2024 CAPE ISLAND YEAR IN REVIEW

JANUARY

CAPE MAY — During a meeting Jan. 11, Municipal Taxation and Revenue Advisory Committee Chairman Dennis Crowley said as a fourth-class city, Cape May has the right to add a 1 percent sales tax to various commodities and use the money to fund a comprehensive shuttle service.Washington Street Mall merchants went on record opposing it.

CAPE MAY POINT — The borough began a contract with a new trash hauler, Pine­land Construction, bringing about some changes for property owners. At a Jan. 23 Borough Commis­sion meeting, Commissioner Catherine Busch said the new contract did not include bulk item pickup, which would be handled by the borough’s De­partment of Public Works. 

CAPE MAY — Hotelier and real estate developer Curtis Bashaw an­nounced his candidacy seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate for New Jersey. “I’m running for United States Senate because we, as a nation, need to get back to our basic core val­ues of liberty, prosperity and the pursuit of happi­ness,” Bashaw stated in a news release. He eventually lost to Democrat Andy Kim.

WEST CAPE MAY — Bor­ough Commission amended an ordinance covering the removal of trees, adding lan­guage to clarify the defini­tion of a replacement tree and stating one must be planted within one year of its removal and must be select­ed from the Shade Tree Commission’s list of approved trees.

FEBRUARY

CAPE MAY — City Council introduced an or­dinance authorizing fees for the use of city-owned electric vehicle charging stations at City Hall and the Welcome Center. The cost is $1.75 per hour for the first four hours, $3.50 per hour thereafter and 40 cents per kilowatt hour increas­ing to 25 cents per minute after one hour. The hourly fee would address vehicles left con­nected to the charging station after they have charged. 

WEST CAPE MAY — The owners of cannabis dispensary Shore House Canna asked Borough Commission for a letter of support to the state to allow them to grow marijuana and industrial hemp on the 100-year-old Rea Farm. To permit the growth of high-THC marijuana on the farm, Borough Commis­sion would have to change an ordinance or have the Zoning/Planning Board grant a variance because the property is within 1,000 feet of residences. In addition to cultivating marijuana, plans called for a manufacturing barn on the farm. 

MARCH

CAPE MAY — Mayor Zack Mullock said he was taken aback by a Star and Wave story quoting Dennis Crowley, chairman of the Municipal Taxation and Revenue Advisory Committee, stating a bond that financed Convention Hall had never been paid off and the city still owed $3.5 million. On March 5, Mullock said the bond was scheduled to be paid off in 14 years. It was issued in 2013 for $10.7 million. 

CAPE MAY — The city awarded a one-year, $12,000 lease to Revolu­tion Rail for a portion of the Welcome Center. The company plans to put an information desk in an unused space in the north­west section of the building. Revolution Rail rents rail bikes for use on railroad tracks from the Welcome Center ending at the bridge over the Cape May Canal. 

WEST CAPE MAY — Borough Commission in­troduced its 2024 munici­pal budget with a half-cent increase in the local pur­pose tax rate, which increased from 42.6 cents to 43.1 cents per $100 of as­sessed value. The local purpose tax levy increased $49,379 to $2,305,448. 

CAPE MAY — For the fifth year in a row, the city had no increase in the local purpose tax rate of 36.1 cents per $100 of assessed value. City Manager Paul Di­etrich presented the $26.8 million budget March 19. He said the city’s surplus account had more than $14 million, $5.9 million of which would be used for the budget. 

CAPE MAY — Business Administra­tor John Thomas said March 21 the school received a new category of state aid for military students of more than $1 million. That helped the Cape May City Ele­mentary School Board of Education reduce its tax rate by nearly 15 percent. The tax levy for the 2024-25 spending plan remained at $1.9 mil­lion, while the local pur­pose tax rate fell from 48 cents to 41 cents per $100 of assessed value. 

WEST CAPE MAY — Borough Commission in­troduced an ordinance to limit the number of retail cannabis dispensaries to one. The borough’s ordi­nance governing canna­bis dispensaries, passed in 2021, included no limit. Shore House Canna opened in October 2023 on Sunset Boulevard. A sec­ond cannabis dispensary was proposed for the lo­cation of Cape May Linen on Sunset Boulevard un­der the name of Potent Petals. During a meeting March 27, Mayor Carol Sabo said the ordinance would allow only one dispensary to operate except any li­censee that has received a resolution of support prior to March 31, 2022.

