Beach Haven Detective Sgt. James Markoski takes oath of office as lieutenant

Accompanied by his wife and two young sons, Beach Haven Detective Sgt. James Markoski took the oath of office at the start of the borough council’s monthly meeting Monday, May 11. He was promoted as the department’s lieutenant.

Markoski began his career in town as a special law enforcement officer class I in 1993, announced Councilman James White. Markoski was hired full-time in November 1996 and promoted to sergeant in 2006. Two years later he became detective sergeant.

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Surrounded by his family, Beach Haven Detective Sgt.
James Markoski takes the oath of office as lieutenant.

He has also participated in the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office’s Special Operations Group, “where he took part in numerous high-level undercover drug operations,” White said.

In 2014, Markoski completed his time at the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police Command and Leadership School. He continues to lead the department as patrol rifle and firearms instructor and internal affairs officer, as well as lead instructor for the Ocean County Police Academy Beach Haven satellite, White stated.

“In every position, Jim, you have exceeded the expectations around you,” said White. “You not only have achieved rank, but the respect of your superior officers and the rank and file that you serve with. We in Beach Haven are proud to have you both for your dedication and your intellect, but also the commitment you have shown to our community. It is our fervent desire that you continue to learn and grow and to strive to make the Beach Haven Police Department an even better department. We wish you many happy years ahead. I know your family is proud of you, the department is proud of you, I am proud of you, as is this council. Continue to make us all proud,” he added.

Following the promotion, the council also honored resident Annette Schreiber, whose father was a merchant mariner, with a proclamation for National Maritime Day.

Last week, Europe celebrated the 70th anniversary of VE Day, Schreiber noted.

Photo by Jack Reynolds
Local resident Annette Schreiber thanks the
council for recognizing National Maritime Day.

“If it were not for the Merchant Marines ... the world that we live in today would look very, very different,” she said. “They were literally unsung heroes. They did not receive veteran’s benefits until the mid-’80s.

“I’m glad that Beach Haven has been kind enough and generous enough to make this proclamation for the past two years, to honor those members of the Merchant Marines and my father,” she added.

Council members are encouraging residents to display an American flag outside their home on May 22. All ships sailing under the American flag are asked to rest ship on that day.

Members of the council also congratulated Mayor Nancy Taggart Davis for recently receiving professor emerita status at Stockton University. She will officially retire from the university this summer, after 41 years of working there.

In other meeting news, Borough Manager Richard Crane announced the town’s emergency berm project following Superstorm Sandy is expected to go to close-out with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The project cost the town in excess of $800,000. Borough officials initially disputed FEMA’s model, and the town was credited with about $159,000. In terms of plans for expenditures to create the berms, the town expects to receive an additional $490,000, which does not include administrative expenses.

“This is going to be a test case for us. We’ve never gone through a close-out before,” Crane said. “... You all know we’re approaching the 30-month mark (since the storm). I’m counting off the months, and it’s just incredible I’m still talking about it as if it was yesterday,” he added.

The town is also coming to conclusion with insurance payments from the storm, said Crane. An initial payment for about $650,000 has been received, and an additional $137,409 is expected.

“It doesn’t really come close to what we lost. However, understand that we were one of many towns that participated in a joint insurance fund. There is a cap on the amount of money they’re going to pay out to any of the towns,” Crane said. “Essentially we’re receiving 65 cents on the dollar for what we do get.”

Once the funds are received, town officials can then work with FEMA for the remaining 35 percent. Crane hopes that process will take place before the end of summer.

Crane also noted that beach replenishment has started in Ship Bottom, and it should be coming to Beach Haven by the end of summer.

Beach Haven officials are pursuing rail fencing instead of the normal snow fencing that often creates a build-up of more sand, making it difficult for some people to get over the dunes. Rail fencing, which Surf City and Harvey Cedars officials are also pursuing, Crane said, pushes the sand through, not up. This type of fencing would also give people “something very secure to hold onto” when getting onto the beach. This is especially important if they are not at one of the three handicap-accessible entryways the town intends to have, Crane noted.

Later in the meeting, the council adopted ordinance amendments regarding secondhand goods as well as fees charged for arcade and video games.

An amended fee for the permanent abandonment of water service from the town’s water conveyance system was approved on introduction.

During public comment, local resident Scott Cunningham said people have been using his lawn to relieve themselves at night. Although he is “all for keeping the bars open,” he said, the issue is a health hazard for the municipality.

“I’m on Sixth Street and the Boulevard; I’m the only one with grass, shrubs and bushes. (It’s happening) every night,” Cunningham said. “Twenty years ago I would go out and stuff your face in it; I can’t do that anymore. I’m not kidding you. I got 20 dogs a day; I got to keep 10 people a night away.”

To combat the problem, Cunningham said, the town’s bathhouses need to be kept open at night. He suggested a police officer be stationed outside each of the facilities.

When asked, borough Police Chief Kevin Kohler said his officers issue “a lot” of tickets for public urination.

On another note, Cunningham said he believes year-round residents should not have to pay for a beach badge. He suggested residents should also receive a few passes for friends and family.

Because there are so many new homes being built in the area since Sandy, the local resident, who said he has been in the building industry for many years, suggested the town push the setback for homes from 75 percent to 65 percent. He noted that beautiful homes are coming in, but the small homes are disappearing, and it is basically becoming too crowded.

Cunningham said it would also be nice if the town disallowed construction in the summer during certain hours, unless it is on a person’s own property.

Taggart Davis said the council would take Cunningham’s ideas into consideration.

Two area homeowners who each owe thousands of dollars for their quarterly water bills stood before the council asking for some reprieve. After the meeting, Taggart Davis mentioned the same issue has been a problem for other residents due to pipes leaking and bursting during the extremely cold winter. Council members are arranging to offer tips and other educational information to the public about conservation and home winterization as well as a possible one-time forgiveness plan.

— Kelley Anne Essinger


This article was published in The SandPaper.