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Vol. 22 No. 6 "86 Stawavf Corp. All righlt r«t*rved

February 5, 1936

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V. Can County Budget Bear a Bear?

By JOE ZELN1K COURT HOUSE — The county zoo could be home to a fullblooded, North American black bear. The Cohanzick Zoo owned by the city of Bridgeton has offered the year-old bear, named Roscoe The problem, according to Leon Fulginiti, executive director of county parks, is the estimated $6,500 cost of a cage that would meet state specifications. Roscoe weighs 100 pounds now but will grow to about 450 pounds. He needs two 25-by-25 cages plus an additional 30-by-30 perimeter.

FULGINITI SAID he has eight or nine 10-foot high window bars from the old county jail as a start, but only a start. "You need a super secure exhibit structure," said Robert Riley, director of the Cohanzick Zoo. Besides the cage, he added. the bear "almost has to have a tree to climb and a small swimming pool because they get unbearably hot in the summer " Riley conceded he made his offer to Cape May County because he has two bears and the cost of another "is prohibitive. Two are more than enough. "And what those guys eat!" he added. About 20 pounds of apples and 45 pounds of

bear chow ("Omnivore. which is like a big dog biscuit." he specified) a day. "They're hard to keep." said Riley, "but they're a great attraction." ROSCOE WAS ONE of two males born Jan. 14. 1985. to a couple identified as No. 1485 and 1585. using the International Species Inventory System, according to 1 Riley. They've been at the zoo 25 years Roscoe's brother. Max. made the news last year when someone cut his way into* the Cohanzick Zoo and stole him. The FBI was called in. but Max was never found Riley said he had no idea why anyone ( Page 26 Please )

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^1§^NEWS llsS, 7 DIGEST A/ / Wetk's II II If Tories

Will Alexis Run? COURT HOUSE - Middle Township Committeeman James E. Alexis, a Democrat, said Monday he has not decided whether he will seek reelection but that decision will come by the end of this month. Township Democratic Chairman Charles M. Leusner said he had "no comment" on the matter, adding further fuel to the rumor that Alexis will not seek reelection. Last week. Republican Richard V. James anounced his candidacy for the committee. Landing Strip Takes Off ERMA — After failing in two previous efforts to get a qualified bidder to operate the Landing Strip restaurant at the county airport, the county negotiated a deal. Frank and Elizabeth Borucki of Wildwood Crest should be opening for breakfast and lunch in 2-3 weeks. Previously, the county couldn't get a minimum annual rent of $6,757. But the Boruckis will pay $9,789, as long as the county picks up the electric bill that was running $500 a month under prior operators. Caps or Fines NORTH WILDWOOdV By reducing rainwater intrusion into ftus city's sanitary sewers and making $668,000 in repairs to its treatment plant, resort officials are hoping to increase plant . capacity from 1.2 million to 6.2 million gallons. That, they speculate, could lead to at least a partial lifting of the state building moritorium imposed after raw (Page 4 Please)

' Move to Airport Questioned Add Prosecutor to Court Project

By JOE ZELNIK Oooops. Another proposed change has further delayed the county's courthouse renovation project, already a year behind schedule. As modifications continue, the project's anticipated cost grows. And now at least one elected official — Surrogate W. Robert Hentges — has criticized the concept of moving the courts to the airport at Erma for twp years while the present courthouse is renovated. That move, defended by the freeholders, has become more and more complicated and costly. The latest proposal — a switch, really — was brought to the freeholders last week by Ocean City architect Edwin Howell. The freeholders indicated they'd rather switch than fight. Howell said that Hentges had objected to "original" plans to move him to the second floor of a renovated courthouse, even though they had been approved by former Superior Court Assignment Judge Philip A. Gruccio. But he was elevated to the Appelate Division last September and replaced by Judge Richard J. Williams. Howell said, he has placed Hentges in the front of what is now the Prosecutor's building, adjacent to and north of the main _ courthouse, and the Prosecutor would exI pand some of his offices upstairs to where I the Surrogate was to have been. Howell said Hentges often has to deal I with elderly clients who would have difI ficulty getting to a second floor office. "Many times he has to interview them in I their autos," said Howell. "He felt he I deserved a more public access." "When I was first showed the plans a I year ago," said Hentges, "they had my ofI fice up 9 to 11 steps over the Prosecutor. I I deal with a great many senior citizens with I walkers, canes. It is impossible for them to (Page 41 Please)

M ^ I I J jft jjjk.'i | ■ Jfl Doris Word NOW IF WE...— Facilities and Services Director Harry E. Kehr left, and Administrative Assistant John James check construction prints for the temporary courts facility at the county airport.

Architect 'Fronting' for Officials?

Ocean City architect Edwin Howell presented plans to the freeholders last week to move the Surrogate to the Prosecutor's building and renovate or rebuild that building. But he seemed to studiously avoid : "recommending" the change. At one point. County Counsel Harry A. Delventhal Jr. of Ocean City asked Howell his "recommendation." And for the third time in the meeting, Howell said that he "...would have liked to have had the Surrogate and the Prosecutor here..." HE BEGAN his presentation by comM

menting that "i requested the Prosecutor and Surrogate be here. It's a,, shame they're not." Midway through his presentation, he said. "The Surrogate should be here telling you this." Those comments prompted former Freeholder William R Wilsey of Petersburg to comment, during the public participation portion at the end of the meeting, that "Those two fellows should have been here, and saw fit not to be here. They should be chastized, having the ar(Page 26 Please)

Fisher Asks to Replace Fox ' Lomax

COURT HOUSE — Ruth Fisher, perennial pest to the county freeholders, last week asked them to recommend her appointment to the New Jersey Pesticide Control Council. They said they'd think about it and give her an answer at their next meeting. Feb. 6. * Fisher, 55, of South Dennis, said there are too many "foxes guarding the henhouse" on the current nine-member council. She singled out Joseph Lomax of Swainton, head of Joseph Lomax Associations, local environmental consultants. "HE HAS NOT ATTENDED the last three meetings," said Fisher. "Unseat him an'I place instead your obedient servant."

"We'll take that under advisement," said Freeholder-Director William E. Sturm Jr. "I asked last year," reminded Fisher. In fact, Fisher has. over the years, asked the freeholders to a name her to the county Planning Board, the Municipal Utilities Authority, the Mosquito Control Commission, and, most recently last December, to the new Agriculture Development Board. With no success. She also had been interviewed for. but not appointed to, the Advisory Commission on the Status of Women, appointed by the freeholders, but recommended by a freeholder-named screening committee. FORMER FREEHOLDER William R Wilsey of Petersburg told the board Jan. 28 that he felt Fisher "would be a valuable

asset to a council such as the one she mentioned. She studies more thoroughly than some people who sit on their ends for years. "We don't have enough Ruth Fishers, and too many complacent people on boards," said Wilsey. "And too many people who see things wrong and are afraid to say anything." he added. Sturm pointed out that the Pesticide Control Council is a gubernatorial appointment based on the county's recommendation. "She is suggesting we recommend he (Lomax) not be recommended and she instead." he clarified. A COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE told (Page 26 Please)

Rl'TII FISHER