26 Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 22 January '8f^ ' i J

~ Sloan Triples Redditt Fund Raising Effort-

(From page 1) money, she added, is from summer resident-property owners. "...I guess they appreciate my administration and what we've accomplished so far," Sloan reflected, citing improvements to the 8th Street Jetty and $7.5 million in beach work that has protected permanent and summer residents' homes. LESS THAN HALF OF Avalon's property owners are permanent residents, the in- * cumbent estimated. While there was still more than a week left to collect campaign contributions, Pagliughi said Friday that Redditt's kitty then was down to about $320, enough for one more mailing. "'And 1 don't mind telling you we've been struggling." Redditt said Friday. "And it's interesting because this is the guy (himself) that is 'raping Avalon.' And we have $2,800." Despite a common preception, that the recall campaign is a battle between Sloan and developers, the major issue should be her administrative competence, he said. He contends and Sloan concese that most of Avalon's real estate firms support her. "I guess most of them do feel th^l things are progressing in a healthy, natural way," she said of the Realtors and borough development. REDDITT MAINTAINS that Sloan is "partisan in her views" of development, serving as a advocate for the Home and Landowners' trustees. But he also notes that she, as a fellow Planning Board member, has also approved every duplex and multi-family development that's come across her desk. "Well, they've all met the zoning (requirements)," Sloan countered. The same people who supported Sloan for mayor in 1983 now "want her removed from office." Redditt said, because she "has absolutely failed on her campaign platform" — that "to preserve the natural resources." He faults her, though, for imposing a short building moratorium, after the borough's sewage treatment plant was found to be polluting the backbay in 1983, and for signing a consent agreement with the state toward $1.4 million in plant improvements. Those decisions "infuriated" Redditt and soured Sloan's relationship with former councilman and county MUA member James Busha who started the recall drive last summer. SLOAN AND BUSHA were the high votegetters in borough elections and he "backed her 1,000 percent," Redditt complained. Although Busha was "fully conversant" about sewerage and the treatment plant, " "she never, asked a word of advice from him," Redditt grimed. "She never even told him (about the 1983 building ban)." Before his appointment to the county MUA, she and Busha had been attending an equal number of MUA meetings, Sloan recalled, and she afterward continued discussing MUA "delays in getting this (regional treatment) plant on line" to replace the borough plant. "This decision was not mine alone," she said of the moratorium, citing input from other officials on that and beachfront bulkheads constructed during the tourist season last year. Busha. who recently moved to Florida, listed both as reasons to recall Sloan. "IF WE HAD WAITED until Labor Day. it could very well have been too late," Sloan said of the bulkhead construction, "which, in this case, it would have been."

She was referring \o Hurricane Gloria on Sept. 27. Busha couldn't have foreseen the hurricane or the sanitary sewage pollution that closed Wildwood beaches in August when he announced the recall drive earlier that month and collected 446 names on the recall petition. Responding. Sloan staked a claim to the "farsighted" constituency with an eye toward the future, as opposed to those who "lost sight of the Avalon of the future and see only the dollar signs of today . " She blamed Busha and Realtor William Leahy for plotting the recall because she didn't reappoint deli owner Philip F. Judyski to the Planning Board last summer. He also manages Matalucci's Bongo Room. "I guess it was in response to the pulse of the people," Sloan said Sunday of that decision. "I had letter after letter after letter — not to reappoint him" because of Judyski's "controversial manner" and the possibility of conflicts "on some of the cases he was hearing." LETTER WRITERS, she said, also pointed out possible conflicts between Judyski's Planning Board post and his membership on the county Board of Taxation. Sloan has said, apd Busha has admitted, that the mayor was told, she would likely face recall if she didn't reappoint Judyski. Leahy's backing it, Sloan speculated, because he's concerned about "what could happen if zoning could be changed" to further regulate development. According to Redditt. Leahy "gets blamed for everything that happens in this town," although he seems to have the borough's interest at heart. Development isn't the real recall issue anyway, Redditt insisted, but "mismanagement and the lack of leadership on the part of Rachel Sloan." She compounded the "unfair'' moratorium and sewage plant consent agreement, Redditt contends, by ordering parts of the plant shutdown to save money between December 1985 and March 1985. That violated the consent agreement and subjected Avalon to a $2,500 fine. HE ALSO BLAMES HER for a $50,000 new roof on Borough Hall that "leaks like a seive." "The contract and specifications were drawn by the ( borough > engineer; the contract was bid and it was let." Sloan replied. "There are some leaks and the contractor will be back to fix it. In fact, he hasn't been paid one cent yet. "I don't know" the contractor, she added, noting "(engineer) A1 Herman drew up the specifications and he's a very competent person." Avalon's administration needs some "fresh air" to dig up "buried mistakes" like the roofing contract. Redditt argues. "You can't fake out people with a glib tongue anymore." he said of Sloan; she offers "no leadership." With "no desire to be a politician." her opponent added: "I know I could lead the parade; 1 have no doubt in my mind." FACING HIS FIRST BID for elective office, Redditt, 62. cited his business experience as qualifications to replace Sloan, describing himself as "a no-nonsense person" and a "nice guy, but only to a point "The enemy of the best is not the worst; it's the good enough," he observed, quoting a favorite saying. "And. I'll tell you. the good enough' makes my hair stand on end." A retired consultant. Redditt holds a

