Millville commissioners discuss temporary sheriff detail, Gold Veil closing, dewatering funds and apartment abatements

Millville City commissioners used a work session to review several operational items, including a proposal to use Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) funds to temporarily pay the county sheriff for weekend and nighttime patrols, questions about closing on the Gold Veil Building, a request for a presentation on a wastewater dewatering project tied to recent clarifier savings, and debate over whether apartment rehabilitations should remain eligible for tax abatements.

Commissioner Sui proposed using UEZ funding to pay the county sheriff to provide supplemental patrols on weekends and nights, saying the “limiting factor was not the money, but the limiting factor was the manpower.” Sui said the city’s budget is currently funded for the number of officers on the books and described the arrangement as temporary: “This will be a temporary thing, not a permanent thing.” Sui asked that staff, the police chief and interested commissioners meet early next week to discuss details and the timeline for submitting UEZ funding requests.

The discussion did not produce a formal direction or vote. Commissioners asked staff to follow up with the police chief and the city chief financial officer to confirm operational and budget details before any decision on shifting UEZ funds is made.

Commissioners also asked for an update on closing the Gold Veil Building. The commission was told the closing is delayed while the title company completes outstanding items; the title/closing agent (referred to in the meeting as MSP) will handle the closing once it receives the documentation. Commissioner Sui said the city is already about $30,000 into the project for taxes and that the city “ought to pay roughly $28,” and urged staff to expedite the remaining items so the closing can proceed.

Vice Mayor Watson asked that the dewatering project be placed on the April agenda for a formal presentation from Wayne in engineering. Commissioners discussed that earlier work on a clarifier came in under budget and that those savings create room to fund a dewatering project. A commissioner said, regarding the clarifier, that the city “got the $11,000,000 for the clarifier, and we came in way under bid,” and asked staff to clarify whether about $2,000,000 could be used for interest and principal forgiveness or other financing options; Watson said she would follow up with staff (Susan) and the city’s banking contacts to explore options. No formal action was taken; commissioners requested the presentation and follow-up information.

Commissioners debated whether residential apartment rehabilitations should remain eligible for tax abatements under the city’s classification system (referred to in the meeting as “category 4c” for apartment complexes, with 4a commercial and 4b industrial noted). Concerns were raised about applying abatements to rehabs rather than new construction and about potential unintended consequences if the code is broadened to include different uses. One commissioner suggested tabling changes to allow research and drafting of an ordinance amendment; another said they were inclined to vote no on providing abatements in that circumstance. The transcript referenced the Glastown Apartments project as an example, noting permits pulled in February 2021 and that the project has changed over time from a proposed veterans project to a general-market rehab. Commissioners agreed to consider additional research and possible code changes at a future meeting.

No public commenters addressed the work-session agenda. The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that was made and seconded; the transcript ends after those prompts and does not record a final vote on adjournment.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to return with clarifying information and presentations where indicated (police funding mechanics and UEZ rules, a dewatering presentation and financing options, and possible ordinance language on tax abatements) for consideration at upcoming meetings.