CAPE MAY — The city’s Historic Preserva­tion Commission and the Center for Com­munity Arts each received state awards to celebrate the individu­als and organizations that make significant contri­butions to the preserva­tion of history. On March 19, City Manager Paul Dietrich said Cape May was rec­ognized March 5 with the New Jersey Historical Commission’s Award of Recognition for the city’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). Lt. Gov. Tahesha L. Way congratulated the HPC for its commitment to preserve architectural heritage and addressing common challenges faced by historic communities nationwide. 

APRIL

CAPE MAY — Having difficulty getting parts for the mechanical parking meters that accept coins, Cape May removed meters on Beach Avenue on the side opposite the Promenade as part of a pav­ing project. Parking there now requires the use of the ParkMobile app. On April 2, City Council said all parking kiosks were removed and park­ing behind the Washington Street Mall and Jackson Street now requires use of ParkMobile.

WEST CAPE MAY — Borough residents were not happy seeing dump trucks making hundreds of trips on local streets as part of a $37 million proj­ect to restore tidal flow to the marsh, enhancing a de­graded upland area and the existing wildlife habitat of Higbee Beach. A large volume of soil was being trucked to the site. A limitation of five daily dump truck deliveries was in place during the sum­mer months. Overall volume of mate­rials expected to be import­ed was 150,000 cubic yards, about 10,000 to 13,000 dump trucks. 

CAPE MAY POINT — Borough Commission ap­proved its $2.4 million municipal budget with a local purpose tax of $1.7 million. The local purpose tax rate was increasing from 33.4 cents to 34.8 cents per $100 of assessed value. Net spending in the bud­get was up about $125,000, driven by an additional $30,000 in salaries and wages, a $47,000 increase in trash and recycling costs, in­surance costs rising about $14,000 and pension and unemployment costs up about $25,000.

WEST CAPE MAY — In a 2-1 vote, Borough Com­mission approved its 2024 municipal budget with a half-cent increase in the lo­cal purpose tax rate, which increased to 43.1 cents per $100 of assessed value. The local purpose tax levy was rising from  $49,379 to $2,305,448.

CAPE MAY — Queen May Jewelry on the Washington Street Mall was burglarized just before 3 a.m. May 5, when the perpetrators stole merchandise valued in excess of $300,000, according to its owners. Security camera video was posted to social media later in the day showing glass in the front door of the store being smashed, allowing entry of two persons while a third remained outside to receive the items. Stolen items included designer handbags and jewelry.

CAPE MAY —The town was dressed to resemble Newport in late May for filming of a biopic about Bob Dylan at the Washington Street Mall and the Cape May-Lewes Ferry terminal. The town was abuzz, filled with actors and extras for crowd scenes. The movie is entitled “A Complete Unknown,” based on lyrics from Dylan’s song “Like A Rolling Stone.” The movie stars Timothée Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan. 

CAPE MAY — The city’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) approved an update of its design standards for restoration and new construction for the first time in more than 20 years. On May 15, Steven Smolyn, of Architectural Heritage Consultants, presented a final draft of the HPC’s updated historic design standards. He said the new standards book would be available online. 

CAPE MAY — The city received a $400,000 check from the county to be used for infrastructure projects, part of $6.4 million in grant awards to all county municipalities. The grants are to be used for priority drinking water, storm water, and sanitary sewer infrastructure projects in each of the 16 municipalities in the county.

JUNE

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE — The New Jersey Superior Court in Cape May County approved Cape Regional Health System joining Cooper University Health Care. The transaction was an­nounced in December 2022, followed by execution of a De­finitive Agreement in April 2023. Since then, Cooper and Cape Regional have worked through the necessary regula­tory approvals.

CAPE MAY — Cape May hotelier and developer Curtis Bashaw secured the Republican Party nomination for U.S. Senate on June 4, defeating Christine Serrano Glassner with 45.6 percent of the vote to Serrano Glassner’s 38.6 percent. A victory celebration for Bashaw was held in Congress Hall’s ballroom, which was filled with supporters and most of the members of the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners. 

