CAPE MAY — Residents dominated the public comment portion of the City Council meeting Aug. 5 with concerns about the proposed USS Jacob Jones memorial monument.
The monument, which is meant to honor the World War II-era ship and other vessels and crews lost during the Battle of the Atlantic, has been through several iterations and presentations to council.
The latest update was presented July 15 by Jacob Jones Memorial Committee founder Myles Martel and Cape May resident John Boecker, the monument architect, and called for a site at the east end of the Promenade, near Poverty Beach.
The Jacob Jones was the first U.S. destroyer deployed in the Atlantic Ocean to patrol for German U-boats. On Feb. 28, 1942, it was attacked off the coast of Cape May just days after it began its mission and less than three months after Germany declared war against America.
The men previously proposed erecting the monument at Howard Street and Beach Avenue, then the Cove.
Mayor Zack Mullock said he wanted to be very clear that the monument was not a City Council proposal.
“This is coming from a group of citizens proposing to the city,” he said. “Our understanding as a City Council is, hopefully, what everyone understands here, is that they have gone back to the drawing board and I know nothing more and no one up here knows anything more than you probably do.”
Mullock emphasized that the monument proposals have been presented in public, and the Jacob Jones Memorial Committee has been asked to continue to present plans again in public and on livestream.
Resident Sally Snyder presented the council with a petition featuring more than 400 signatures opposing the construction and placement of the memorial at Poverty Beach.
“Poverty Beach belongs to people and nature,” Snyder said. “Let’s preserve it for future generations.”
Resident Gail Morrison said she participated in the Jacob Jones Committee’s Zoom meeting on July 30.
“John Boecker represented the [committee] and stated they’re no longer pursuing the original design and location presented to council on July 15,” Morrison said. “While a new design has yet to be finalized, the foundation did indicate that Poverty Beach remains the intended location.”
Two residents said that other World War II memorials around the United States and in Normandy, France, are not on the beach but feature kiosks, stone monuments and maps.
Resident Roz Johnson asked council what the next steps would be regarding the monument.
Deputy Mayor Maureen McDade said they have heard the concerns about location, size, dimension, impact and sustainability loud and clear.
“They have not come to us with a final presentation,” McDade said. “One of the things that we wanted from the very beginning was for them to engage the community, for this to be a transparent process.”
McDade added that she has not seen a presentation with a model, design and location that meets the standards.
“From my perspective, when they come to something that has been accepted by the community to the largest extent it can be, there will always be people who will not be satisfied by a location,” McDade said. “They are still evolving this process and have heard loud and clear that the design and location have not been accepted.”
McDade encouraged residents to ask the committee specific questions.
Mullock said a lot of the concerns that have been brought up are also concerns of the council.
Resident Alice Morris expressed frustration with the matter.
“Mayor, you indicated that you are, at this point, assuming you’re speaking for council, as ignorant as us,” Morris said. “The difference between your ignorance and mine is that you will be making the decisions.”
Morris expressed concerns about a decision being made in the fall or winter.
“It causes uncertainty and anxiety that a meeting will be held in December, at a time that most of us are not aware of, or not available to attend,” Morris said. “It can be made to appear as if there’s no opposition for a plan; that is a very uncomfortable position for us to be in. That is why you’re being asked for more clarity about the process.”
Mullock said he appreciated the concerns, which is why they are having public meetings and asking the committee to be present, as well as host meetings on online platforms.
“I have to drill this in a little bit, believe me. If this was on our desk as a proposal, we would be talking about the same concerns,” Mullock said. “We’re not going to have a secret meeting in December when people aren’t here. It’s 100 percent false.”
McDade said the council had no intention of trying to slip something through, and she suggested anyone who feels strongly should involve themselves in discussions with the committee.
“We hear you very loud and clear and I encourage you to reach out to the committee,” Mullock said. “In defense of them a little bit is, they’re rewriting the whole thing, so it sounds like they’re listening. I hope you continue to voice your opinions and help them get a better product.”
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave
