Millville approves UEZ-funded sheriff patrols, starts with second‑generation funds

The Millville City Commission voted unanimously to authorize a shared‑services agreement with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and to begin a pilot public‑safety patrol program in the city’s Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) using second‑generation UEZ funds, with an explicit plan to “roll over” to first‑generation funds when those become available.

The pilot program as presented will fund four officers and a sergeant in four weekly shifts (Fridays and Saturdays, 3–7 p.m. and 7–11 p.m.), with two officers doing walking patrols and two acting as roving vehicle patrols. Heather Santoro, executive director of the Holly City Development Corporation, said, “The application will begin July the project begin July 1, through June 30, pending UAZ authority approval, and the pay rate per hour will be $75 per hour for each officer that's on the shift.”

Commissioners and members of the public debated whether to start immediately using second‑generation funds or wait a month or two for state approval of first‑generation funds. Resident Lynn Pereca urged immediate action, noting recent shootings and saying, “I don't wanna wait … The police department needs help. They're overworked. They need the help.” Santoro explained the approval process and timing and said the UEZ authority is likely to hear the application in June if submitted before the fifteenth of the month, but she could not guarantee a date. She also cautioned that second‑generation funds cannot later be backfilled with first‑generation money.

After public comment, the commission approved a motion to start using second‑generation UEZ funds to get the program underway and to transition to first‑generation funds as soon as those funds are approved. The roll call vote was recorded as: Commissioner Hewitt — yes; Vice Mayor Watson — yes; Commissioner Casa Boone — yes; Commissioner Sui — yes; Mayor Romanek — yes.

Separately the commission approved the shared‑services agreement with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office by unanimous vote and also adopted a resolution authorizing an application to the New Jersey Enterprise Zone Authority for first‑generation UEZ funds for the Millville Public Safety Project.

The administration said the full cost of the pilot is $312,000 for the year; Santoro and residents discussed a monthly equivalent (about $24,000 a month) to illustrate impact on the second‑generation fund balance, which the city reported at roughly $1.45 million. Santoro and the chief confirmed that payroll and time sheets will be audited under the UEZ rules; Santoro recommended adding monthly reporting so the commission and public can track patrol activity and outcomes.

The commission’s action does not change existing municipal staffing authorized in the city budget; officials said the pilot is intended to add temporary patrol presence while the city recruits and trains new officers.

Commission comments and public remarks emphasized both the urgency of visible patrols and the technical limits of UEZ rules. Santoro summarized implementation steps and cautioned that the application must be approved by the UEZ authority before full execution.