CAPE MAY POINT — Deputy Mayor Elise Geiger praised the Volunteer Fire Company during a meeting Feb. 11.
“I met with the fire department president Lance to review their budget for 2025, and I wanted to make a few points,” Geiger said. “[Mayor Anita VanHeeswyck] pointed out when we had our candidates forum how important our fire department is to us and that they’re an unbelievable bargain and essentially self-funding.”
Geiger said the company owns the building and all of the equipment, except for the fire trucks, and maintains everything on its own. She noted a new truck is scheduled to be delivered in the fourth quarter and will need to be outfitted with oxygen tanks.
“If you think about how other towns cover their fire, towns like West Cape May pay for all the upkeep, and if you live in Lower Township, you pay a fire tax,” Geiger said. “Getting a shared service with Cape May would be expensive, so our fire department is our best option.”
The company has 20 volunteers on the roster, with 17 being certified, Geiger explained.
“We really need to maintain the department,” she said. “They average seven people per call, and some of the questions become ‘How does the company finance itself?’ and they do fundraising and use the interest from bequests but they should not deplete that money.”
Geiger said she brought this topic up to dispel any misinformation and encourage the public to help and support the company in any way possible.
“It’s really a terrific group and I’m very happy that I had the ability to meet them and understand their individual budgets and what they’re up against,” she said.
Geiger also updated the commission on her work on the shared service for police enforcement with Cape May.
“I met with Chief Dekon Fashaw and it allowed me to learn a lot of information about their operation and making sure they know our needs, to meet our needs,” she said. “Many questions I get from people if the police are out here, and they’re here daily four to six times.”
She noted that the Cape May Police Department runs two 12-hour shifts, and during each shift patrols the streets of Cape May Point two to three times.
“One thing they shared with me is that the city of Cape May started working on the new shared service agreement, done by the Municipal Taxation and Revenue Advisory Committee (MTRAC),” Geiger said. “They said don’t expect to see [just a] three-page contract, it’s going to be quite involved.”
Geiger asked the commissioners if they could create a team comparable to the eight members of the MTRAC for expert advising.
“Commissioner Geiger did reach out to me as to what would be involved in potentially formlating an advisory committe to assist the governing body in these types of scenarios,” solicitor John Amenhauser said. “Obviously they won’t have any power, [being] advisory in nature, so they can provide reports and information to the commissioers to act upon as you see fit.”
Amenhauser added an advisory committee could be formed via resolution.
“I’m actually not comfortable with that,” VanHeeswyck said. “I think when we’re in negotiations [that] putting too many people on board might not suit us as well in such a small town.”
VanHeeswyck added that administrator Ed Grant worked on similar scenarios for the county, and Geiger agreed he should be in the advisory group.
“I’m looking for people that can actually start pulling apart their services and allocation concepts and have different people taking a look and giving us some advice on how to go [forward],” Geiger said. “I don’t see them participating in the negotiations, and I would be doing the key negotiation.”
Having someone to challenge her thinking on the shared service agreement is important to Geiger.
Amenhauser said Grant had been involved with several shared service agreements and that what used to be a fairly simple procedure has become more cumbersome.
“If you put an advisory board together, it’s probably a good way for the public to understand the position the commissioners [will] eventually take going forward,” Grant said. “It’s not an easy negotiation. We’re not in a great position.”
Commissioner Suzanne Yunghans said if Geiger were able to get a competitive bid, there would be more eyes to review it. Grant said he was open to whatever the commissioners wanted to do.
“Hopefully, we can get some of our best and brightest to challenge us and help us think,” Geiger said. “To help come up with ideas and look at the data along with us, so it’s not just on the shoulders of Ed and I.”
Amenhauser said if the commissioners want to proceed, they can submit suggestions to the committee and create a resolution.
“I don’t have anybody in mind right now, but I’m hoping that as this thing is reported out that it’s also a call to those who are out there that have particular expertise and see if they might want to help, and they can contact me.”
VanHeeswyk said she would like to see a draft with names. Amenhauser said once he has names, he would send a draft resolution to the commissioners in advance of the next meeting.
In other news, Chief Financial Officer Ellie Cifalogio reviewed the budget for commissioners during the meeting. The budget is in draft form and is subject to change.
“It’s important to say this is our draft budget,” VanHeeswyk said. “There may be some cuts to make adjustments.”
Any grants received during the year would be amended to the budget by resolution.
Yunghans reported the Public Works Department received new electronics on the pump for water utilities.
“It was paid for by a grant, and Bill Gibson said it’s working beautifully,” Yunghans said. “The Lake Lily sprinkler system is now working, thanks to a new water meter that took months of convincing the electric company what was needed.”
The sprinkler system will be ready for spring planting. Yunghans also noted Bill Battersby’s resignation from Public Works and said he would be sorely missed.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
