Times Talk
The Bay Park Marina boat ramp is listed among the planned capital projects in the 2020 budget approval.
AVALON MUNICIPAL BUDGET APPROVED
The Avalon Borough Council unanimously approved the 2020 municipal budget during its meeting on April 8. The new budget was presented with no tax increase, the elimination of the last general obligation serial bond, and finances necessary for capital improvement projects needed throughout the town.
The total municipal budget is $28,659,238 with a municipal tax rate at 19.9 cents. After budget adoption, the surplus balance was $4.6 million, which helps the Borough maintain a stable tax rate and contribute to its AAA bond rating from Standard and Poor’s. The Borough of Avalon has one of the lowest municipal tax rates in the state.
“We are very pleased to offer a municipal budget that again includes no increase in either the municipal tax rate or in the water and sewer rates,” Mayor Martin Pagliughi said. “The Council Finance Committee of Dr. Nancy Hudanich and John McCorristin worked together with our finance office and department heads to keep taxes stable. The Borough also paid off our general long-term obligation, which is unheard of on the municipal level.”
New Jersey municipalities are required to place a 5 percent down payment on capital improvement projects. Avalon puts a 20 percent down payment on projects and aggressively pays down debt in every municipal budget. Some of the capital improvement projects to be financed by the approved budget include:
Improvements to the Bay Park Marina boat ramp
Bulkhead replacements
An expansion and renovation of the Avalon Volunteer Fire Department building
Boardwalk, deck and walkover replacements
An additional beach tractor and surf rake
For more information on the 2020 budget approval, go to avalonboro.net.
AVALON EARNS 35% DISCOUNT ON FLOOD INSURANCE
In early 2020, the Borough of Avalon announced that it became the second town in New Jersey to receive a Class 3 rating from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System. Avalon went from a Class 5 to a 3 CRS rating, which gives the town a 35 percent discount on flood insurance rates. At the April 23 Borough Council meeting, Borough Administrator Scott Wahl announced that discounts on premiums would begin May 1.
“Avalon is proud to be in a very select community with our Class 3 rating in the CRS program,” said Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “Earning a 35 percent discount on flood insurance premiums does not happen by accident. Resiliency is not a now-and-then effort, it’s a daily effort, and the Borough continues to seek strategies and partnerships to further project our community during catastrophic weather events.”
The CRS evaluates a municipality’s flood mitigation practices on a 10-point scale, and adjusts its flood insurance rates accordingly. The lower the rating, the larger the discount. Avalon joins Sea Isle City as the only towns in the state to achieve the Class 3 rating, saving residents a total of $1.6 million in insurance premiums for 2020.
Progress continues on the 8th Street Jetty project.
8th STREET JETTY REPAIR UPDATE
Following Winter Storm Jonas in January 2016, the Borough of Avalon began a number of site surveys, including underwater side scan sonar, to determine the amount of damage that existed under the water line of the 8th Street jetty. Finding extensive damage, the Borough then pursued funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and received more than $4 million to repair the jetty.
For the project, 75 percent of the project is funded by FEMA, and 25 percent by the Borough. Following the completion of the repairs, the jetty is expected to be sturdier, hold and keep sand placed on the north-end beaches longer, and again be available for fishermen.
“We are very fortunate to receive millions of dollars in emergency funding to help defray the cost of this project,” Mayor Martin Pagliughi said. “Avalon did its homework on the true damage to the jetty, and that is paying off in huge dividends. This protective structure will be in place for many years to come.”
The repairs are on schedule to be completed by the third week in June of 2020. If delays arise, the project will take a break through the summer and resume in the fall.
Nancy Crafts instructs Sit and Be Fit online for Stone Harbor Recreation.
STONE HARBOR REC OFFERS VIDEO CLASSES
Nancy Crafts instructs Sit and Be Fit online for Stone Harbor Recreation.
Fitness instructor Nancy Crafts has been teaching a Stone Harbor Recreation class for more than five years. A loyal group of women participate in her Sit and Be Fit class, which is a safe and useful fitness routine for those who might need a chair or balance to exercise. Unfortunately, when the coronavirus pandemic hit Cape May County, the classes were forced to shut down, and attendees were missing their fitness and social gatherings each week.
Stone Harbor Mayor Judith Davies-Dunhour and Recreation Director Tina Prickett worked together to arrange for a filming of the class to make available to participants. The class was filmed by Jordan Hickman and, in addition to this class, Hickman also filmed a Dynamic Class taught by Carol Matthews. Users maintaining their daily fitness routine can follow the classes at home. If classes require equipment, the recreation department will deliver weights, exercise balls, figure eights and more.
“This video project is indicative of our town’s understanding that good health, both mental and physical, relies on our citizens moving their muscles,” Crafts said. “These stressful times make it even more crucial that exercise become part of our coping mechanism in our quest for strength and good health.”
The videos were such a hit that two additional videos, Cardio Strength and a combination Yoga class, were created. Videos are easily accessible by going to stoneharborrecreation.com. Plans for more videos are in the works with the help of Tourism Director Jenny Olson, who is working on building a full library of at-home fitness resources.
“Nancy is such an asset to our recreation programming,” Prickett said. “She has such a passion for wellness, and it is amazing to offer these videos so she can maintain her relationships with our community during these difficult times.”
