, ' 1 Herald - Lantern Dispatch 19 March '86 I 49

Freeholders Cool to Bay shore Funding »

By JOE ZELNIK COURT HOUSE - Freeholders gave Lower Township Manager James Stump a sympathetic ear last week, but kept their hands firmly on their wallets. Stump came to the March 11 freeholder meeting to ask the county to share' in the . estimated $529,428 cost of a curb and sidewalk project to improve drainage on Bayshore Road in Villas. The freeholders encouraged him to add another half-dozen blocks to the project, but did not encourage him to expect any money this year. Stump later told this newapaper, "I would like to start this year, but I have to be realistic. The engineering could be done this year and the work next year.' CALLING THE PROJECT "beyond your means" and pointing out Bayshore is a county road. Stump asked the county to do the curb and driveway apron work, which has an estimated $290,000 price tag. He said "the township" would do the sidewalks with an estimated $170,000 cost. He later told this •newspaper that the township "somehow woula do the sidewalks, either on our own or having the residents pay a portion." He was told to get an engineering study and come back. But $he county is only days away from approving its 1986 budget. "We've already spending $2-1/2 million Vi capital improvements," commented Freeholder James S. Kilpatrick Jr. "IN STONE HARBOR, the people who own the property are responsible for their own curbs and sidewalks. ' said Freeholder Ralph W. Evans. "They don't own 'em. but they maintain "em." Fire Marshal < From page 1 ) port the Prosecutor, work along with him. "We now do it without compensation," he added, "and the police are compensated." "I think it's a fine thing to do. if we've got the money," commented Freeholder Ralph W Evans. Freeholder-Director William E. Sturm Jr. asked Evans, to be the liaison with firemen, to bring his recommendations to the next meeting (at 4 p.m. tomorrow) EVANS WAS SCHEDULED to meet with the firemen and with county Chief of Detectives William Matthews tonight. Evans told this newspaper ''we are absolutely not going to do any services we have now. We need a fire marshal, but not anywhere near that kind of money." Why is Chief Matthews in that meeting? Because he, and other police, have asked the county for $50,000 for a training coordinator to instruct some 285 special police hired primarily by shore communities in the summer. FREEHOLDERS have hinted that there could be some sort of merged police training and fire marshal operation. Evans added the Office of Emergency Management, which he also heads, to that formula. "One solid department might be the way to go," he told this newspaper. "The secretary there could serve all three. "We'll come back with a fair figure," he said, "nothing extraordinary, and let the fire^fharshal decide how to spend it." Woodbine Fire Chief Martin Bogushefsky is acting, temporary fire marshal. Economical Jail (From page 1) grams as Alcoholics Anonymous, Bible Study, weight team, library. Inmates did 9,794 hours of work details in the jail including the kitchen, laundry, painting, cleaning, etc. Inmates housed in minimum security status at the jail annex did 17,956 man days of work details. Of this, 7,690 days were in the community under the court-ordered work release program. Other locations ran the gamut from 3.826 days on the prison farm, green house, and grounds, to 304 days in local municipalities doing trash pickup, dune cleaning, etc. In addition to the correctional division, the sheriff also is responsible for a legal division, charged with providing protection for the courts and enforcing Such civil mandates as serving subpoenas That division collected $112,485 in fees and interest last year.

Maybe the sidewalks," said Stump, "but I don't know about curbs." ' i "In Ocean City, an ordinance requires property owners to do their own curbs," said Kilpatrick. "Our borough inspects and give the property owners so many days," added Evans. ' Where does our responsibility start? There I are many miles of county roads. Next Deni nis or Eldora will come in." "WHEN YOU LOOK at this area and the I income levels and the depressed state it's in," said Stump. "We are trying to revive an obsolete commercial district. These stores can't handle that type of program I # themselves." "I agree," said Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton of Villas. '-'These h- <sinesses do not have the resources." "But Gerry, where do we stop?" asked Evans. "Should the county require all new subdivisions to put in curb and sidewalks?" asked Thornton. "I beg to differ," said Kilpatrick. "All those places are required, aren't they Mr. Jarmer?" "WE'VE TRIED to improve with each site place," responded Planning Director Elwood Jarmer. "but it's not always feasible. Bayshore Road is a difficult area to work with. " "We are requiring it in new construction," said Stump. "Are there any grant possibilities?" asked Freeholder Herbert Frederick. "It's the first thing I checked." said Stump. "They're turned off on sidewalks." "Couldn't you assess them (property owners) over a period of years?" asked Frederick. "We are looking at that," said Stump, "but we need your general support "I AGREE Bayshore Road should be brought back," said Freeholder-Director William E. Strum Jr., "but we want to see the overall plan We agree with the concept . but we are not committing ourselves until we can see the overall study." In his presentation. Stump had said the project would help "revitalize" an area he called "densely populated, and lowerincome." He said the township already is spending $800,000 for housing rehabilitation and $100,000 for rental rehabilitation there "It's a high visibility area for people entering into Lower Township and the Cape Mays." he said. "And there is a lot of traffic and a lot of pedestrains," he added. "It's dangerous. •• There are mothers pushing baby carriages." THORNTON ASKED him if he had "reviewed this with the residents and businesses?" "Yes." said Stump. "We met with the merchants and there is wide support in the whole community. He said a parking study was under way and some municipal lots are underVtonsideration. Stump first proposed the curb and sidewalks in an area north from the Township Hall to Ocean Avenue. But, at the suggestion of Thornton and Sturm, he agreed it should be extended north another half-dozen blocks pass the Millman Center to Miami, almost at the border with Middle Township ! V 1

