PETERSBURG — Faced with a 21 percent increase in the cost of employee health care, Upper Township is urging Gov. Phil Murphy to use COVID relief funds to help municipalities statewide offset the expense.
Township Committee adopted a resolution Nov. 14 requesting help with the increased premium of the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program.
Committeewoman Kim Hayes has been working with CFO Barbara Ludy and Township Administrator Gary DeMarzo to find ways to ease the unexpected financial burden.
“We are doing everything we can to mitigate that,” Hayes said, noting that 58 percent of township workers agreed to switch to a less-costly benefits plan.
She said the township joined the state benefits system last year and was pleased to realize a significant savings to the tune of more than $600,000.
“We were very excited to be able to do that,” she said.
However, this year the premium has skyrocketed, due in part to the rising cost of health care caused by the pandemic.
Hayes said the state should use federal COVID relief funds to help municipalities shoulder the burden, since that’s the intention of relief funds.
She said the state struck a deal with its employees to offset some of the cost with relief funds rather than having premiums increase but is “not offering that same deal to anyone else.”
Hayes said there is a lot of money in relief funds that has not been spent and municipalities just want “the same deal that you have.”
“It’s so egregious — they are going to save themselves but everybody else can figure it out on their own,” she said.
Young retiring
Township Clerk Barbara Young announced that she would be retiring after 28 years of serving the township.
Choking up, she noted that she has worked with three mayors and many committee members of nearly three decades.
“You do a fabulous job,” Mayor Curtis Corson said.
OEM coordinator
Township Committee has agreed to a shared-services agreement with Ocean City for emergency management coordinator services.
Neighborhood shooting range
A group of Ortlieb Lane residents attended the meeting to express their displeasure with a neighbor shooting guns in a residential area. Some said their homes have been hit by ricocheting bullets and they fear for their safety and the safety of their loved ones.
Hayes said Township Committee is in the beginning stages of determining “whether this is a single irresponsible individual or a more widespread problem.”
She said the issue “has now become a public cry,” but noted that some people have been shooting on their property for generations.
“We really need to investigate what the real issue is before we commit to moving forward,” she said.
ATV riders take notice
In another sign that population growth is changing the character of the township, DeMarzo said signs erected to notify ATV riders of restricted areas have gotten their attention.
“We know the ATV signs are being noticed because they are being taken out of the ground and thrown in the street,” DeMarzo said. “At least we know they’re reading them.”
Strathmere group opposes ordinance
Members of the Strathmere Improvement Association objected to language in an ordinance regarding land use, focusing mostly on lighting.
Based on recommendations from the Upper Township Planning Board, Township Committee proposed adopting several revisions, including adding and/or revising definitions for standards related to Electric Vehicle Supply/Service Equipment and outdoor lighting.
The ordinance would add requirements for pervious paving and landscaping stones in the Resort Residential and Resort Commercial Zoning Districts. It also would revise outdoor lighting standards.
Juliette Schlocter, vice president of the Strathmere Improvement Association, island resident Ted Kingston and others objected to the lack of the term “residential” in the ordinance, seeking clarification.
They also want restrictions on the number, brightness and height of exterior lighting, saying it affects the quality of life and health of residents.
Township Committee decided to send the lighting section back to the Planning Board for review.
Ocean Wind information
Representative of Ocean Wind 1 developer Ørsted and PSEG will host an information session from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at the Marmora Volunteer Fire Company.
Hayes said there would be about 10 stations with experts providing information on the potential benefits and impact of the companies connecting power from the proposed wind farm to a power substation on property formerly occupied by the B.L. England Generating Station in Beesleys Point.
While Ocean City and Cape May County have objected to the project, as well as part of the plan to bring the power ashore on Green Acres-designated land on the island, Upper Township has embraced the proposal as part of a plan to redevelop the former industrial site.
“We are having a different experience with them than Ocean City,” Hayes said, noting the company agreed to move a substation on the property and shrink the size of its footprint. “They have been very cooperative.”