Borough News from the Desk of the Warden - May, 2021

Borough News from the Desk of the Warden 
May 25, 2021

Dear Residents,

Happy spring to you and all of your families. I am pleased to report that another beautiful spring has emerged in the Borough. I look forward to seeing everyone over the next few weeks. Please see below for general news and updates which I would like to bring to your attention:

• COVID:  Hopefully, with increasing vaccination rates and falling infection rates, our summer in Fenwick will return to the normalcy of bygone years. Until that time, we will continue to follow the state and federal guidelines where applicable. I strongly encourage all Borough residents who have not already done so to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

• Annual Resident’s Meeting: After a one-year COVID absence, the Board of Warden and Burgesses will hold the annual Resident’s Meeting as usual in St. Mary’s on Saturday, May 29th at 9am. In accordance with the recently released guidance from the CDC and the state, all are welcome to attend the meeting. I request that all of those who choose to attend adhere to that guidance which calls for individuals who are NOT vaccinated to wear a mask. Those who are vaccinated are welcome to wear a mask or not. If you have any questions regarding the above, please feel free to reach out to me to discuss.

• Playclass: The Fenwick Junior Sports Program Registration has just been sent via email and if you are not currently on the email distribution list and would like to be, please reach out to: Carolyn Agee or Caroline Borge Keenan. The Fenwick Junior Sports Program is in dire need of a Sailing Parent/Grandparent to join Annie Roy in running the Sailing Program; as well as a Golf Parent/Grandparent to join Robyn Gengras in running the Golf Program. As always, we will also need parents and grandparents to volunteer on Monday mornings to score the Junior Golf play day, so please reach out to Robyn Gengras at if you would like to score.

• Borough Entrance: We have contracted with Dibble Construction to rebuild the Borough entrance. The primary improvements will be to reorient the connection to Route 154 to a more conventional ingress/egress and to raise the roadbed so as prevent flooding of the road during storms and excessive high tides. The construction is slated to commence on or about June 1 and last for two weeks. Your patience will be appreciated when traveling through the area.

• Staffing: While there have been a few changes to staff this year, our key team remains in place. At the helm is our General Manager Jeff Champion (gm@fenwicknews.com), Daryl Aresco, Superintendent (superintendent@fenwicknews.com) Jason McWade, Assistant Superintendent, and Marilyn Ozols, Land Use Administrator/Zoning Enforcement Officer (zeo@fenwicknews.com). Please feel free to reach out to any of them with questions or concerns. They have done a fantastic job over the past year under trying circumstances and deserve a hearty thank you from all. There was one change in the maintenance department as Sean Caffrey has moved on to pursue another opportunity after 30+ years of service. Thank you, Sean.

• Other Staff Updates: Pete Dombrowski has returned as the Park Ranger, and again is tasked with keeping folks out of the places they are not supposed to be. Additionally, similarly to last year, we will be hiring several Beach Monitors to help control the flow of unauthorized people, bikes, carts and cars down to the beach area, the western entrance and Long Beach. Please introduce yourself, your families and your guests to them.

• Hammer Law and Lawn Maintenance: The Board of Burgesses recently amended the “Hammer Law” ordinance to tighten/simplify the existing construction activity language and to restrict the days and times of lawn service operations. Please take careful note of these changes below and make the appropriate adjustments in advance of the summer season:
  • No yard/lawn service shall occur in the Borough on Friday, Saturday & Sundays during the Summer Season (Memorial Day – Columbus Day). This restriction does NOT prohibit yard/lawn work by owners maintaining their own property.
  • No yard/lawn service shall occur on any day before 8am or after 5pm. Inclusive of all.
  • No commercial yard/lawn service vehicles are permitted to park on Borough roads. Please make sure your contractor understands that he/she must park in your driveway or in another agreed upon location.

• Golf Carts: Golf carts are to be operated ONLY by those who hold a valid driver’s license. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS. Please do not allow your young teens to drive a cart, especially at night. As well, all Borough residents driving carts on Borough roads must adhere to the stop signs, etc.

• St. Mary’s By the Sea: Thankfully, St. Mary’s is planning on reopening and holding services again this summer, beginning with the first Sunday in July.

Thank you for your time and careful consideration of the above. All signs point to another fantastic summer season in the Borough. I hope to see everyone this weekend or shortly thereafter. Please feel free to contact me (warden@fenwicknews.com)  with any questions or concerns.

Respectfully,
Newton C. Brainard III
Warden
Borough of Fenwick