VENTNOR – The Board of Commissioners Thursday, Sept. 12 held its first department head briefing since spring. During the meeting, commissioners received reports from department heads about what’s going on in their departments.
IT Supervisor James Pacanowski said that municipal tax maps will be updated electronically each year as part of a contract with Remingon & Vernick engineers. He asked city officials to decide on the style of new doors being ordered for the second floor of City Hall. The doors are being upgraded to accommodate an enhanced security system for the municipal building.
Tax Assessor Bill Crowther reported on added assessments for 2019 in comparison to prior years. Crowther said the city increased assessments by $13 million in 2017, $14.4 million in 2018 and $14.2 million has been added to the tax rolls in 2019 with several months remaining in the year.
Susan Van Duyne Hunter reported that all of the summer art camps held at the Ventnor Cultural Arts Center were sold out. Registrations are being accepted for fall programs. Upcoming events include senior artists participating in a statewide competition being held in Princeton in October and the Holiday Crafts Show in early December. The center will investigate the cost of replacing sections of a brick walkway where several engraved bricks have deteriorated.
Public Works Supervisor Ed Stinson reported that now that summer crowds have waned, the department has cut back on beach maintenance and has removed trash receptacles from the beach. The department will be repairing several boardwalk ramps. Following a delay by the contractor, the Fireman’s Playground is now under construction. Titus Field will be the next playground to be completed, hopefully within a few weeks, he said.
Utility Supervisor Ernie Gratz reported summer water flow was on target with water consumption in past years, with 251 million gallons consumed during June, July and August. The department is also considering replacing several fire hydrants.
City Clerk Lisa Hand reported that beach tag sales were up more than $50,000 over last year. The city’s beach tag revenue was $299,000 this year as compared to $246,000 in summer 2018.
Chief Financial Officer Albert Stanley said the state approved the city’s request to go to permanent financing on previously issued bonds, including repayment of $2.5 million received in a $5 million emergency stabilization grant the state issued when Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey shore in 2012. The bond sale will be held on Oct. 8 and repayment of the debt was structured so there will be no impact on the tax rate.
Police Chief Douglas Biagi gave his “100 Days of Summer” report. The city received 5,228 calls for service during the summer months, including 130 automobile accidents, 115 domestic violence incidents and 150 ordinance violations. The city had 19 burglaries, 49 stolen bicycles and 97 car burglaries. Biagi said most of the burglaries were because people left their garage or car doors unlocked. He also reported that the state-imposed smoking ban on was a “non-issue,” with no summonses issued, mostly due to education and extra police patrols by with Class II officers riding quads on the beach. Next year, the city will consider purchasing cigarette receptacles for the boardwalk.
Commissioner Lance Landgraf reported that the Atlantic Avenue streetscape project has restarted after the project was shut down for the summer season. The pause in work allowed the city to “tweak” some of the design elements, he said.
In other business, Hand announced that the Sept. 26 Board of Commissioners meeting has been cancelled.
The next regular commission meeting will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10. Mayor Beth Holtzman said Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson would be in attendance.
