The Downbeach communities of Ventnor, Margate and Longport are collaborating to help keep residents and visitors safe during an emergency while saving money for taxpayers.
Longport will be the lead agency on a NJ Department of Community Affairs Division of Local Government Services’ Local Efficiency Achievement Program (LEAP) grant application that would allow CRS Rating System communities to share in the cost of purchasing the Forerunner software program used for floodplain management.
“That would be a great package for those of us who have to do floodplain management,” Longport Emergency Management Coordinator Bruce Funk said.
The Longport Board of Commissioners Wednesday, Feb. 9 approved a resolution authorizing the borough to apply for the grant. Other communities that are being asked to join the shared services agreement include Ventnor, Margate, Brigantine, and Linwood and Somers Point, Funk said.
The DCA grant program, which was launched by Gov. Phil Murphy in 2018, is designed to provide financial support for communities that share services, reduce costs for taxpayers and deliver municipal services more efficiently.
Challenge grants offer up to $150,000 to municipalities and counties, implementation grants cover the one-time cost of shared services activities, and a county coordinator fellowship grant provides counties with $50,000 toward hiring a fellow to coordinate shared services within municipalities.
Former Ventnor Mayor Tim Kreisher is currently Atlantic County’s fellow. Kreisher made the rounds at local commission meetings to educate municipal representatives about the program and has encouraged towns to apply for funding.
Atlantic County was awarded a challenge grant for municipal court consolidation. Several municipalities, including Ventnor City, have joined forces to conduct municipal courts at the historic Atlantic County Courthouse in downtown Mays Landing.
The Buena Regional High School District was also awarded a $30,000 grant to study the feasibility of consolidating its sending districts of Buena, Estell Manor and Weymouth Township.
All three Downbeach communities are participating in a second LEAP grant application, with Ventnor City in the lead, to purchase a mobile emergency command center trailer that can be used for active emergencies and major community events.
Ventnor Fire Chief Michael Cahill said he attended classes last summer on emergency management and realized that none of the Downbeach communities were properly equipped and staffed to effectively operate in a central location during an emergency situation.
The grant, if approved, will provide 75% of the cost of purchasing a used “toy” hauler trailer that can be equipped as a mobile office, technology and command center.
“This is a no-brainer and will be a valuable mobile tool for all of our Downbeach communities,” he said. “I have had to do paperwork on the hood of a vehicle or in a car. We need to be able to set up a secure location to operate out of.”
Cahill said the towns are requesting $50,000 to purchase the trailer, with the remaining 25% of the cost being split between the towns.
He called the command trailer “a point of common interest” gleaned from joint meetings with Downbeach OEM officials, and the communities agreed to continue holding quarterly meetings to determine other ways to enhance public safety services to the community and save taxpayer dollars.
Cahill said he estimates the 22-foot trailer will cost each community about $5,000 and each town would contribute supplies and equipment already on hand along with some “sweat equity” to set up the command center.
He imagines the trailer can be easily pulled up to a location, such as the Seafood Festival in Ventnor or Fall Funfest in Margate, the rear gate can drop to platform level, and police and fire personnel will be able to operate without having to set up and break down tents and tables and depend on their cell phones for WiFi.
Funk said Longport is currently using the Forerunner software program, which he said makes it easier to enforce floodplain management regulations. The grant would cover 75% of the $125,000 cost of purchasing the software program for all the towns.
“If we can get five communities to get on board, it will only cost them about $6,000 over a three-year period,” he said.
The grant applications are due to the DCA on March 31.
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