he said. "We need to amplify our cultural and historical background. Cape May is not the only place in the county worth looking at. There is a lot of potential: Cold Spring Village, Schellenger's Landing. "WILDWOOD MUST HAVE a new convention center." he added, "or it will lose . what it has now. That is essential to the ci- I ty and the county. Some things need to happen (in Wildwood), but I'm not sure i how that happens. I can offer to help with feasibility studies, something I did professionally for years. But how do I help . without being an intruder?" Perhaps Sachs' most controversial I perception is that "the favorite theme of high tech" is not likely for this county. "My view," he said, "is that there are better places for them to be, like Princeton. That makes sense. Not that the county isn't good enough, but we have an opportunity to capitalize on what is here, arts and crafts, what I call low tech." "Build on your strengths," said Sachs. "Don't try to be something you're not. That's the direction some states in the Northeast have taken. Massachusetts has the high tech, Vermont and Maine and to some extent New Hamposhire the low. "WE HAVE HIGH QUALITY artisans in the county. We could set up a crafts center and make space available for artists whose products have market potential, on the island or nationwide through catalogs. That extends a seasonal economy to yearround." And, he added, it builds on the Appalachia image. "A sense of marketing has not been developed in this county," rued Sachs. "I see little here that has 'made in Cape May County' on it and goes elsewhere and says this is a good place to be. It's possible, it's real interesting, and it's an idea I would like to pursue. "All these things fit together," said Sachs who himself is attempting to "fit together" the three departments he heads into one. On the green blackboard in his office one sees a chart merging three departments — 903 (airport), 908 (airport safety). and 115 (industrial commission) into one — to be called the Department of Economic Development (DED). WITHIN IT. new hire Harry Barrish of Court House will be in charge of marketing the industrial park, new hire Irene Monge will administer the airport and industrial 'park in such areas as lease relations, utilities, taxes, maintenance, security, and Administrative Secretary Patricia Cur-

■ i h||u fS EfcrN-Xf I 1 4 Doris Ward NEW TEAM — County Economic Development Director Walter S. Sachs Jr., seated, with his "deputies," from left, Patricia Currens of Ocean City, Irene Monge of Cape May Point, and Harry Barrish of Court House.

rens initially will work on ending "the dearth of reliable statistics and information." Sachs hopes to publish an annual profile of the county that will be tentatively titled "Cape May County Noy»" and will answer the need for a publication that describes the county to potential hew industry. Barrish. a former banking official, lives in Court Ho *se and most recently was an account executive with the brokerage firm.

Smith Barney in Philadelphia. Monge was legal secretary to Cape Mav attorney John Mead and also is borough clerk in Cape May Point, Sachs is borough commissioner. Barrish and Monge are starting at $22,000 a year. Currens. of Ocean City, has been-with the county since the fall of 1983 and is making $22,484. Sachs' pay. reflecting a 5 percent increase given most department heads this year, is $35,175.

VpUM RIGHT PLACE? Wildwood Linen Supply in Wildwood Crest. County, Economic Director Walter S. Sachs Jr. cited "linen services ' as an island industry that might be better located on the mainland, especially at the county airport industrial- park.

/JS^NEWS INgV DIGEST (W If i j The Week's II It II Top Stories (From Page 22) Township Committee and two terms as mayor, reclaimed the mayor's seat in a Jan. 6 swearing in ceremony heavily attended by the county's Republican hierarchy. Champion and Harry Creamer give the Committee a Republican majority for the first time in many years ; Frank L. Murphy is the sole remaining Democrat. County Republican Chairman Philip Matalucci, Freeholders Gerald Thornton, William Sturm and Herbert Frederick and Sheriff James Plousis were among those present. Champion works for the state Lottery Commission. Wildwood Appointments WILDWOOD - Lawyer Stephen S. Rubins, was named director of thgV Department of Law and Edwin Fret^ former supervisor at the closed HarjjfisonWalker magnesite plant, was appoiiAed director of the Department of Water and Sewerage at last Wednesday's Council meeting. Both were nominated by Mayor Victor Di Sylvester. Rubins will make $27,000. Fretz $31,000. Rubins is solicitor to the Housing Authority and former solicitor to Wildwood Crest and the urban renewal agency. Fretz has been teaching and doing carpentry work since the plant closed Rubins replaces attorney Charles Henry James, who resigned; Fretz replaces Sewage Superintendent Frank McKee who decided to concentrate on one post. 'Art Absolute Waste' SEA ISLE CITY — A previous city commission paid $23,515 for two new heating and air conditioning units that aren't compatible with the public safety building's duct work and electrical system, according to Andrew Previti, a spokesman for City Engineer John Walker. Previous commission — former Mayor Dominic C. Raffa, Alan Gansert -vand William VanArtsdalen — decided to purchase them in February 1985. VanArtsdalen, a current commissioner, said he opposed the purchase and called it "an absolute waste of money . " Meanwhile, the existing units are deteriorating and not working properly. Charged in Deaths COURT HOUSE — A county grand jury last week indicted William G. Logan, Jr., 25, of Hand Avenue, for causing tne deaths of Cape May resident John Tice,

and James Raymond Costello of Philadelphia. The indictments stem from - Logan being the driver of a car that slammed into a truck operated by Tice. 17. at Park Boulevard and Burke Avenue in Wildwood on Nov. 12. Costello was a passenger in Logan's car, The indictments also charges Logan with driving recklessly and causing "serious bodily injury" to Richard Bain. 23. of Wildwood and Christopher Elia. 16. of Willow Drive. Erma. Bain was in Logan's car and Elia was riding with Tice. Logan will be ar raigned in three weeks. Drunken Driving Rap NORTH WILDWOOD - David- Dasher. 23, of Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, was charged with drunken driving last week & after he crashed his girlfriend's car into . a utility pole on North Wildwood « Boulevard near the Beach Creek Bridge. He was alone. Police here feared Dasher was thrown into the backbay. but he was found wandering around the area by a West Wildwood officer He was treated and released at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital. Dasher claimed to have been cut off the road by a yellow Camaro of unknown registration. North Wildwood police said The pole was damaged and the car totalled, they added. Mason Retrial Set } BELLEPLAIN - Randolph Mason. 23. of here, will be retried Jan. 23 on charges he participated in the suffocation-murder * of 65-year-old Alice Riendeau of Millville Mason was one of lour men indicted on felony murder charges in connection with the slaying, which occured during a July 1984 robbery at the victim's home. A previous trial for Mason ended in a hung jury Oct. 3. / Bank Robber Sentenced COURT HOUSE - Superior Court Judge James A. O'Neill last week sentenced Nicholas Marino. 28, of ^ Philadelphia, to 12 years in prison for robbing Marine National Bank in Wildwood of $11,862 on Aug. 12. Marino was indicted last year for armed robbery and faced 15 years in prison. Unarmed, he ordered a bank clerk to fill a bag with money. Not Guilty OCEAN CITY — County jurors found Lenwood Hahn, 20 of Asbury Ave., not guilty of burglarizing Gary Kilby 's Wesley Avenue home Oct. 26 and stealing food, money, magazines, stereo equipment and about 20 records. Hahn. who had been jailed since Oct. 31, was charg ed along with his roommate. Michael Mr.lloy, a fugitive.