Minutes of Commissioners Meeting   -   March 10, 2010

Prior to the opening of the meeting, Mr. Groon led those present in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

The meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Borough of Wildwood Crest, Cape May County , New Jersey , was held in the Municipal Court Room at 9:30 a.m.  On roll call the following answered to their names:

Gould - Cabrera – Groon – Yes

Mr. Groon read the following statement:  In compliance with the Open Public Meeting Act, Chapter 231, P.L. 1975, the notice requirements have been satisfied as to the time, place and date of holding said meeting by posting notice on the bulletin board in the Borough Hall and by mailing same to the Gazette-Leader, the Herald and The Press on October 23, 2009.

Mr. Groon next announced the one-way in and the one-way out method of ingress and egress in case of emergency.

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE BY TITLE ONLY:

ORDINANCE NO. 1095

A CAPITAL ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE PURCHASE OF VARIOUS PIECES OF EQUIPMENT TO BE UTILIZED BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS AND APPROPRIATING THEREFOR THE AMOUNT OF $200,000 FROM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT FUND

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that Ordinance No. 1095 be passed on first reading, advertised according to law, be brought up for second and final reading and public hearing on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 225-10

(Authorizing award of contract to MJJ Construction, LLC for construction of an elevated bandstand at Fern Road Park in the amount of $318,700)

Mr. Cabrera motioned, seconded by Mrs. Gould, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 226-10

(Authorizing award of contract to R A Walters & Son for reconstruction of the Rosemary Road Bayfront Bulkhead Project in the amount of $256,250)

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 227-10

(Authorizing appointment of Terence Graff to serve as Tax Collector effective March 29, 2010 in fulfillment of the unexpired term of Caroline Hennessey, said term expiring December 31, 2012)

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 228-10

(Authorizing the refund of the overpayment of certain property tax or utility payments as recommended by the Tax Collector)

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 229-10

(Authorizing the advertisement of Notice to Bidders in the Herald edition of March 17, 2010 with a bid receipt date of March 30, 2010 for Emergency Sewer Repairs As Required in the Borough of Wildwood Crest)

Mr. Cabrera motioned, seconded by Mrs. Gould, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 230-10

(Authorizing the advertisement of Notice to Bidders in the Herald edition of march 17, 2010 with a bid receipt date of March 30, 2010 for Reconstruction of Tennis and Basketball Courts in the Borough of Wildwood Crest)

Mr. Cabrera motioned, seconded by Mrs. Gould, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 231-10

(Authorizing the advertisement of Notice to Bidders in the Herald edition of March 17, 2010 with an RFP receipt date of April 7, 2010 for Supply, Installation and Service of Vending Machines on Borough-owned property)

Mr. Cabrera motioned, seconded by Mrs. Gould, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 232-10

(Authorizing revision of the Employee Policies and Procedures Manual)

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 233-10

(Designating the Month of March as “Women’s History Month” in the Borough)

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 234-10

(Authorizing award of professional services contract to White-Harris Telecommunications at the not to exceed contract of $2600 on the basis of hourly billing at $65 to perform an analysis of telephone and wireless bills with a recommendation for consideration of modification and/or consolidation of services)

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

THE CLERK READ THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION BY TITLE ONLY:

RESOLUTION NO. 235-10

(Authorizing an Emergency Temporary Appropriation in the amount of $25,000 for Police O/E)

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that the foregoing Resolution be adopted.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Cabrera, that all bills properly authorized, as submitted and which appear in full herein below, be paid.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

The first matter for discussion was the UCC carry-over inspections. The Clerk reported that he had not heard from the City of Wildwood regarding the request for funds to be returned specifically for outstanding permits for the last two year period. That amount for Wildwood Crest would be slightly less than $40,000. The City of North Wildwood has also made a similar request.

With regard to the beach maintenance project, the Clerk reported that the contractor working on the project had completed work down to Rosemary Road . The likelihood was good that the work needed to comply with the sensitive areas will be completed by the March 15, 2010 deadline, but south of Rambler Road may be difficult. The Clerk indicated that Kristin Wildman of Lomax Consulting provided notice that the Borough will need the additional time to perhaps March 31, 2010 to complete the project. The Engineer indicated that he had emphasized to the contractor the importance of expediting project.