CAPE MAY — With its budget in place, City Council introduced more than $12 million in bonds to pay for repairs to roads and the Promenade and to purchase equipment for the police, fire and water/sewer departments. 

CAPE MAY — A new 16,000-square-foot county library branch, inside the restored Franklin Street School, was dedicated June 13 with a book bri­gade from the old library and a ribbon cutting. The school opened in 1928 as an elementary school for black children. The students did not have access to a gymnasium at­tached to the building and used only by the white stu­dents at the neighboring high school. The wall separating the gym and school has been demolished except for a small section left as re­minder of segregation. The ceremonial events began with sev­eral hundred participants passing books hand to had from the old library on Ocean Street, around the corner onto Washing­ton Street, and up Franklin Street to the new library. 

CAPE MAY — Digital beach tags are in operation and more parking spaces are planned for the area of City Hall and the new library on Franklin Street. On June 18, City Manager Paul Dietrich said digital beach tags were rolled out the previous weekend. The city is offering two options for the tags, a full digital phone version or a physical tag that can be pur­chased using a credit card. Dietrich said a daily tag is avail­able fully digital and compared the process to making a dinner reser­vation online. Beachgoers can sim­ply show the tag on their phone to beach taggers, he said.

CAPE MAY — City Coun­cil passed an ordinance to implement state-mandated lead-based paint inspec­tions for long-term rental units The ordinance does not require inspections of short-term rental units but coun­cil did not rule out such in­spections in the future. The state was imposing the obligation on every munici­pality.

JULY

WEST CAPE MAY — Spotted lanternflies arrived in the borough, attracted to the tree of heaven and also willing to dine on grape vines — not a happy prospect for a town with a large vineyard. At a June 26 Borough Commission meeting, Mayor Carol Sabo said spotted lanternflies had been found on several properties. Sabo said lanternflies also feed on grapevines, maples and black walnuts. The borough was applying for a $20,000 grant from the state Department of Agriculture that would help with remediation and treatment.

WEST CAPE MAY — The borough’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) wanted to extend the historic dis­trict by adding properties missed when the commission came into being in 2016, but poor records were holding it up. At a July 10 Borough Commission meeting, Mayor Carol Sabo said she wished to review surveys of some of the homes. She said the borough has a full cadre of surveys for properties pro­posed to be included in the extension. 

CAPE MAY — The city’s police department dedicated its new HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers-themed SUV on July 6, a Chevro­let Tahoe, dedicated to the memory of John E. Elliott, who was killed in a collision with a drunken driver 24 years ago, just two months after graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy. The ceremony was held in front of the Grand Hotel prior to the Independence Day Parade. John Elliot lost his life on his mother’s birthday. Since that time, his parents, Bill and Muriel Elliot, have operated the cam­paign to prevent drunken driving. 

CAPE MAY — Lightning struck City Hall about 8:20 a.m. July 12, shearing off a VHF radio antenna on a mast and sending a surge through the building that forced City Hall to close for the day. City Manager Paul Dietrich said the lightning strike may have been on the center of Ocean Street. A surge followed a microwave network antenna cable into City Hall, he said. City Hall was also struck by lightning in July 2021, destroying the police department’s radio dispatching equipment. 

CAPE MAY — City Council approved a sublease agreement with Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) to return temporary use of portions of the Lafayette Street Park to the city subject to review by the utility. At a July 16 meeting, city solicitor Chris Gillin-Schwartz said the city had an access agreement with JCP&L with various deed notices associated with the lots in the area of St. John and Lafayette streets, an area that includes the dog park and open space. The agreement covers lots owned by the city and some owned by JCP&L, granting the city the ability to purchase the lots at no cost at the conclusion of the remediation process. The last remaining deed notice needed was from the Cape May Housing Authority, which needed approval from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

WEST CAPE MAY — Proposed new state rules to address sea level rise with stricter regulations of flood zones have the potential of requiring first floors at a height 14 feet and place many homes in a flood inun­dation zone that previously were not in that classifica­tion. Environmental consultant Peter Lomax was hired by the county to present infor­mation to municipalities on the proposed regulations. He presented maps and an­swered questions at Borough Commission’s meeting July 24. He said by the year 2100, 44 percent of the borough would be permanently un­der water if sea level pre­dictions are correct. Lomax said much of the water would come from the west, extending through wetlands and from Delaware Bay. The regulations are built on the work of a Rutgers University science and tech­nical advisory panel project­ing various heights of sea level rise.

