A spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP, said ......Continue Reading
Fire Rescue News - Margate's firehouse improvements focus of special meeting Wednesday
last week that the city is discussing the process of officially requesting a "diversion", which could allow a firehouse on parkland currently protected under the Green Acres program.
Mayor Mike Becker said Monday there was no further update from last week on the discussions.
TerenceGallagher, who spoke at last Thursday's commission meeting as a board member of the Margate Little League, said that the group opposed the idea of using parkland for a firehouse.
"We don't think it's a good idea," Gallagher said Monday. "We're not really saying we shouldn't have one centralized firehouse, but taking away some recreation facilities is going to have a negative impact on recreation programs. We'll either lose the softball field or, if it's the other option, we'd lose the basketball courts and t-ball field."
Any facilities lost would be difficult to rebuild elsewhere, Gallagher said.
"We're on a barrier island," he said. "There's no more land to be had. Once we lose something like that, it's impossible to get it back."
For his part, Becker said that "People have expressed opposition. ... We listen to people, and everyone will have a chance to be heard."
Meanwhile, the Board of Commissioners is scheduled to vote Aug. 18 on a bond ordinance to appropriate $350,000, $332,500 of it bonded, to pay for emergency repairs to Firehouse No. 1 on Ventnor Avenue.
"We need $350,000 to finish the job," Becker said. "A lot of that was the need to build two walls on Ventnor Avenue and on the Atlantic City (facing) side."
The commissioners are also scheduled to discuss appointing an auditor for 2011.
The meeting will be held Wednesday at 5 p.m. at City Hall.
Contact Steven Lemongello: 609-272-7275 SLemongello@pressofac.com
