Township Committee wants action on microplastics
PETERSBURG — Township Committee voted June 9 to object to a plan by the county and U.S. Coast Guard to replace the drawbridge over Corsons Inlet with a fixed-span bridge.
Mayor Curtis Corson said the Coast Guard was seeking the township’s approval. He said he has mixed emotions about the plan, which he feels would hamper boat traffic and harm property values in Strathmere.
He said the drawbridge has not opened in years but still has the ability to do so, in case a larger vessel or crane needed to pass through, but a fixed span would eliminate that possibility.
“If somebody wants to take a larger size boat through there right now, I think it’s limited to like 15 foot. So if you have a boat with a flying bridge, you can’t go through there,” he said. “Yes, it’s been years since it’s been open but if somebody was to do work north of the bridge, there’s a couple docks, the only way you’re going to get a crane in there is by land or taking it around through Townsends Inlet.”
The problem is, he said, they needed a response by the following day.
“I would like to see the Township Committee object to this becoming a fixed-span bridge. It has the ability to open even though it has not been open in years and has not been staffed in years, but it should be a movable bridge.”
Microplastics
Township Committee passed a resolution calling on state officials to do something about microplastics making their way into the storm sewers and ultimately the food stream.
The mayor shared pictures with fellow committeemen of dust from composite decking gathered around a storm drain.
“This is one of the most extreme cases our building inspector has ever seen,” Corson said.
The mayor said there are no state regulations regarding recovery of dust from composite decking or vinyl railings.
“I recommend that we send to our state legislators, senator, assemblymen, governor, anyone who will listen. This is a problem,” Corson said. “This was 8 o’clock in the morning after they cleaned it up the night before. How much made it into the storm drain? Turtles, fish eat these plastics. We eat the fish, birds eat the fish.”
Corson said there are systems at wood shops to recover sawdust and fibers, noting they are natural materials, but there are no similar rules controlling plastics.
“Why don’t our legislators have a recovery system for this? Why isn’t it mandated? It needs to be addressed statewide, nationwide. It’s a problem everywhere,” Corson said. “It’s something that I have become aware of over the years and we need to be stewards of the environment.”
Deputy Mayor Victor Nappen II called it “a pretty egregious case.”
“In the short term, I would urge any contractors just to make sure that they tell the workers to keep our communities clean,” he said.
Administrator welcomed
Township Committee also welcomed Jimmy Van Zlike to his first public meeting as administrator.
Van Zlike brings nearly a quarter-century of experience in the U.S. Army to Upper Township.
Van Zlike has spent the past three years as deputy city manager of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, where he was entrusted with the health, safety and welfare of more than 5,000 soldiers, family members, civilians and contractors.
Van Zlike replaces Gary DeMarzo, who was an appointee of the previous administration and has filed litigation regarding his dismissal. Van Zlike will be paid an annual salary of $155,000 commencing Aug. 11. His first 10 weeks will be covered by a Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship award from the International City/County Management Association. In addition, Van Zlike will continue to receive post-retirement benefits from the Army and thus not need those provided by the township.
“I would just like to formally welcome Jimmy; it’s his first meeting tonight. We’re very excited to have you alongside working with us and excited to see what the future holds there,” Committeeman Tyler Casaccio said.
Nappen also welcomed Van Zlike.
“It’s going to be a great team. I had a great phone call with him last week. He’s creating a list of all a million things he needs to do and he’s attacking them very strategically, which is what we need,” Nappen said.
Van Zlike said he was grateful for the opportunity.
“The first thing I want to do is thank the committee and the mayor for having the trust, the confidence in my background during the hiring process and placing their trust within me to fulfill the duties and the obligations consistent in this role,” Van Zlike said.
He also thanked members of the community.
“This thing works by you being in this room and letting your voices be heard, your opinions listened to and being an involved member of the community. We get better by listening to you,” Van Zlike said. “I want to say thank you to the internal organization and staff for having patience to take an old Army retired guy like myself and let me fold into your operations of municipal management and let me hit the ground running. I look to forward serving this community no different than the country I served for 24 years.”
Skatepark repairs
Committeeman Sam Palombo thanked the Department of Public Works for solving a problem at the skatepark that initially looked to be a major issue.
He told the Sentinel by phone the following day that one of the ramps had become disconnected and they thought they were going to have to completely replace the ramp but found a way to take out that part and repair it.
“It took a few days to figure that out. We thought it was going to be a big problem but found it was something to they could fix this week,” he said. “It’s just very refreshing to deal with a solution-oriented organization as opposed to a problem-oriented one and I appreciate everything you guys are doing.”
Committeeman Zach Palombo said repairs are under way.
“Public Works is attempting to resolve it as quickly as we possibly can,” he said, noting it’s one of the most popular features of the recreational area. “We are asking for the community to have a little bit of patience because we want to make sure everything’s good to go for them.”
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff