WEST CAPE MAY — Cape May Animal Control Officer Steven Sterwaka said last week that county resident share their neighborhoods with numerous coyotes.
Cape May County has a large coyote population, Sterwaka said, but ensured Borough Commission on Feb. 12 that the animals are not a threat to residents. Sterwaka explained that coyotes are attracted to human food and small animals such as rodents.
“They’re not looking to attack you; they’re curious,” Sterwaka said. “They just live here and are just checking you out because you’re their neighbors.”
He warned residents that small dogs are vulnerable to coyote attacks and not to leave pets outside unattended.
Coyotes stay in populated areas rather than the woods because it’s easier for them to find food to survive. He said coyote populations are difficult to control and killing them won’t slow their population growth. When coyotes feel threatened, he said, they birth larger litters to maintain their numbers.
Sterwaka said the coyotes are not going anywhere anytime soon and advised residents to stay informed about the animal.
In other business, Commissioner George Dick suggested requiring a public worker to be on duty during all events at Borough Hall. Anyone can rent the building for an event, and Dick thinks someone from the borough should be present.
“If people want to rent the building, that’s fine, and it’s $150 to cover the cost of the public worker. We’re protecting our building and looking out for things. If there’s a problem, we have a person to take care of it.”
Commissioner Giacomo Antonicello suggested not renting Borough Hall but both Dick and Mayor Carol Sabo disagreed.
The board decided to study the issue further.
Borough Commission discussed drafts of five ordinances.
The first would require contractors to clean up any wood and plastic contaminants before leaving their work sites to ensure no waste is blown onto the street or adjacent properties.
Sabo said it is another effort to prevent unnecessary waste. The Environmental Commission and Planning Board will review the ordinance. Cape May is considering a similar ordinance.
Two ordinances involve water line replacement and water conservation.
Public Works requested an ordinance to regulate demolition and replacment of water lines made of lead or other hazardous materials.
“Prior to demolition, the property owner must arrange for a qualified inspector to identify the material of which the service lines are made and confirm with our Water Sewer Department and replace the water service lines,” Sabo said.
Commissioners also discussed amending a 1994 ordinance on water conservation and emergencies to add that residents must have rain gauges on their meters to prevent sprinklers from turning on during rainstorms. The ordinance also discusses how the city would handle severe droughts.
The fourth ordinance would authorize updating the tax map.
“On a yearly basis, we need to update the tax map so they are accurate and reflect all the changes that have gone on in the past year,” Sabo said.
The final ordinance discussed was a proposal for the permitting process with the Department of Environmental Protection for the pedestrian and bicycle bridge improvements.
“This is to move it to the next step for the bridge,” Dick said. “The next step is to talk to the DEP, set the surveys and we’re working with Cape May to work out how the cost is going to work. They came up with the idea that we can probably get a grant from Cape May County open space.”
By JULIA DIGERONIMO/For the Star and Wave