Proposal would create a more uniform approach throughout the municipality

Cape May Court House, N.J. — Middle Township announced that it is considering consolidation of the
municipality’s two Fire Prevention Bureaus. The proposed plan would shift the designation of the fire
code enforcement agency from the Township’s Fire Districts to the Middle Township Construction
Office.

The purpose of the proposed restructuring would be to reduce costs, increase uniformity of
enforcement throughout the community and better integrate the fire inspection protocols into the
broader construction permitting process.

Currently, fire prevention and fire code enforcement are administered through two separate offices,
operated by the Fire Commissioners in Fire District 1 (Cape May Court House) and Fire District 2 (Rio
Grande).

Fire District 1 provides fire pevention services for Fire District 3 (Green Creek) and Fire District 4
(Goshen).

“We appreciate the good work that both offices have done for the Township,” Mayor Tim Donohue said.
“But as the Township grows and the regulatory burden on projects and renovations increases, it is vital
that we streamline our permitting and inspection processes and ensure that policies and enforcement
are uniform throughout the municipality.”

The proposed changes are part of a broader initiative by Township Committee to restructure and
improve the Construction and Zoning function by bringing all permitting processes, including sewer and
fire prevention, under one roof.

“With the hiring of our new Construction Official, cross-training of staff and upgrades in technology, we
are working to remove any hurdles to responsible and sustainable development,” Deputy Mayor Ike
Gandy said. “By consolidating all permitting in one location, under the authority of the Construction
Official, we plan to create a one-stop shop for our builders, developers and residents.”

Gandy, a supervising foreman in the Carpenters Union, oversees the Construction and Zoning Offices in
the Township. “The proposed changes in Fire Prevention services would require a revision to the existing
Ordinance 1206-05,” Gandy said. “The Township will be seeking input from throughout the community
on the best practices to institute going forward.”

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