Times Talk
PAULA DOLL RETIRES AS SEA ISLE CITY CFO
Retiring Sea Isle City CFO Paula Doll receives the key to the city from Mayor Leonard Desiderio and City Council members Bill Kehner, JB Feeley, and Jack Gibson.
Sea Isle City’s chief financial officer, Paula Doll, retired after 12 years of service. As CFO since 2010, Doll handled all of Sea Isle City’s finances, overseeing accounts payable and receiving as well as beach tag revenue. Doll also acted as the city’s tax and utilities collector.
“She is leaving large shoes to fill,” said Mayor Leonard Desiderio. “Paula has exemplified the highest level of professionalism, expertise and integrity during her entire tenure with Sea Isle. There’s no doubt that she has been instrumental in securing Sea Isle’s outstanding financial position.”
The mayor presented Doll with a key to the city at a recent City Council meeting. In her retirement, Doll says, “I am looking forward to spending more time with my family.”
Jennifer McIver has replaced Doll as the Sea Isle CFO. The city decided to change the CFO position to no longer include the role of tax and utilities collector. Maureen Conte was hired to fill that position.
Sea Isle City’s 2022 seasonal beach tag design.
GET YOUR BEACH TAGS EARLY AND SAVE
Sea Isle City’s 2022 seasonal beach tags are now available!
This year’s seasonal beach tag features a colorful montage of images representing summer in Sea Isle City, including beach umbrellas, sailboats, dolphins, and the sun.
If purchased by May 15, the tags cost $20. After that, the cost is $25. Tags are also available for daily access ($5) and weekly ($10).
Beach tags can be purchased at the Welcome Center (300 JFK Blvd.) Monday-Friday from 9am-4pm, and Saturday from 10am-3pm via checks and cash. Tags can also be purchased from the Tax Office (second floor of City Hall) from 9am-4pm Monday-Friday and from the Beach Tag Vending Machine located in the lobby of City Hall available 24/7 (cash only).
During the summer season, seasonal beach tags can be purchased from the Welcome Center daily from 9am-4pm as well as from beach taggers on the beach. Seasonal beach tags can also be purchased using the Viply app. For more information, go to visitsicnj.com/beach-tags.
SINGLE-USE CONTAINER BAN STARTS MAY 4
Keep an eye out for these reusable bags this summer!
The statewide ban on single-use carryout bags and polystyrene foam food-service products as well as request-only use of plastic straws is set to go into effect on May 4.
The new regulations were set forth by Gov. Phil Murphy and the state legislature in November 2020 and is the most advanced law on single-use plastic products in the country.
The law bans the use of single-use plastic bags, regardless of thickness, in any retail establishments, including food-service businesses and grocery stores. In addition, paper bags are no longer allowed to be used by grocery stores larger than 2,500 square feet in size. These regulations encourage the use of reusable carryout bags (made of fabric, nylon, cloth, or hemp that has stitched handles manufactured for multiple uses) whether free or at a cost to the customer.
The new regulations also restrict the use of Styrofoam products in the food-service industry. This means that no restaurant or business selling food can serve that food out of a Styrofoam product, including containers, plates, beverage cups, meat or vegetable trays, cutlery, or egg cartons. However, there are some temporary exceptions to this part of the law: Businesses can still use small portion cups that require lids, and trays used for raw meat and fish as well as any food products that are prepackaged from the manufacturer with Styrofoam can still be sold until May 4, 2024.
Lastly, you may have noticed that lately at restaurants you have had to ask for a straw for your beverage. This is also due to this law, which states that unless the beverage is prepackaged with a straw, like juice boxes, the restaurant or business can no longer freely supply single-use plastic straws unless the customer requests them.
“Sea Isle’s small-business community is ready to comply with NJ’s plastic bag ban,” says Brian Heritage, president of the Sea Isle City Chamber of Commerce and Revitalization. “When shopping around town, don’t forget to bring your reusable bags, and in cooperation with the City of Sea Isle and the Environmental Commission, the Sea Isle Chamber will be handing out reusable bags while supplies last at our weekly Farmers Market this season.”
Noncompliance with the new regulations will result first in a warning, then on second offense up to a $1,000-per-day fine. Third and subsequent violations are subject to fines of up to $5,000 per day. The Department of Environmental Protection and each municipality are authorized to uphold the new law.
For more information, visit nj.gov/dep/get-past-plastic/
PROMENADE, JFK BLVD.,TO GET SECURITY CAMERAS
A view of the Promenade facing north where cameras are to be installed.
Sea Isle City Council voted to install security cameras on the Promenade and JFK Boulevard before the summer season begins.
The cameras will be paid for out of the city’s capital budget at a cost of $195,693 and will be installed by New Jersey Business Systems, of Robbinsville.
They will be installed along the Promenade from 35th to 44th Street, and at the playground, basketball courts and Veterans Park, all on JFK Boulevard.
Sea Isle City administration hopes that the addition of the cameras will increase security and keep the city up to date on the latest technological advances.
