In an ordinance revision, the city plans to ban sleeping and camping on the Ventnor City Fishing Pier.
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR The Board of Commissioners Thursday July 8 held a public hearing on a new bond ordinance appropriating $6,457,721 for new capital projects, approved promotions for five employees in the Civil Service System and introduced an ordinance to ban sleeping or camping on the Ventnor Fishing Pier.
The bond ordinance includes a $307,514 down payment in cash from the city's Capital Improvement Fund and will finance energy conservation projects, the savings of which will cover the cost of debt service, City Administrator Maria Mento said.
The city intends to replace street lighting with energy efficient LED bulbs, install energy efficient control systems for the Public Works, Senior Center and Firehouse #1, electric charging stations, energy efficient HVAC systems, rooftop air handlers, roofing improvements and high-performance transformers for Public Works building. Building envelope improvements are also planned at City Hall, the firehouse and Public Works building.
The city also approved promotions for employees based on the jobs they perform under Civil Service titles. Several clerical employees, including Summer Renzi, Mary Garfinkle, Carmella Malfara and Danielle Manera, were reclassified under the Clerk 2 title. Kollin Eisenbeis was reclassified to the title of Carpenter.
The city also authorized the hiring of 13 seasonal employees to serve as lifeguards on the Ventnor City Beach Patrol.
The board also appointed Albert Stanley as Chief Financial Officer until Dec. 31, 2024. He will also serve as Deputy Tax Collector and Qualifying Purchasing Agent. Also, William Crowther, who received a four-year appointment as Tax Assessor in June, was given a salary increase to $85,400, effective July 1.
During a capital meeting that preceded the regular meeting, the board heard from department heads about the capital improvements made over the last several years, which included road reconstruction projects, fire safety equipment purchases, police body and vehicle cameras, and water and sewer improvements.
Mayor Beth Holtzman commended the members of the administrative team for being pro-active in addressing potential problems.
You see a problem and find a solution. All our departments work together as a team, she said.
The board introduced an ordinance amending the city's current law regulating activities on the Fishing Pier to include provision Z: Overnight sleeping or camping is not permitted on the pier. You must be actively fishing if you are on the pier overnight.
A public hearing on the ordinance will be held 5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 22.
In other business, Commissioner Lance Landgraf encouraged restaurant owners who have outdoor seating to fill out the necessary paperwork, including holding the city harmless on their insurance policies, and clean up around their properties to maintain their temporary permits for outdoor service.
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