Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian
Dear Friends,
Ocean City’s American Legion Post 524 will present a $20,000 check to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at their next meeting on April 9.
Tunnel to Towers was founded as a tribute to a New York firefighter who died on 9/11, and the organization supports families of fallen first responders, military veterans, and catastrophically injured service members.
Tunnel to Towers ambassador Dena Parlo will receive the check on behalf of the foundation and address the audience at the event. She lost her husband, who was part of a 9/11 task force, and the foundation helped pay off the family’s mortgage.
I’d like to take this time to once again thank American Legion Commander Bob Marzulli and VFW Commander Mike Morrisey and all of our veterans for their fundraising and their continuing commitment to helping other veterans and our community.
I’m proud to announce that Ocean City will receive the Project of the Year Award from the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association. The award recognizes Ocean City’s innovative back bay management program, which has restored recreational waterways while protecting the health of our back-bay ecosystems.
Using more than $10 million in grants in addition to our own investments, we have dredged shallow channels and removed safety hazards to boaters, paddlers and swimmers. The work included obtaining New Jersey’s first citywide dredging permit covering both public and private areas.
It also included the beneficial reuse of dredge material for agricultural use, the experimentation with sediment traps to reduce the frequency of required dredging, the creation of shellfish habitat, and the growth and placement of more than 250,000 shellfish in Great Egg Harbor Bay.
I’m also pleased to announce that the Cape May Board of County Commissioners recently approved the purchase a new $1.46 million emergency rescue truck for the Cape May County Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team. The rescue truck will be housed and staffed by the Ocean City Fire Department at their main headquarters.
The rescue truck will serve as the primary USAR response apparatus for northern Cape May County and carry a full complement of tools and equipment needed for most emergency response situations.
The USAR team regularly responds to all Cape May County municipalities to provide emergency response for incidents such as structural collapse, technical rescue, swift-water rescue and below-grade emergencies. An order has been placed with Pierce manufacturing for the rescue truck, and the anticipated build and delivery time is approximately 38 months.
I would like thank Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard Desiderio and the entire Board of Commissioners, County Administrator Kevin Lare, Cape May County Fire Academy Director Thomas DePaul, and Cape May County Fire Marshal Richard Lundholm for their support and hard work related to the pending purchase of this vital piece of equipment.
The Cape May County Bridge Commission is transitioning to cashless tolling beginning this spring. Tolls will be charged via an E-ZPass tag or Toll-by-Plate system. Once the transition is complete, the bridges will no longer accept bridge tickets as payment.
The commission is offering to buy back any unused tickets. Customers will receive a refund at the last sale price of $1.20 per ticket returned through June 30. More information on how to be refunded is available here: capemaycountynj.gov/1700/All-Electronic-Tolling.
On Monday, we’ll start work on a project to expand and strengthen the vehicle ramp to the Boardwalk at Moorlyn Terrace and make pedestrian access ADA-compliant. Access to stores and residences from the Boardwalk will be preserved.
I’m sad to report on the passing of two citizens near and dear to Ocean City: Marie Knight and Sallie Eachus.
Marie was a former city employee, an active member of St. Damien Parish, a member of the Friends of the Ocean City Pops, and the wife of former mayor Henry “Bud” Knight. Sallie was a retired educator who was active in the city and county Republican organizations. Please join Michele and me in extending deepest condolences to the family and friends of Marie and Sallie.
Warm regards,
Mayor Jay A. Gillian