construction engineering degree from Villanova University which he attended after St. Joseph's Preparatory School. Management executive for General Electric, he was responsible for all engineering and construction of a million square-foot aerospace complex in King of Prussia, Pa. Later, he was vice president and general manager of Korman Corporation's commercial and industrial division. Before starting his consulting business. Redditt served as general superintendent "for a nationally-known engineering and construction" firm's Eastern division, according to his resume. A property owner for 20 years and a permanent resident for 10, the candidate resides with his wife, Betty Ann. on First Avenue. They have three children: Barbara, Jim Jr. and Susan. "I RESPECT THE PEOPLE of this town and I don't think they're going to be fooled by an individual (out) for political and financial gain," Sloan concluded, citing her "very valuable" rapport with state and national figures who "respect me." A resident since 1972, she is the recent widow of Thomas Griffith Sloan, borough emergency management director; mother of three married daughters. Martha, Susan and Kathryn; and grandmother of five. Ohio-born in 1919, Sloan \earned an education degree from the state university in 1941 and taught in Detroit and Lower Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pa. Serving as a GOP committeewoman there, Sloan lived in Merion and operated a nursery school for 15 years in Gladwyn.

f When Avalon changed its government from a commission to mayor-council in 1981, she won a council seat from a field -of more than a dozen candidates. She won the mayor's chair in 1983. Supported in her anti-recall campaign by the county Mayors' Association, she also holds memberships in the Avalon Women's Civic Association, the Avalon Women's Republican Club, the Garden Club, borough Chamber of Commerce and Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital Auxiliary which she served as president for two years. Busha Voting From Florida AVALON — Former Councilman James Busha, the leader of the mayoral recall movement, wjll cast his vote from sunny Palm City on the coast of Florida. Busha sold his Avalon house and moved there in the second week of January, shortly after he resigned from the county Municipal Utilities Authority Commission. Because he was an Avalon resident within 29 days of the Jan. 28 election he is eligible to vote, according to the county Board of Elections. He will be receiving an absentee ballot at his Florida address as soon as the signature on his ballot application is verified, said the county Clerk's Office.

Upgraded Fire Marshal Urged

( From page 1 ) page report outlined and responsibilities firemen felt the upgraded office should handle. Also since September, Fire Marshal George Costell, Villas fire chief, died on Dec. 10 . The county Firemen's Association and Fire Chief's Association have recommended Woodbine Fire Chief Martin Bogushefsky as interim replacement. MC NULTY'S PROPOSAL called for a part-time marshal to be paid $10,000, and three deputies to be paid $2,500 apiece or a total of $7,500. Estima'ed personnel costs also included $3,600 for 400 hours of "inspectors" being paid $8 an hour, and $2,000 in additional pay for a iditional work by the secretary now working in the department of Emergency Management, which' is where the fire marshal would be located. Other budget items include $3,000 for educational programs. $2,500 for auto expenses, $2,000 for communications equipment, $1,700 for supplies and office equipment, $1,200 for uniforms and badges, and $1,000 apiece for code manuals and "miscellaneous." McNulty said the $35,500 total estimate was "probably a little low." WHAT THE FIREMAN want, and the county apparently agrees, is for the county fire marshal to be designated as the local enforcing agency under the new Uniform Fire Safety Act for inspecting all cofcnty owned, leased, or operated facilities. ' McNulty lid he estimated those inspection fees would run/about $18,000 and the county, ra' iier than the state, could keep 80 percent, or $14,400. "Local people are better suited to the county." he added. "We should do it at the local level and retain the money. His proposal called for a screening comPolls Open 7 a.m. -8 p.m. AVALON — Polls open 7 a.m. and close 8 p.m. next Tuesday for the non-partisan . recall election between Mayor Rachel H. Sloan and Planning Board Chairman James H. Redditt. Voters are asked to answer "yes" or "no" on a Public Question: "Shall Mayor Rachel Sloan be removed from office by recall?" Then, voters separately select their candidate. Polling places for all three voting districts are at Community Hall, 30th Street and Avalon Avenue Call 967-5530 for more information.

mittee from the firemen's association to recommend applicants for the permanent fire marshall position to a committee of that association and the fire chiefs' association. The final, two-year appointment would be made by the freeholders. THE MARSHAL would have to be ai licensed fire protection inspector and fire official with a specialty in industrial and commercial structures. He also would have to have completed a key arson course and have 10 years' fire service experience. The deputies would need seven years' experience and licenses as fire protection inspector and fire inspector. The expanded fire marshal's office would include these responsibilities: • Focal point for the Uniform Fire Reporting System. • Supervise training and the training facility. • Develop countywide fire safety education and fire prevention programs. • Coordinate the arson unit and arson awareness programs, but without intruding on the similar responsibilities of the County Prosecutor. THE NEW FIRE MARSHAL. McNulty said, would institute a countywide uniform fire reporting system, update county mutual aid programs and the county equipment listing, and report monthly to the fire chiefs' association. He also would seek state and federal funds. McNulty said. When he finished. Freeholder-Director William E. Sturm Jr. commented. "You ought to run for something " "We hear hundreds of presentations a year," added Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton. "You were the best we've heard in a long time." Ounce of Prevention NORTH CAPE MAY — Gene Mogie of this community took home a letter of appreciation from Lower Township during a police crime prevention seminar in Town Bank firehouse last week. By reporting an alleged burglary in progress here, Mogie's credited with helping "to solve a number of burglaries in the area," according to Police Capt. Don Douglass. Turnout at the seminar was great, said Douglass, estimating the crowd at more than 200 with another 100 unable to fit inside the firehouse. Township Manager James R. Stump is expected to update the crime-prevention program at Council's 8 p.m. meeting today.

[?]