VENTNOR – Unfortunately, bad behavior on the part of those who cannot follow the rules is ruining it for those who can.
The Board of Commissioners Thursday, July 12 agreed to undo an ordinance approved earlier this year that provided public access to the dock at the Viking Rowing Club Doc Holland Boathouse on North Surrey Avenue from dawn to dusk, May to September.
“This is an example where we have to look at something we’ve done that we didn’t do correctly,” Commissioner Tim Kriebel said.
Ordinance 2018-012, approved on April 26, extended the lease between the city and the Viking Rowing Foundation to Nov. 22, 2046 and added Section Two, which allowed the facility to be open from dawn to dusk for crabbing but prohibiting swimming because there is no lifeguard on duty.
The change was made to provide more public access for crabbing, commissioners said.
“We have had a little over two weeks for the public to demonstrate whether they are responsible enough to use the dock correctly. Unfortunately, they are not,” Kriebel said.
The Viking Rowing Club provides training and competitive rowing for novice, intermediate and master rowers, and provides summertime rowing camps. The Doc Holland Boathouse is the home of Holy Spirit Crew Team.
Past practice was for club members to unlock the gate when they arrive for rowing activities, usually around 5:30 a.m., and to lock the gate when they leave at 10 a.m., which provided security for the building and the dock.
A sign that said loitering and alcoholic beverages are prohibited was removed and a new sign installed that indicated that crabbing would be allowed from dawn to dusk but that swimming would be prohibited because there is no lifeguard on duty.
Residents whose homes are located along the cove said that since the change adults have been crabbing there, but parents are dropping off their children off to swim unsupervised, there is loud and inappropriate behavior, profanity, large gatherings, pot smoking and drinking, jumping on private docks, urinating on jet skis, dog walking leaving feces behind, and suspected drug activities.
Resident Michael Berenotto presented the commissioners with a petition containing 100 signatures from Surrey Avenue residents asking that something be done to secure the site once again.
“The gate being locked and signage was essential to keeping the security and safety of the area in check,” he said.
“We don’t want children dropped off and swimming unsupervised. We don’t want neighbors to see things they shouldn’t have to see,” Mayor Beth Holtzman said. “I don’t have any problem closing it if people cannot behave in the right way.”
Kriebel said the city would go back to the way it was for years, which kept the area secure, he said.
“This just reinforces that people cannot follow rules, so it’s time to rewind and go back the way it was. It will only be open during Viking Rowing Club hours,” Holtzman said.
Green Acres allows the facility to be locked and secured when it is not in use for its intended purpose, which is for the use of the rowers, Kriebel said.
Solicitor Tim Maguire said the city could reinstall the old signage and lock the gate when club members leave for public safety purposes. However, the revision would have to be codified with an ordinance, he said.
Kriebel said the new ordinance would be introduced at the next commission meeting on July 26.
