Boat Payouts
If you’re at all interested in your property taxes, you should check out this amazing NJ Spotlight map from yesterday. The map looks at how much towns across New Jersey owe public workers for not taking their sick day entitlement. The amount was capped at $15,000 in 2010, but anyone hired before that is entitled to a payout that has become known as a ‘boat payout’. We all know that Atlantic City has a problem, but take a look at Brigantine and Margate on the map. Brigantine last year had to put aside $500,000 in reserves for its unused sick pay liability – and its employees have racked up a massive $5.1 million in owed payouts. Meanwhile, Margate currently is on the hook for $2.5 million in unused absence entitlements and it has only just started to set aside money for those payouts. There is some good news – since reading NJ Spotlight’s report yesterday: “A trio of Republican state senators asked the Democratic leaders of both houses to work with them to reform the system that has created a $1.9 billion tab for New Jersey public workers’ unused sick and vacation leaves.” Read more on that update here.
Skate Park Optimism
Atlantic City Mayor Don Guardian yesterday met with Jason Klotz, one of the skaters who made the Atlantic City skate park happen, to talk about how they can rebuild it after it was demolished with no warning on Wednesday. The Mayor told us he believes it could reopen for the summer, with the line up of volunteers and funding that Klotz already has in place. Read more here. Also – if you haven’t already – just watch this Nub TV video about Jeremiah Watson who used the skate park. It is all that is great in Atlantic City (and the world) and no amount of CRDA marketing millions could pay for the feeling it will give you when you watch it.
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The rest of the headlines from the last 24 hours includes news that Atlantic City Electric wants to raise rates, the Brigantine Marine Mammal Stranding Center is caring for some seal pups and one has shark-bite wounds, and there’s a home elevation grant workshop in Ocean City tomorrow. All that and more below.
If you are feeling full of positive vibes after watching the Nub TV video of Jeremiah, here’s a way you can learn more about giving back to your community: Ventnor Coffee on Sunday is hosting a volunteer social, which will be a chance to learn from various non-profit groups how you can help out in your community. Details here.
Small Business Owners Meet with Lenders at Stockton University–On Thursday, March 30th, the Small Business Administration (SBA) teamed up with Stockton University's Small Business Development Center to host a Meet the Lenders event in Atlantic City. Those who attended were able to meet with small-business experts and lenders to discuss how to apply for an SBA-backed loan in order to start a new business or expand a current one. www.snjtoday.com
Nonprofit Seeks to Restore Jersey Shore Home for Underprivileged Children–For the last decade, the nonprofit Children's Fresh Air Home in North Wildwood, New Jersey, has sat gutted and empty at the corner of 11th and Surf Avenue. For more than 100 years before that, the home was host to 20,000 disadvantaged kids from Philadelphia and South Jersey, who got a free taste of life at the Jersey Shore. 6abc Philadelphia
Home Elevation Grant Workshop Saturday in Ocean City–Four shore towns are working together to help homeowners complete house-raising projects with $4 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. A workshop will be held Saturday at the Ocean City Free Public Library for homeowners looking to apply for the grant money for home elevation projects in Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Avalon and Stone Harbor. Press of Atlantic City
Haddon Heights Residents Cited for ‘Hate Has No Home Here’ Signs–Borough solicitor Albert Olizi said the local government will hold off on further action until it has a chance to review its sign ordinance. NJ PEN
Ex-Atlantic City Employee Admits to Stealing All Wars Rent–The former building coordinator for Atlantic City’s All Wars Memorial Building admitted to stealing money paid to rent our meeting rooms. William Hadley, 56, of Egg Harbor Township, was charged with official misconduct and five counts of theft by failure to make required deposit of property received in August. BreakingAC
Atlantic City Electric seeks $70.2M rate increase–Atlantic City Electric filed for authorization of the increase on Thursday. NJ.com
Seal pup with shark bite wounds found on Jersey Shore beach–BRIGANTINE -- Experts at the Marine Mammal Stranding Center are caring for several young seals found stranded along the Jersey Shore in recent days including a seal pup found with shark bite wounds. NJ.com
Republicans Reach Across Aisle to Work on Reforming Sick-Day Payouts–A trio of Republican state senators asked the Democratic leaders of both houses to work with them to reform the system that has created a $1.9 billion tab for New Jersey public workers’ unused sick and vacation leaves. www.njspotlight.com
Alleged unlicensed psychologist arrested in Cape May Court House–MIDDLE TOWNSHIP — Adults and children went to Ronnie P. Erricson’s home in Cape May Court House thinking they were seeing a licensed psychologist. Press of Atlantic City
Home elevation grant workshop Saturday in Ocean City–Four shore towns are working together to help homeowners complete house-raising projects with $4 million in grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Press of Atlantic City
Five Egg Harbor Township High School boys track-and-field members commit to NCAA DI schools–Coach Ryan Smith of the Egg Harbor Township High School boys track and field team has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal this spring. Press of Atlantic City
Atlantic City Electric seeks $70.2M rate increase–Atlantic City Electric filed for authorization of the increase on Thursday. NJ.com