CAPE MAY POINT — Jenna Parker of the Harvey Cedars Beach Pa­trol won the 16th annual Cape May Point Women’s Lifeguard Challenge for the sixth time. Last year, Parker placed second, turning in a time just 3 seconds short of the winner’s 24 minutes. The race consists of a consecutive 1.3-mile soft sand run, one-mile ocean paddle and half-mile swim. 

AUGUST

CAPE MAY — The state Historic Preservation Office informed the city that its nomi­nation for the historic district to recognize the contributions of the African American community during the city’s period of signifi­cance had been accepted, which placed the amended district on the state Register of Historic Places. The petition was also submit­ted to the National Parks Ser­vice, Department of the Interior to recognize African American contributions to Cape May’s Na­tional Historic Landmark status, according to City Manager Paul Dietrich. 

CAPE MAY — The Taxpayers Asso­ciation of Cape May pub­lished a comparison of property taxes in nearby beach towns, placing Cape May at the low end of the scale. According to the group, Cape May is unique in many ways, not the least of which is the healthy balance by which it raises revenue to sup­port its spending. 

CAPE MAY — City Council awarded a $2.1 million contract for the purchase of a new ladder truck for the Cape May Fire Depart­ment through the HGAC Cooperative.

CAPE MAY — City Coun­cil approved an ordinance requiring takeout food res­taurants to provide trash cans for food containers. Officials targeted “to-go” establishments, in particular ice cream and pizza shops, that customarily use single-use packaging that burdens public trash cans emptied by the city, particularly on the Promenade and Washington Street Mall

CAPE MAY — With the deadline of 4 p.m. Aug. 22 passed, candidates in Cape May’s mayoral and City Council elections submitted their pe­titions to be on the Nov. 5 ballot. Petitions were submitted by Stephen Bodnar, Jo­ell Perez, Mark DiSanto and Lori Schwartz for one available council seat. Incumbent Mayor Zack Mullock submitted peti­tions and was running unop­posed.

SEPTEMBER

CAPE MAY — The city realized an increase of almost $474,000 in beach tag revenue this summer over last season. At a Sept. 3 City Council meet­ing, City Manager Paul Dietrich said 1,700 more tags were sold than in 2023. The number of sea­sonal tags sold decreased by 269 but 428 more commercial tags were sold. Dietrich theorized that some seasonal beach tag buyers instead purchased commercial tags. 

CAPE MAY — Develop­ment fees have not been updated since 2020 and City Council has intro­duced an ordinance to raise them. At a Sept. 3 meeting, City Manager Paul Di­etrich said the Planning Board conducted a countywide survey of development fees. About 30 percent of ap­plications submitted to boards require additional fees, and the board ad­ministrator must track down the applicants and recoup the fees, Dietrich said. 

CAPE MAY — The city’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Ad­visory Committee (BAPAC) discussed a draft plan from GPI, a consultant team de­veloping the Cape Island Road Safety Action Plan. Com­mittee members reviewed the plan Sept. 11. The goal was to develop a plan to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on public roads on Cape Island. BAPAC Chairman Jeff Vecere said the number one candidate for improvements was the intersec­tion of Lafayette, Bank and Decatur streets.

TRENTON — Cape May City Manager Paul Dietrich told the Department of Environmental Protection that proposed climate change regulations are too strict, too soon. “Our towns have understood the need to build higher and be more resilient for years, but these proposed regulations just go a little bit too far at one time,” he said during the DEP’s third and final online public hearing Sept. 19 regarding the proposals. Known as Protection Against Climate Threat (PACT) and Re­silient Environmental and Land­scapes (REAL), the regulations would raise the required height of first floors in new construction and create new flood inundation zones. 

