PETERSBURG — Township Committee created the position of deputy administrator via ordinance April 27.
According to the measure, the employee will be appointed by Township Committee upon recommendation of the township administrator.
It will be a Civil Service position whose duties will include oversight of the personnel system, including recruitment, selection and on-boarding of employees.
The deputy administrator will be the primary point of contact for employee grievances, disciplinary matters involving employees and labor contract interpretation issues.
Responsibilities will include maintaining the township personnel manual and employee handbook for legal compliance purposes, as well as providing assistance with employee benefit programs issues, worker’s compensation matters and risk management issues.
The deputy also will have all of the powers and duties associated with the role of township administrator in cases of absence.
Township Administrator Jimmy Van Zlike said the ordinance does not create a new position but reclassifies a position to take on the responsibilities.
“We are sunsetting an administrative assistant position for a professional deputy to the administrator to streamline administrative functions,” he said.
Township resident Nathalie Niess, who is challenging Mayor Curtis Corson in the Republican Primary, said the township parted ways with former administrator Gary DeMarzo “for economy and efficiency, and now, you know, the numbers are really adding up.”
Van Zlike responded that there is no growth to the position and a savings of $4,000 per year in taxpayer money.
“It’s kind of just an internal reallocation of resources you already have on the books prepaid,” he said. “It legally establishes a second in command that can, you know, God forbid if I die or if I’m fired by the committee, you have somebody to kind of fill in that’s not a political at-will appointee. It’s a career position.”
Van Zlike said there are a lot of duties that are spread throughout the Township Hall workforce that would be better concentrated under one position.
“This gives us a deliberate approach to pooling resources into somebody, consolidating these scattered functions for savings to the taxpayer,” he said. “I think this allows us to increase efficiency and do more with what we have.”
School consolidation
Committeeman Zach Palombo, who is superintendent of Cape May and West Cape May school districts, noted the state Department of Community Affairs provides a grant annually for a study of consolidation, something the two districts are undergoing.
“I think it’s worthwhile for us to look into partnering with the school board once the grant is available,” Palombo said.
He said the deadline for this year was April 15 but “we couldn’t get our ducks in a row in time to do it for this year, but knowing this grant will be opened up sometime around December and January, it would be wise for us to partner with the Board of Education and as a responsibility to taxpayers.”
Corson agreed, appointing Palombo as the point of contact on any talks.
Palombo said a study would be conducted by a third-party agency.
“It’s always good to have a neutral party do something like this,” he said.
Resident Elsie Jamison thanked Palombo for bringing the issue to Township Committee’s attention. She said a feasibility study is “something we should be talking out loud about because at the end of the day, it doesn’t just help the kids, it lowers everybody’s taxes.
“I appreciate you advocating for that and helping the school along in that process,” Jamison said.
Beach Patrol
Corson reported that the Upper Township Beach Patrol has begun moving into its new quarters.
“They’ve moved some equipment over there. Things are progressing nicely,” he said.
Ongoing erosion in Strathmere forced the township to demolish the headquarters, which was undermined by loss of sand, on March 29.
Corson said the township has worked out an agreement with a beachfront homeowner who offered to donate a house for the UTBP’s use this summer.
“It’s going to work out well for us this year. I think it’s going to be very good,” he said. The township now is working toward a permanent replacement for the headquarters.
In a related issue, Corson said the Department of Public Works got a bulldozer April 27 to move sand on the beach in Strathmere.
“They’re going to start opening up the paths,” he said, noting the island suffered extreme erosion again over the winter. “Almost every path is closed. Right now, some of the paths have beach in front of them and we will be able to open them.”
USA 250
Van Zlike reported that the township has received $25,000 from Cape May County to hold its celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary.
“The township received formal approval of our Land of the Free Celebration award grant,” he said, noting the township will use the funds to enhance its Independence Day festivities. “Be on the lookout for added fireworks, more bands, bigger, better. America’s 250th is coming, baby!”
Van Zlike also reported that the township was set to award a contract for beach vending services and stands to earn $10,000 to $15,000 from the agreement.
– By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff
