Borough of Harvey Cedars, Ocean County, NJ
February 2021 Hometown News
*Department of Public Works & Public Property - Commissioner/Mayor Jonathan
Oldham*
It is a cold windy day here in Harvey Cedars. Phil saw his shadow and it
looks like six more weeks of winter. The beaches saw significant erosion
from our last storm, and we suffered the loss of some dune fence. We also
saw several of the beach entrances disappear. We will be working to
rebuild the entrances so people can get on the beach, in the near future.
The dune fence will be replaced as we get closer to the summer.
Public works is also rebuilding some of the valves in the water plant and
we are getting ready to go out to bid to increase the water supply for Bay
Terrace. We have put ice eaters out on our docks to protect them from the
bay freezing over. We are also developing plans to refurbish the dock on
78th Street. It has needed repair for some time, and we are looking
forward to having it ready for the summer.
There has also been the need to do some repairs at the borough yard. The
apron to the garage has deteriorated and needs repairing, along with the
floor inside of the maintenance building, it has settled and cracked. Our
team will be working on making repairs to the building during the winter
months. Along with responding to the occasional water leak we are prepared
for snow storms. We are committed to providing clear roads for all our
residents.
Stay safe and warm as we enjoy six more weeks of winter.
*Department of Revenue & Finance – Commissioner Paul Rice*
Hello Residents! Not much new for this installment of the February blast
email. We are continuing to work on the 2021 budget and will have it
finalized by the end of March. We have submitted our Borough's annual debt
statement; it shows that our long-term debt is at a very low percentage
compared to our annual budget indicating we are in sound financial shape.
Year over year, our debt has been decreasing.
Hope to see you all soon.
*Department of Public Safety & Public Affairs – Commissioner/Deputy Mayor
John M. Imperiale*
On behalf of myself and Chief Burnaford, we hope all are well, healthy,
safe, and happy!
Speed Limit on side streets: This has been a big issue for me as I think
the speed limit on the Harvey Cedars side streets has been too high,
creating a dangerous situation for children playing in the streets. Last
July I asked the Ocean County Engineer (Ocean County is responsible for
West 80th Street and Camden Avenue) to look at lowering the speed limit,
beginning with W. 80th Street - which we feel is a huge concern. The HCPD
performed a traffic study which we submitted last July and this week we got
an OK to lower the speed limit on W. 80th St. from 25 MPH to 20 MPH. This
will take a Borough ordinance, which will be introduced at the Feb. 5th
Borough meeting; a hearing and adoption of the ordinance will then take
place at the Feb. 19th meeting. New signage will follow thereafter. A very
good start, and a demonstration that the County Engineer can be responsive
to our requests if we handle them properly. The HCPD is currently working
with the HC Municipal Engineer on lowering speed limits on other side
streets. Stay tuned! Speed limits on the side streets and the Boulevard
will be enforced, as always, so please drive carefully.
HCPD Grants: this month we became the direct recipient or beneficiary of
two nice grant programs:
• Child Restraint Safety: because HC Detective Tim Butler is one of our
Traffic Safety Officers and is certified in auto child car safety restraint
systems (no minor thing!) we are eligible to receive grant funding to hold
an event and/or participate in other events throughout our area. It is our
goal to hold a child restraint inspection event this spring/summer, if at
all possible, given the current coronavirus restrictions.
• A “Move Over” enforcement grant. Much as with a DWI program, this program
will fund HC Officers to enforce the “Move Over” for emergency vehicles
law. Failure to “move over” creates extremely dangerous situations, so
please be aware.