We’re tracking a nor’easter that will impact our region over the next several days. We can expect minor tidal flooding with this evening’s high tide, around 6 p.m., and moderate tidal flooding with the high tides on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Please stay tuned to weather forecasts and city alerts, as the forecast can change. If you’re in low lying areas, please move your vehicles to higher ground. During this week, we will allow overnight parking at the Community Center and Library parking lots.
On council’s agenda today are resolutions for award of two construction contracts – one for our water and sewer utility, and one for a project being funded through the Cape May County Open Spaces program. The water and sewer utility project is for the refurbishment of the water system aerators at our 40th and 55th Street treatment facilities. The aerators are part of the treatment process for Sea Isle’s drinking water that is drawn from aquifers 800 feet deep in the ground.
The other project is the construction of the handicapped accessible ramp to the beach and observation platform at 5th Street. The entire project cost is covered by our grant from the county. This will be a great amenity for the city and is part of our ongoing efforts to ensure accessibility for everyone to our beaches, as well as all city facilities. We have a tight window for construction between December 1st and March 15th due to permitting restrictions from the DEP, so the contractor will use the time over the next couple months to procure the material needed to build the project and be ready to start construction in December.
As I reported in last week’s newsletter, we recently met with one of our residents, Steve Matyszczak, to review options for handicapped access at our marina; and I’m pleased to announce that we’ll be implementing Steve’s idea for designation of a handicapped accessible slip at the marina.
The work will involve installation of an appropriate ramp from the marina walkway down to the dock slips, along with installation of a hoist on the designated slip. Our objective is to have the work completed in advance of the next summer season.
I also reported in last week’s newsletter that our volunteer fire department is celebrating their 135th anniversary this year. The fire department will commemorate that anniversary this coming Saturday, September 26 at 1:00 p.m., when they will also have a housing ceremony for two new fire trucks. The housing ceremony is a long-standing tradition in the fire service that signifies that a new fire truck is ready for duty and officially “housed’ in the station. I want to congratulate and thank all members of the fire department for their service to Sea Isle.
I’m pleased to announce the winners of the 2027 Beach Tag Art Contest. As we’ve done for several years now, we invited children 17 years and younger to submit entries for the beach tag designs for our Christmas Holiday, Saint Patrick’s Day, Veteran’s and Seasonal Tags. We received 167 entries this year, and I want to commend all the children for their fine artwork. The following are this year’s winners:
Holiday Tag – Regan Cunningham
Saint Patrick’s Day Tag – Murphy Reilley
Veteran’s Tag – Brielle Davis
Seasonal Tag – Savannah Wagner
After I conclude my remarks today, I’m going to ask the members of VFW Post 1963’s Auxiliary to come forward, as I’d like to make a special presentation to them. As everyone knows, the VFW Auxiliary is the largest and most active auxiliary in New Jersey. They have long been recognized throughout the state for all their efforts in support of our veterans, and it’s proper and fitting that we recognize them in these chambers.
Speaking of veterans, this week is the 18th annual New Jersey Run for the Fallen. The run is organized by military runners and support crews, with the mission of running one mile for each New Jersey active service member who has died during the Global War on Terror. The run starts in Cape May Point and will come through Sea Isle this Thursday, as it makes its way northward through the state. This is an inspirational and honorable event, and I want to thank the members of the military, along with all the other volunteers and participants, who help to carry on this fitting tribute to our fallen heroes.
As always, please remember, we are one Sea Isle City and together we’ll be stronger than ever.
Smile…You’re in Sea Isle!
Mayor Leonard C. Desiderio
At the September 8 council meeting, Mayor Desiderio spoke about t1he resolutions on council’s agenda that were necessary to prepare for an upcoming bond sale. The mayor explained that the bond sale will provide for permanent financing of several of the city’s capital improvements made over the past few years and is part of the city’s ongoing financial management planning. The mayor also reiterated his previous statements that Sea Isle is in excellent financial shape; and that current tracking of revenues and expenditures points to a solid position for establishing next year’s budget.
The mayor also mentioned a great accomplishment by our city clerk’s daughter, Julianna Romano, who is one of only fifteen high school students nationwide selected to participate in the Sea Otter Sound Coastal Academy, where she is studying and living for a semester in Naukati Bay, Alaska. She flew out to Alaska in the last week of August and will explore the coastal ecosystems of Southeast Alaska during her time there, which goes through the first week of November.
Following the mayor’s comments, the Sea Isle City Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services Division were honored for their outstanding service to the community. The city council joined the mayor in congratulating and honoring several members of the Fire Department and EMS Division who were in attendance at the meeting.
Each of the resolutions on the consent agenda were approved, including…
• Resolution 127, which authorized the approval of vouchers.
• Resolution 128, which provided for the combination of several prior issues of general improvement bonds into a single bond issue of $22,000,000, in preparation for a bond sale.
• Resolution 129, which determined the form and details of the $22,000,000 bond sale, which will take place in October.
• Resolution 130, which authorized the installation, removal and storage of the 2026 Holiday Display by Mosca Design for $154,856.
• Resolution 131, which designated old security cameras as surplus property to be auctioned online.
• Resolution 132, which designated a 2016 jet ski as surplus property to be auctioned online.
• Resolution 133, which designated a beach patrol boat as surplus property to be auctioned online.
During the “Citizen Comment” portion of the meeting, several citizens stepped to the microphone and commented on the following:
-Potential hours for the Community Center during the fall and winter, with requests to maintain hours until 8 p.m. (The administration will be reviewing this matter and will inform council and the public of any future changes to operating hours).
-Remembrance of the September 11 attack on the country; and the support the United States received from many nations of the world.
-Request for crosswalk markings on Park Road at the Community Center.
-Question regarding the construction of the ADA ramp to the promenade at 47th Street. (It is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year).
-Question regarding the city’s overall debt. (The debt to be incurred by the bond sale is not the city’s total debt).
Our next City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 22, at 10:00 AM on the third floor of City Hall – and we hope to see you there!
Council President Michael Jargowski
Ian Ciseck
Frank Edwardi
William Kehner
Mary Tighe
