Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget And Projects topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pinelands committee forwards budget recommending $3M for land acquisition, funds for Fenwick repairs and database overhaul
Summary
The Pinelands Commission PNI committee recommended a budget that includes funding to stabilize the deteriorating Fenwick building, $3 million for land-acquisition grants tied to South Jersey Transportation Authority mitigation, and a multi-year modernization of the commission's PCIS database approved by National Park Service grant terms.
At a meeting of the Pinelands Commission's PNI committee, staff presented a budget recommendation that would fund stabilization work at the aging Fenwick building, continue National Park Service-supported monitoring projects, and launch a multi-year overhaul of the commission's application-tracking system.
Director Sue, who led the presentation, said additional funds are appropriated in the budget "for safety and stability, improvements that are needed at Fenwick," and that staff will document needs and submit requests to the treasury for approval. She told the committee that prequalification paperwork for construction companies is due this Friday and that the New Jersey Historic Trust will review submissions and help determine the list of prequalified bidders.
The presentation outlined $298,000 in National Park Service grant funding for the current year, split between economic and environmental monitoring projects. Staff noted several ongoing projects funded through the grant, including a local conformance and zoning system database, historic-cemetery mapping and ground-penetrating radar surveys, and PDC supply-and-demand methodology work. Sue said those projects run through September, after which some will need alternate funding sources.
On technology, Sue said the commission will begin a redo of its Pinelands Commission Information System (PCIS) on Oct. 1. "It needs to become more modern and ultimately public-facing," she said, describing plans to allow applicants and municipalities to view application status without calling staff.
The committee also reviewed the Pilots conservation fund structure and a current land-acquisition funding round. Sue said the commission has $3,000,000 available for land acquisitions provided by the South Jersey Transportation Authority as an offsetting measure tied to development at Atlantic City Airport; the budget shows $3,026,000 being budgeted toward that distribution this fiscal year to reflect anticipated awards.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about specific projects and funding sources. After the presentation, the committee moved and seconded a motion to recommend the budget to the full commission; the motion carried with the committee voice vote.
The committee will send the recommended budget to the full commission for final consideration. Staff said they will begin procurement steps for the Fenwick work after treasury approval and will start the PCIS modernization on Oct. 1, pending implementation planning and contract awards.
