WEST CAPE MAY — Mayor George Dick said Aug. 26 that the borough is updating its mercantile license code — unchanged since the “early 2000s” — while staffing has “increased threefold.”
He said it’s time to align fees and language with municipal growth. The current code remains very different from Cape May City, Lower Township and other nearby municipalities.
Dick noted the revisions will be “much clearer and up to date.”
He said Deputy Clerk Erin Seer and Municipal Clerk Theresa Enteado have been doing much of the work on the project. Deputy Mayor Susan Hoffman and Commissioner Ellen McDevitt agreed the ordinance is long-overdue. Formal introduction is expected in three weeks.
Board requests traffic study
Safety concerns, pedestrian accidents and summer traffic delays prompted the Board of Commissioners to approve a resolution to formally petition Cape May County to do a traffic engineering study at Broadway and Central avenues near Wilbraham Park.
“We’re just asking them to do a study and come up with the best way to fix that intersection,” Dick said. “It is dangerous; there have been accidents all summer.”
The measure was added to the agenda by special vote due to the urgency of the matter.
“Three Strikes” ordinance revised
Commissioners introduced an amendment to the contractor repeat offender ordinance, broadening the language from applying to contractors “hired” to those “performing work” to ensure property-owner builders and subcontractors are held accountable for code violations. The change was suggested by the zoning office to prevent possible confusion, Dick said.
‘Pilates on the Farm’ event permit granted
Commissioners approved a resolution granting Central Park Farm a special event permit for “Pilates on the Farm” after meeting all police, insurance and indemnification requirements.
Hoffman emphasized that the approval is strictly for this single event and sets “no precedent” for future authorizations, given the property owners have outstanding zoning and planning issues. The applicant must also obtain all standard permits, including county permits for tents.
Zoning officer job better defined
The board adopted an ordinance on second reading, consolidating the powers, inspection rights and administrative duties of the zoning officer into a single, defined section of the borough code.
Dick said the update consolidates the zoning officer’s role, powers and duties into one defined code location replacing terms previously “scattered all over our code.”
Compensation revised
Commissioners adopted an ordinance on second reading updating salary ranges, switching the Shade Tree Commission secretary position from an hourly rate of $16 to a stipend structure consistent with other seasonal board positions.
New HPC guidelines
Hoffman announced that Architectural Heritage Consultants will present an initial draft of user-friendly historic design guidelines at the Historic Preservation Commission meeting Sept. 10 to help property owners navigate renovation standards.
Modernizing website
Hoffman said the borough is evaluating municipal web design vendors to replace and update the West Cape May Borough website, gathering performance feedback from municipal contacts across Cape May County.
Career grants, job training
McDevitt urged job-seeking residents to check out the Cape May County One-Stop Career Center in Rio Grande, noting the availability of $5,000 workforce development grants targeting unemployed youth and adults over 55.
Farmers Market vendor suggests extension
During public comment, 20-year vendor Dawn Robinson praised the success of the 2026 Farmers Market season, but urged the board to extend future market schedules through the Tuesday immediately preceding Labor Day.
Drought warning persists
McDevitt alerted residents that Cape May County remains the only county in New Jersey under an official state Drought Warning, urging continued water conservation despite recent rain.
By JAMES FITZPATRICK/For the Star and Wave
