Ocean City Council News in Brief, edition of Nov. 21, 2012

Written by Claire Lowe Friday, November 16, 2012 01:58 pm

Ocean City Council met Nov. 15 in the Ocean City Free Public Library.

OCEAN CITY — Council discussed the following items when it met Nov. 15 in the Ocean City Free Public Library.

Lagoon dredging proceeds

City business administrator Mike Dattilo told council that bay and lagoon dredging is “proceeding in good order.” He said the dredge site held up well during Hurricane Sandy.

The city is hoping to get a permit extension, so that it may continue dredging past Nov. 30. Dattilo said that the extension is not in, but he expects to have one that will allow dredging up to Dec. 31.

Lagoon dredging began Thursday, Sept. 27 at the mouth of the Tennessee Avenue lagoon. Council awarded the $1.8 million dredge contract to Hydro-Marine at its May 3 meeting, for the area from 16th Street to Waterway Road. The contractor spent the summer preparing the spoils site, commonly known as Site 83, near the 34th Street bridge. Dredge pipes were laid in August.

At the June 28 council meeting, Dattilo and Mayor Jay Gillian reported that the city had acquired the necessary permits to begin dredging the lagoons. The Army Corps of Engineers permit is good for 10 years, and the permit from the Department of Environmental Protect for five years. The permits will allow the city to pump the areas south of Ninth Street from June 30 to Nov. 30. Dattilo said at the time that it was “a pleasant surprise,” because the permit window is usually until Sept. 30.

Contracts awarded

Council awarded various contracts including a two-year agreement with S. Vitale Pyrotechnic Industries of New Castle, Pa. for Fourth of July fireworks at $54,600 each year, with a $5,000 optional grand finale presentation shell. A one-year contract was awarded to Waste Management of New Jersey for the collection and disposal of white goods and televisions and monitors at $41,912 and to Blue Diamond Disposal, Inc. of Succasunna for the collection of yard waste at $132,000.

Change orders for Peck’s Beach Village roof project

Council approved three change orders for the Peck’s Beach Village roof replacement project in the amount of $66,039, bringing the total cost of the project to $740,666.

The change orders were for the installation of a new sleeve and metal flashing over existing vents due to corrosion of the heater vent stacks exposed upon removal of the original roof, and extra carpentry work required to replace concealed roof support beams that were rotten due to water infiltration.

Council supports Route 52 speed limit

Council passed a resolution supporting the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s speed limit recommendations for the Route 52 causeway. According to the resolution, the DOT recommends the speed for westbound traffic between Palen Avenue in Ocean City and the Ocean City-Somers Point corporate line (milepost 1.91) be 45 mph.

For eastbound traffic from the Ocean City-Somers Point corporate line (milepost 1.91) to 1,300 feet west of Palen Avenue (milepost .34), the DOT recommends a speed limit of 45 mph; and for the remainder of Route 52 east to Palen Avenue, the speed limit is recommended at 35 mph.