“These cameras will assist the police department in keeping the city safe,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio said. “They’re just another tool we’re using to best monitor large crowds, as well as helping to hold those who would do harm to people or property accountable for their actions. As we’ve discussed before, we want everyone to enjoy their time in Sea Isle.”
MAMMELE PROMOTED TO SICPD CAPTAIN
William Mammele (third from left) was sworn in as an SICPD captain by (from left) Mayor Leonard Desiderio and was supported by Patrolman Tully O’Clisham, Patrolman Henry Frank, Det. Lt. Steven Conte, and Officer in Charge/Capt. Anthony Garreffi Jr.
On Friday March 18, William “Bill” Mammele, was sworn in as the newest Captain in the Sea Isle City Police Department. The ceremony was held at City Hall in the Sea Isle City Council Chambers, with Mayor Leonard Desiderio on hand to deliver Mammele his oath of office.
During the ceremony Mammele was surrounded by family members and fellow officers including “Officer in Charge” Captain Anthony Garreffi, Jr, who supported him as he was bestowed with the honor.
Before becoming a Captain, Mammele started his career as a dispatcher for the Sea Isle City Police Department back in 1997. Having caught the bug for police work, Mammele decided to attend the Cape May County Police Academy in Cape May Court House to complete his training, becoming an officer for the Sea Ise City Police Department in 1999. He served as an officer for 16 years before being promoted to Lieutenant in 2015. As Captain, Mammele will be tasked with training officers and helping with the day-to-day operations of the department.
“Mammele was preparing to retire but made the choice to stay to assist the department during this time of transition. I’m very happy that Captain Mammele made this decision and look forward to working closely with him. He will be the Executive Officer and second in command.,” said Captain Anthony Garreffi, Jr, Sea Isle City Police Department’s “Officer in Charge”.
Captain Anthony Garreffi, Jr., who is currently serving as “Officer in Charge” of the Sea Isle City Police Department and Captain Mammele now share the same rank.
To learn more about the Sea Isle City Police Department, go to seaislecitynj.us or follow the Department on Facebook at facebook.com/SICPD.
ZOO WELCOMES ‘ROOS, EMUS … & TOUCANS SOON
Plans are underway for renovations to the Snow Leopard Habitat at the Cape May County Park & Zoo, with a fundraising initiative by the Cape May County Zoological Society.
The Cape May County Zoological Society recently announced the successful completion of its Habitat Fundraising Campaign that was launched last spring. The campaign – titled “New at the Zoo! ‘Roos, Emus & Toucans Too!” – had a fundraising goal of $250,000, needed to build two new habitats to house up to 10 red kangaroos, two emus, and toco toucans at the Cape May County Park & Zoo.
The campaign was fully funded by donations to the Cape May County Zoological Society, and construction is nearing completion for the two-phase project. Phase 1 included the creation of a 12,000-square-foot outdoor area to house the kangaroos and emus, as well as a 500-square-foot, heated indoor living space for the animals. The two emus, Grant and Timmy, and three female kangaroos – Proodence, Gertroode and Roothie – already are enjoying their new home. A male kangaroo is expected to arrive this spring, and the zoo also recently welcomed a male juvenile kangaroo, Regis, who celebrated his second birthday in March.
Phase 2 of construction – the habitat for toco toucans – is nearing completion featuring 6,500 cubic feet of open area, and a 200-square-foot indoor space. The construction matches the existing South American habitats in this area, measuring 16 feet high, and includes a variety of branches, perches, and ropes. The toucans’ arrival had been scheduled for spring; however, the presence of a new avian flu in the country has temporarily delayed their arrival under quarantine restriction. And finally, the zoo’s female capybara, Budette, gave birth to her second litter of two pups on Feb. 3 and celebrated their two-week birthday on 2/22/22!
“We here at the Cape May County Park & Zoo are extremely fortunate to have the Zoological Society as our exclusive fundraising organization,” Park Director Ed Runyon said in a statement. “The Zoological Society ran a very successful campaign, and as a direct result made it possible for us to bring kangaroos, emus, and toucans to our Zoo for the first time. Throughout the multiphase project, the Society supported the Zoo at every step to assure that our new friends have the perfect homes to move into. We look forward to bringing many more improvements and new animals to the Zoo with future help from the Zoological Society.”
What’s next? Construction continues on the new Safari Café, expected to open later in the spring. The Zoological Society launched its next fundraising campaign to update the snow leopard habitat with a goal of $25,000. Funds received are planned for renovations to the leopards’ indoor sleeping area and plantings and new toys to enhance the animals’ enrichment experience. The Zoological Society will also begin an annual appeal outreach for funding through 2022 on larger projects including a new waterfall feature in the bald eagle habitat; for the care and wellness of animals; a large quarantine holding facility; and outdoor yards for the Medical Holding building, just to name a few.
Donations can be made by going to capemayzoosociety.org/donate. Be sure to follow the Facebook page for the Cape May County’s Zoological Society for more exciting updates and animal announcements!