Flooding at Bayshore Road and Florida Avenue, Villas

/J^NEWS'" Ip^V DIGEST ' // Itl / Week's H jj ! J Top Stories I From Page 4) y I Dead, 2 Injured ^ OCEAN VIEW — Francis Clunn. 44. of Buttercup Road, Wildwood Crest, was killed and his wife Miriam, 44. injured when his car plunged 19 feet from a Garden State Parkway overpass and overturned on Sea Isle City Boulevard ThursdayS State Police said Clunn's car apparently sideswiped a van driven by William Meyers. 50, of Wilson Avenue. Somers Point, crashed through a wooden guardrail and landed on top of an adjoining steel guardrail before falling Miriam Clunn was listed in satisfactory condition Saturday at Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital. Meyers was released after treatment for minor injuries. * Guy Backs (rambling WILDWOOD — Assemblyman Guy F Muziani. who opposed casino gambling when mayor of this city, now says he'll support a proposed six-month. 24-hour gambling experiment Muziani said the reason for his about-face is response from some 180.000 people in the First Legislative District. Cape May and Cumberland counties. Legislation to allow the test period is now before the Assembly Independent and Regional Authorities Committee; Muziani is its vice-chairman Port Authority Cited WOODBINE - The borough's Port Authority has been cited by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for failing to close an automobile driving school in airport grounds. The FAA issued a cease and desist order Jan. 21 because the school did not meet 1 1 FAA requirements that ensure flight safety. Robert B Mendez of the FAA said the authority has promised to call an emergency meeting and draft a resolution ordering the school to close until the requirements are met. Bittner Names Aides OCEAN CITY - Mayor Jack Bittner announced last week he has appointed local school board member Donald Moiso as his campaign manager and tormer elementary Mhool principal Berwyn Hughes as campaign treasurer. Moiso is head of Multi-Media Consultants Inc., and partner in D and B Instant Printing. Hughes retired last year after 35 years as an educator and principal of the Ocean City Primary School.

Bans Floating Homes SEA ISLE CITY — City Commission voted unanimously last week to ban floating homes, floating home marinas and houseboats used as dwelling units because it feared -they would cause , environmental, fire protection and trash pickup problems Its ordinance compliments a state Department of Environmental Protection ban on ^ floating homes instituted last month Debris Prompts Search CAPE MAY — Boat debris, littering a nine-mile stretch of beach from i:tth Street in Ocean City to Sea Isle City, led Coast Guardsmen to search for more wreckage or possible survivors The search began with a helicopter from the base here at 12:51 p.m. Saturday and was called off at 4: 17 p m when no victims were located and authorities were unable to identify the vessel There have been no reports of overdue vessels or ships in distress in recent weeks, according to Coast Guardsman Steve Narynowicz. j City Insures Planners OCEAN CITY — City Council last Thursday passed a resolution that provides insurance coverage to Planning Board members for compensatory damages that may result from a suit filed by Joseph Zaborowski Zaborowski is suing the city for denying site plan approval of a bavfront marina and apartment complex, claiming the board is against the project for prejudicial reasons. The board members are not indemnified for punitive damages related . to the suit Stay Tuned SWAINTON — Joann Pileggi, 22, of Marlton will replace Connie Keane as morning update anchorwoman at WMGM-TV 40 next Monday at 6:45 a m here Citing personal reasons. Keane. 27, of Ocean City said Friday she's leaving for a would-be job as a casino public relations executive. Pileggi. who holds a journalism degree from American University, has six months' experience as news director and broadcast personality from a Cherry Hill radio station. 3-in-One Center OCEAN CITY - City Council last week voted to hire an architect to develop plans for a combined arts center, historical museum, and librarv rather than try to save the old Wesley nvenue School which served as an arts center before it was found to be unsafe. Council acted on a recommendation that funding might be available on a 20 percent grant basis from the state Department of Education Division of the State Library.