CAPE MAY —  City Council approved an ordinance to allow weekend and evening parking in the City Hall lot and establish metered parking hours. After hours and during the weekend, City Hall is generally closed other than the police sta­tion and adjacent fire station. Only city-authorized personnel may park in the lot between 7:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. except in ar­eas designated by signs. The ordinance provides pub­lic parking for those conducting official business at City Hall, which includes attendance at public meetings or pickup and delivery to City Hall offices.

OCTOBER

CAPE MAY — City Council approved increasing the amount of emergency funds for repair of equipment in City Hall damaged by a July 12 lightning strike from $250,000 to $450,000. Deputy City Manager Justin Riggs said the Joint Insurance Fund was paying all costs minus a $1,000 deductible. Riggs said the HVAC controls were impacted by the lightning strike, which took time for a vendor to determine. That added cost to the claim. 

CAPE MAY — The city was anx­ious to replace its aging firehouse due to the instability of the building and rampant mold, but Cape May’s new firehouse had also de­veloped a mold problem. At a Oct. 1 meeting, council ap­proved a contract with ServePro for mold remediation at the new facility. City Manager Paul Dietrich said during the summer, condensate leaks were discovered throughout the building. Dietrich said the subcontrac­tor worked to correct the issues at the later stage of summer. 

CAPE MAY — City Council authorized plac­ing two projects out to bid — a nature trail be­hind Cape May City El­ementary School and the next phase of Lafayette Street Park, which in­cludes improvements closest to the school, an open play area, dog park, pavilions and bocce ball court. City Manager Paul Dietrich said Oct. 1 that the city has received preliminary ap­proval from the county Open Space Board for funding of about 90% of the cost of the nature trail. He said the $1.9 million grant still needs to be approved by the county Board of Commis­sioners. 

WEST CAPE MAY — In the past 12 months, the borough has received more than $206,000 in taxes from its cannabis dispensary, Shore House Canna. In West Cape May’s 2024 municipal budget, $50,000 represented a penny on the tax rate. 

CAPE MAY — City Council approved an ordi­nance amending city code licensing fees, which had not been raised in 20 years. Mercantile fees on average would increase $50 to $75. City Manager Paul Diet­rich said Sept. 3 the city looked at recommendations for rais­ing the fees from the Mu­nicipal Taxation and Rev­enue Advisory Committee and consolidated and removed eight to nine codes and added two to three activities that needed mercantile licenses.

CAPE MAY — By switching from the state health benefits program to AmeriHealth, the city will save $800,000 next year and save employees an average of $1,600. At a Sept. 15 meeting, City Council approved a contract with Ameri­Health to insure city em­ployees and retirees. Mayor Zack Mullock said the city’s health insurance costs through the state benefits program increased about 24% in 2021 and 12% in 2023.

CAPE MAY POINT — Pre-season discounted seasonal beach tag fees will increase in 2025. This increase comes from offsetting increases in the beach program budget due to the increase in mini­mum wage. The per person cost prior to May 31 will increase from $36 to $40. After May 31, the cost increases from $45 to $50. 

CAPE MAY — The city will undertake a cam­paign of removing tree-of-heaven, a favorite host of spotted lanternflies, to quell the population of the invasive and destructive insects. The city has $20,000 in grant funds from the state Department of Agriculture to control the insects. A subcommittee of the city’s Shade Tree Com­mission will oversee the issue.

CAPE MAY — City Council ap­proved a $210,000 construction management agreement with the Cumberland County Improve­ment Authority prior to having a shovel in the ground for a new police station on a corner of La­fayette Street Park. City Manager Paul Dietrich said the CCIA had a construction management agreement with the county for the Franklin Street School restoration. 

WEST CAPE MAY — While the borough has a historic dis­trict, many residents and visi­tors are unaware of where it is located. At an Oct. 24 Borough Commission meeting, Com­missioner Jack Antonicello said a study was conducted in 2008 of the business dis­trict that included apartments over the second floor of some businesses and also looked at streetscape such as lampposts, benches and a town clock. He said the borough should establish its identity with beautification such as chang­ing lampposts and installing street signs indicating where the historic district is located.

CAPE MAY POINT — Homeowners received a bright orange mailer from the water and sewer de­partment informing them the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has required the borough to inform resi­dents there is a possibility they have a lead service water line on their side of the property. At an Oct. 22 Borough Commission meeting, Pub­lic Works Director Bill Gibson said homeowners needed to check their in­frastructure in their homes because the DEP is con­cerned about galvanized lead water lines in homes.

