Seaside Park To Take Over Building Code Duties For South Seaside Park, Pelican Island

by Patricia A. Miller

Berkeley Township Council members have approved a shared services agreement that calls for Seaside Park to take over building code duties in South Seaside Park and Pelican Island.

The vote on the agreement was 4 to 0 at the April 7 council meeting. Council members Robert G. Ray, Sophia Gingrich and Angelo Guadagno were absent.

Township Council President James J. Byrnes asked if South Seaside Park and Pelican Island residents who are in the middle of Superstorm Sandy grant processes will still be able to have construction fees waived.

"It depends on the timing," Township Administrator Christopher Reid said.

Berkeley Township waived construction fees for Sandy victims whose homes were destroyed or substantially damaged by the storm for more than a year.

Township attorney Lauren R. Staiger said residents who may be affected by the change should come to Berkeley Town Hall with the proper documentation.

"They should be prepared to have the basic documentation to meet the criteria," Reid said.

"We have the list of the fifty-one percenters," Byrnes said. He referred to residents whose homes were over 50 percent damaged by Sandy. "It's probably not many anyway."