By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – The Board of Commissioners Thursday, Sept. 22 introduced two new bond ordinances to finance capital projects totaling $7,348,000.
Bond Ordinance 2022-17 will appropriate $1,475,000 for improvements to the city’s water and sewer utility. The bond will pay for acquisition and installation of utility equipment, non-passenger vehicles, new fire hydrants and water meters, an excavator, beach showers on the boardwalk, fuel tank and emergency generator for the main water and sewer plant for a total cost of $740,000. The bond will also appropriate $735,000 for infrastructure improvements to Well No. 5, security upgrades at various locations, HVAC improvements at the main plant, replacement of a water pump at the Public Works pump station and various other unspecified improvements.
Bond Ordinance 2022-18 will appropriate $5,873,000 for general capital improvements for various departments. The bond appropriates $1,020,000 for the Police Department to purchase and install vehicles, technology hardware and software, and related equipment, including drones. Improvements to the facility include new carpeting and replacement of furnishings.
The Public Works Department will see $870,000 reserved for field maintenance equipment, a tire machine, fuel management system, bucket, dump and mechanics trucks and a salt spreader. Public Works infrastructure improvements include drainage improvements, to Ventnor Gardens and Fulton Avenue pump stations, improvements to the boardwalk, a vehicle ramp replacement, and construction of a band shelter at the beachfront park on Newport Avenue. Other improvements will be made to the city’s recreation areas, including playgrounds, tennis and pickleball courts, security upgrades at City Hall and community building, bulkhead replacements, roadway reconstruction and installation of parking meters.
The Fire Department will have $885,000 reserved for protective and lifesaving equipment, replacement of an ambulance and a utility vehicle. It also includes upgrades to fire stations, including new rest rooms, HVAC systems and sprinklers at Fire Station 1.
The Beach Patrol will also have $213,000 reserved for equipment, non-passenger vehicles, rescue equipment, utility vehicles, and furniture for Beach Patrol Headquarters, which is currently under construction on the boardwalk at Suffolk Avenue.
Public hearings on the ordinances will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13 at City Hall.
In other business, the board accepted the resignation of certified Chief Financial Officer Al Stanley who is leaving to work in another municipality.
Stanley, who previously worked in Medford, was hired in February 2019 to replace Toro Aboderin who left to work in Atlantic City. During his time in Ventnor, Stanley was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Hero Award, for going above and beyond despite obstacles during the COVID-19 pandemic,
The board also promoted John Conner to assistant supervisor of Public Works.
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