CAPE MAY POINT — Borough commissioners are settling into their respective roles and working on forming relationships within their departments and the community.
“I have been in contact with [Cape May Police Chief] Dekon Fashaw and he was able to provide me with the incident report from 2024,” Deputy Mayor Elise Geiger said. “For some reason, it seems like there’s been some miscommunication on getting these reports, but it’s interesting.”
Geiger said there were 639 calls for service. The breakdown included 22 calls for investigations: one burglary, two malicious mischiefs, six disorderly conducts, one theft and 12 suspicious vehicles.
“The majority of what the Cape May police do are service calls,” Geiger said. “There were 864 service calls, that’s alarms, coming here from medical, for requests, and for house checks. There were 58 traffic-related incidents. The good news is we are a very safe community.”
Geiger said her goal is to get to know Fashaw, understand any issues and start a relationship.
“The beach [season] is not that far away anymore, and online beach tag sales have started,” Geiger said. “In-person sales start May 1.”
Geiger is looking into beach tag trends. She said the raw tag numbers sold over the past few years have been consistent, and while it is still in the early stages, she will be looking for potential improvements.
“I met with Ben Swan from the beach patrol and am continuing to learn about issues,” Geiger said. “One issue I’ve been delving down and working on is competitive compensation.”
Beach safety is the number one priority, and hiring and retaining competent lifeguards is crucial, she said.
“We need to focus and build upon competent, seasoned lifeguards,” Geiger said. “We unfortunately have to compete with Cape May City because they have a union and pay union dues, so when I make comparisons, I do correct for that, but right now there is still quite a gap.”
Cape May Point has vulnerability with its 3- to 5-year lifeguards.
“The [guards] are picked off by Cape May City, because who wouldn’t want our guards who have been trained,” she said. “The competing beaches are going to be raising their pay 2 to 6 percent.”
Another issue, which Geiger said is confounding, is that Cape May lifeguards have a more extended season, at 14 weeks compared with Cape May Point’s 11 weeks.
“That’s a few more weeks than we have and with the pay gap, it could be about $2,000 to $3,000 of a gap per season,” Geiger said. “It’s not something that’s insignificant, so I bring this up because we’re entering the season of putting together a budget.”
Geiger said she is still working with Swan on plans for attracting and retaining lifeguards.
In other news, Geiger and Commissioner Suzanne Yunghans attended an orientation meeting from the New Jersey League of Municipalities.
“One thing I learned is that most people there are under Faulkner Act types of government and have their own issues of partisanship,” she said. “We are under the Walsh Act and there’s a perception in our community that the commissioners can’t speak offline with one another, which is actually true.”
The Walsh Act is a non-partisan form of government.
“For me, I was always interested in how we actively and effectively govern without being able to speak to one another,” Geiger said. “The Walsh Act is a very good form of government, particularly for small communities.”
Geiger said she thought about optimizing the working relationships among commissioners.
“Commissioners can talk in an open meeting, like we’re doing here right now,” she said. “I’m hoping we as commissioners can rededicate ourselves to the concept of a work session, where we do what we just did. There’s an issue of concern, and we had an open discussion and dialogue so the community can see some of the things that are coming, and we can invite more input along the way.”
In other news, the commission voted to adopt a resolution complying with the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) fourth round of affordable housing for present and prospective needs.
“Our number is zero and our commitment with this resolution is that we accept a longer term number of five,” Mayor Anita VanHeeswyk said. “There’s so many things that can happen in 10 years, this isn’t to say that we can’t do something in between. The DCA has us on a tight schedule.”
Solicitor John Amenhauser added that the DCA has provided municipalities with strict guidelines for adopting current and prospective needs.
“What is required is essentially that every municipality accepting of the figures adopts a resolution to that effect on or before Jan. 31,” he said. “Thereafter we have to have a declaratory judgment action filed in the Superior Court in Cape May County within 48 hours of adoption.”
After filing for the declaratory judgment, Amenhauser said the city planner will develop a plan. VanHeesywk said she had been in touch with planner Michael Sullivan, and he is beginning to work on the plan.
“I want to be clear; we are up against this wall because Cape May Point has been dragging their feet,” VanHeeswyk said. “This is a matter of the state, the DCA getting this information to us and in the end, we got the sample resolution from the New Jersey League of Municipalities.”
Yunghans thanked the Department of Public Works for the snow removal they completed during the recent winter storm.
“Bill and folks have paid particular attention to the water main, pipes and curb stops, public buildings and homes for potential water leaks,” Yunghans said. “A borough water curb stop broke and was immediately repaired.”
Yunghans reminded residents to winterize their plumbing and irrigation systems to avoid leaks.
“When a water leak happens in your home or in the pipe between your home and the curb stop, or water meter connection to the water main at the street, it is your responsibility for the cost of the water lost and the repair,” Yunghans said. “When the curb stop connections, water mains, or any of the pipes bringing water to the borough breaks, it’s Public Works’ responsibility for the water lost and repairs.”
She added that Public Works met with the borough engineer to explore grant funding for rebuilding the ADA-compliant beach walkway at Coral Avenue.
“Public Works also had a planning meeting with the contractor for Lehigh and Ocean Avenue paving, which is scheduled for later in 2025,” Yunghans said. “The construction work schedule for the Public Works building is stalled due to South Jersey Gas’ delay in moving the gas hookups.”
As soon as Lake Lily thaws from the recent cold weather, Public Works plans to continue proactive prevention measures. Yunghans said Clean Flow is scheduled to service the bubblers and then an algae treatment will be applied.
“The bubblers are the key to dispersing the treatment throughout the lake,” Yunghans said. “The winter warrior treatment was recommended by Clean Flow and agreed to by the Friends of Lake Lily as an additional step in algae control.”
Yunghans also acknowledged the resignation of longtime Public Works member Anthony Famiano.
“He will be sorely missed but we wish him well in his new job with Lower Township as the fire inspector,” she said.
Administrator Ed Grant said they have completed Joint Insurance Fund forms for grants and submitted the initial budget work papers to the chief financial officer.
By RACHEL SHUBIN/Special to the Star and Wave