The Clerk reported that the Borough has been successful in having the dune system, which was decimated during recent storms, to result in additional funding from FEMA to the tune of slightly over $1M. The Engineer stated that the Borough would be receiving 75% of the cost involved. Mr. Cabrera inquired if the current emergency work being done on the beach would be eligible for FEMA relief. The Engineer responded that a portion of it would be eligible.

The Clerk advised that he had reviewed the sewer jet/catch basin cleaner bids with the Superintendent of Public Works, in light of the legal opinion from the Solicitor as to the amount bid, as well as the concern that the Borough received only one bid for the equipment. The Superintendent indicated that it was his opinion that if the specifications were to be re-drawn to enable more competitive bidding, the Borough may be able to realize a lesser bid for the vehicle, inclusive of the camera. The Clerk stated that should the governing body wish to proceed in that direction, authorization would be required to reject the bid received, and to authorize the re-advertisement of bids. Mrs. Gould asked the Superintendent of Public Works as to the condition of the current sewer vac. The Superintendent responded that it is in good shape and still works, and that if the governing body should desire to re-bid, there would be no problem. Mr. Cabrera stated that the video attachment was imperative. The Clerk stated that, based upon his conversations with the Superintendent, with other potential bidders, that the Borough may be able to come close to the bonded amount, inclusive of the video attachment. It was decided to reject the bid received, and hold off re-bidding pending receipt of further information from the Superintendent.

The Clerk presented a proposed press release to the governing body for their review regarding the Seaview Avenue project. He indicated that the purpose of the press release was to explain to the public the fact that debt service is a driving force in the Borough’s increases to the annual budget. He stated that should the governing body wish to expand the press release to include other expenditures such as health insurance, negotiated wage increases, etc., it could be done.

With regard to the Rambler Road Park Project, the Clerk indicated that it is critical from a timeframe standpoint that the Borough move forward or the grant money received will be withdrawn. He indicated that the project must be awarded by September 2010. In that regard, the Clerk inquired of the Engineer whether the money could be utilized for handicapped accessible restrooms if it is not utilized for a parking lot. The Engineer responded that he would have to review the grant, that he thought it would apply, and that everything must be ADA related.  Mr. Groon stated that the governing body is not in agreement with how to proceed with the project, and it was his suggestion that the scope of the project be reduced, to only construct the restrooms and upgrade the Nesbitt Center . Secondary to that, he suggested utilizing the bikepath grant funds (which expires in August 2011) to improve the exit onto Rambler Road and to upgrade the three or four blocks between the Centennial Park and the entrance. It was his opinion that the entire project could be completed by fall 2010.

Mrs. Gould asked what would happen to the gazebo. Mr. Groon responded that it would remain where it is. Additionally, the landscaping would not be necessary, which would be a cost savings.

Mr. Cabrera summarized by stating that Phase I would be renovations to the Nesbitt Center to include bathrooms, the improvement of the Rambler Road bikepath access and the next four blocks. He added that no parking lot would be included in Phase I. Mr. Groon concurred. Mr. Cabrera stated that the bike stand is in need of repair. The Clerk interjected that the tenant is willing to enhance the area, but they have been reluctant to do so because they had been put on notice by the Borough that the stand would be moving.

Mr. Cabrera advised that it was the “piecemeal” aspect that had him concerned, because all portions of the project needed an architectural cohesiveness. He added that he did not have a problem with phasing the project as long as the Borough had a long-term plan. Mr. Groon responded that he did not see a long-term plan being possible at this point. He added that he was putting forth a plan for the most important aspect, which was the bathrooms. Mrs. Gould agreed.

Mrs. Gould indicated that, in light of the current economy, she agreed with Mr. Groon that the bathrooms should be done since they are necessary, but the rest of the project should be put on hold. She added that if things get better with the economy, perhaps the rest of the project could be addressed at that time.

Mr. Cabrera asked to be permitted to review the plan and return with a phased plan. He added that he was hearing that the governing body would like to do something in the area, but that there were concerns. Mr. Groon stated that with regard to the long-term plan, he was reluctant to proceed. He added that a decision would not be made at this meeting, but that he was reminding the governing body of the timeframe and that the Borough is out of time for more delays.

It was decided that the matter would be placed on the agenda of March 24, 2010 for further discussion of any new suggestions brought forth by Mr. Cabrera.

There being no further matters for discussion, Mrs. Gould motioned, seconded by Mr. Groon, that the meeting be adjourned.

Vote:          Gould-Cabrera-Groon-Yes

Dated:        March 24, 2010

Kevin M. Yecco, Borough Clerk