A view of Ingram’s Thorofare Bridge during construction.
BRIDGEWORK UPDATE
The two-year project to the high-level bridge on Avalon Boulevard (Ingram’s Thorofare Bridge) was half-completed before halting in early May for the summer. The project, which will continue into 2021, includes a deck resurfacing and superstructure repairs to the bridge. The eastbound lane had been blocked to permit work to progress on that side of the bridge, but now both lanes have been opened for the summer.
Underdeck contract work is continuing but is not expected to impact traffic. In the meantime, work will continue on smaller deck spall repairs on the westbound lane of the Ingram’s Thorofare Bridge, as well as more severe spalls on the Leonard’s and Graven’s Thorofare bridges. The repairs are anticipated to take three days to complete and traffic delays should be expected since the work will involve a moving lane closure with traffic alternating around the work area. Normal traffic patterns will resume at night and once the spall repairs have been completed.
Although the eastbound lane and shoulder bridge decking will be completed, the ride to motorists will seem rough, and this will continue until the Stage 2 deck pours next year are completed. Once the Stage 2 pours are completed, the entire deck surface will be diamond ground to create a smooth riding surface.
Work on Stage 2 portion of the project is scheduled to begin Sept. 14, when traffic will alternate through the eastbound lane while the westbound lane is under construction. The completion date for the entire project is June 18, 2021.
Inlet Drive stone removal project site.
ROCK REMOVAL PROJECT COMPLETED
Remember when the 150-ton excavator got stuck on an Avalon beach in 2006 while working on the seawall project? After many attempts to remove it, it was finally released by a large construction crane. The project was originally designed to remove large rocks along Inlet Drive by the Army Corps of Engineers. However, after removing the excavator, the Corps never returned to complete the project.
As the rocks became an increasing public-safety hazard, the Borough of Avalon once again put the project out to bid. “The project was very difficult to bid, as the number of large rocks was unknown and any interested bidders would have to come up with the method to remove and dispose of them,” said Borough Administrator Scott Wahl.
Luckily, a low bid from a contractor who could repurpose the stone was approved and the project began and was completed in April.
“Avalon was pleased to get this project completed for the safety of the public, and for the integrity of the adjacent neighborhood,” said Mayor Martin Pagliughi. “This was a very challenging project to put out to bid, and we are very fortunate that a local contractor who needed this exact type of stone was able to safely remove it, and reuse it.”
Avalon and Stone Harbor beaches are now open for fishing, walking, running and surfing.
UPDATED BEACH, TAG & RENTAL POLICIES
In the midst of COVID-19, the Boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor both are working together to release information as soon as it becomes available. Below please find the latest updates on Borough information including beach access, short- and long-term rentals, and beach tags. Be sure to check our website, sevenmiletimes.com, for the latest updates on town policies.
Beach-Tag Policies for Avalon & Stone Harbor
As of May 7, the Boroughs of Avalon and Stone Harbor announced that while the beach-tag booths will remain closed, the discounted preseason rate for seasonal beach tags has been extended to June 30. Beach tags will be required as of May 23 in Stone Harbor. Beach tags are not required in Avalon until July 3.
In addition, mail-in orders for beach tags has been extended to May 31. Beach tags are reciprocal between Avalon and Stone Harbor. Tags can also be purchased through the mobile app Viply.
Purchase beach tags in Avalon with a check made out to Borough of Avalon and mailed to the address below. Be sure to include a stamped envelope. A receipt will be returned via mail. Users can provide the receipt to the beach-tag booth once it is opened or to any beach-tag checker to receive the seasonal tags. In addition to the order extending the discounted price, Avalon also waived the requirement of beach tags until users are able to enjoy the beach without restrictions.
Borough of Avalon
Attn: Tax Collector’s Office
3100 Dune Drive
Avalon, NJ 08202
Purchase beach tags in Stone Harbor by downloading and completing the Beach Tag Order Form linked below. Return to Borough Hall with payment. Tags will be available for pickup at Borough Hall during regular business hours. Be sure to check shnj.org for updates on when and where tags will be available during purchase during COVID-19.
Beach Tag Order Form listed below: https://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/2020-Beach-Tag-Order-Form.pdf
Beach Access for Avalon & Stone Harbor
As of May 22, the beaches in Avalon and Stone Harbor will be open for sitting as well as walking, running, fishing and surfing from dawn to dusk. Beaches will be patrolled to ensure social-distancing practices are followed and there are no large group gatherings.
At this time, all public spaces in both towns remain closed including playgrounds, tennis, pickleball and basketball courts, boardwalk, libraries and recreational centers and fields.
Borough Policy on Long- and Short-Term Rentals
On May 5, the Cape May County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved a resolution that establishes an allowable schedule of seasonal and short-term rentals in the county. It was left to each community to adopt, reject or modify the suggested schedule. As of May 8, both Avalon and Stone Harbor announced approval of the resolution in the following terms:
Seasonal rentals may begin as early as May 11 for individuals who wish to spend the entire summer in one location, to vacation or work for the summer. Transient rentals of less than 30 days, and hotel/motel rentals of a maximum occupancy of 60%, to begin on June 1, and full hotel/motel occupancy allowable on June 22.