NOVEMBER

CAPE MAY — Children at Broad Street Court at the Cape May Hous­ing Authority complex have a new playground and pavilion to enjoy thanks to the generosity of the com­munity. City and county officials and mem­bers of Cape May Cares and the Fund for Cape May cut a ceremonial ribbon Oct. 30 on the new sliding boards and pavilion. The Fund for Cape May raised $48,000 for the project during the annual Ice Ball at Congress Hall.

CAPE MAY — The latest damage cost from a July 12 lightning strike to City Hall and a radio tower that sheared off a VHF radio antenna on a mast and sent a surge through the build­ing that damaged comput­ers, network cards, serv­ers, and the phone system is $347,000. 

OCEAN CITY — Atlantic Cape Community College trustee Christina Clemans was one of four inspira­tional Cape May County women honored by the Atlantic Cape Foundation and the Cape May County Women’s Commission dur­ing the annual Women of Wonder Luncheon on Nov. 14 at The Flanders Hotel in Ocean City. Clemans, who has served on the Atlantic Cape board of trustees for the past 10 years, was honored along with Deborah Brasch, Amy Mahon and Chaplain Denise Venturini-South. 

CAPE MAY — In the Nov. 5 general election, Mayor Zack Mullock ran unopposed and received 1,065 votes. Stephen Bodnar was elected to one open council seat, receiving 623 votes. Lori Schwartz trailed with 271 votes, Mark DiSanto with 143 votes and Joell Perez with 139 votes.

CAPE MAY — City Coun­cil tabled an ordinance that would establish limits on recycling collection and re­quire private collection for amounts exceeding those limits. The proposed ordinance came into being after the Department of Public Works reviewed recycling prac­tices throughout the city and noted increased burdens from commercial properties placing large amounts of re­cycling curbside. The ordinance would limit recycling collection to two 96-gallon cans for a total of 192 gallons, which equates to a pile of cardboard 48 inches by 36 inches by 28 inches. 

CAPE MAY — City Coun­cil authorized upgrades and repair of the heating and air conditioning system in Con­vention Hall at a total cost of $841,000. A contract through the state purchasing program was awarded to Multi Temp Mechanical for upgrade of controls at a cost of $194,987, replacement of a cooling tower at $220,572 and replacement of heat pumps at a cost of $425,611.

CAPE MAY — Historic Preservation Commission Chairman Warren Coup­land retired from the HPC at the end of Decem­ber. “There is no circum­stance that prompts that decision except for the celebration of my 79th birthday,” he said Nov. 25 during an HPC meeting. “Since joining the HPC in 2007, I’m proud to be able to share in our collective success.” 

WEST CAPE MAY — Bor­ough Commission autho­rized Mayor Carol Sabo to sign closing documents to transfer two borough-owned lots to Habitat for Humanity for the construction of two homes to fulfill West Cape May’s affordable housing obligations. The borough secured an immunity order to protect itself from all exclusionary zoning lawsuits, including builder’s remedy proceed­ings, while it pursued ap­proval of its Housing Ele­ment and Fair Share Plan. 

DECEMBER

CAPE MAY — City Coun­cil awarded a $1.8 million contract for nature trails behind Cape May City El­ementary School as part of the Lafayette Street Park project. 

“It’s going to be two miles of trails that go out into the wetlands,” Mayor Zack Mullock said. 

CAPE MAY — City Council tabled an ordinance for the second time that would limit the amount of recycling that businesses and residents could place curbside for the city to collect. Cape May’s recycling ordinance does not include commercial pick up, only residential collection even though the city has been collecting recycling from businesses since 2019.

CAPE MAY — The city’s consultants are lining up grants and loans to replace Cape May’s water desalination plant, a project with a price tag in the range of $25 million to $30 million. The plant was built to address saltwater intrusion into the city’s aquifers. Project manager Mike Dziubeck, of Consulting and Municipal Engineers, told City Council on Dec. 3 that the state Department of Environmental Protection is worried about a capacity shortfall for the current plant.