As a courtesy to our SHPOA Members, we’re bringing you a summary of each Stone Harbor Work Session and Council Meeting. Intended as summaries, these intentionally don’t have a lot of details and are not a substitute for the official Borough minutes.

Work Session

During the November 2, 2026 Borough Council meeting, Committee Chairmen Ken Biddick and Joel Vaul presented updates from the Administration and Finance Committee and the Utility Committee.

Administration and Finance Committee: Chairman Biddick announced that the Borough is proceeding with infrastructure and equipment upgrades utilizing capital funds realized through the land sale connected to the IHM (Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary) properties. The sale of adjacent Borough property to complete a right-of-way yielded about $2 million to the capital fund. Projects supported by these additional funds are expected to include replacing the security system in Borough buildings, acquiring new equipment for the Public Works Department, remounting an ambulance, and paying off the cost of the new fire truck expected to be delivered in 2027. (See Ordinance 171 concerning a number of projects currently approved.)

Council Member Biddick stated that the Avalon beach replenishment project was complete and work is expected to begin in early December on Stone Harbor beaches. Borough Administrator Joe Clark did not anticipate any changes to the areas scheduled for replenishment under the plan (areas between 80th to 120th Street), but explained that due to recent storms, as much as an additional 100,000 cubic yards of sand maybe added to the 540,000 cubic yards originally proposed for the project.

Biddick reported that the Borough will be replacing the HVAC systems in all buildings through a direct-install program offered by Atlantic Electric. Half the project costs will be paid by the utility, leaving Stone Harbor with a cost of $300,000 which will be covered by a zero-percent interest loan. He added that Stone Harbor had entered into an agreement with Enterprise Rental to supply all Borough vehicles. The lease agreement will cover the cost of vehicle maintenance, as well as allow total fleet replacement every five years. He explained that Stone Harbor would also receive credit for returned vehicles that sell for a price above their projected resale value.

Utility Committee: During the discussion of public utilities, Clark announced that water and sewage bills will go out by the end of the week. Payment is due by December 1st. Property owners are allowed a 30-day grace period for payment. Clark added that Stone Harbor’s Consumer Water Portal has been activated, allowing owners to monitor sewage and water use on their properties.

Borough Engineer Marc DeBlasio updated the Council about ongoing construction projects and reported that the Flood Mitigation Master Plan has been finalized and will be presented at the Council’s December 1, 2026 meeting. He noted that bulkhead on the Avalon side of the Marina boat ramp was damaged by the October storms and indicated that the Borough would seek Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance to address the recent damage.

Mayor Tim Carney commented that Stone Harbor would be taking a more active role in addressing leaking bulkheads. He announced that Stone Harbor will soon be sending letters to homeowners who fail to maintain their bulkheads and will hold the owners accountable under the existing ordinance for proper maintenance.

Regular Meeting

The Council postponed consideration of a resolution, without comment, that would have advanced a proposal to create a Seashore Park at First Avenue and 95th Street. The resolution would authorize DeBlasio & Associates to prepare and file an application with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permits. Facilities at the Park would include a new permanent public restroom facility, a stage for public events and performances, a great lawn and Veterans Park public space with a Veterans Memorial, a new street-end cul-de-sac for pick-up and drop-off, renovated surface parking, and landscaping. The Council had previously commissioned William McLees Architecture to develop the conceptual plan for the Seashore Park and authorized DeBlasio to submit a Cape May County Open Space grant application to secure funding for the Project.

The Council approved three new ordinances:
Ordinance 1713, increasing escrow fees for applications submitted to the Borough Planning and Zoning Boards by $800 per application;
Ordinance 1714, establishing a 20 percent affordable housing set-aside for all newly constructed multifamily residential developments with five or more units; and
Ordinance 1715, authorizing $550,000 from funding available in the Borough’s capital improvement fund for acquisitions and improvements, including repairing an ambulance, acquiring equipment for use by the Department of Public Works, and upgrading the security systems in the Borough’s public buildings
The Council approved a number of Resolutions on the consent calendar, including:
Resolution 2026-S-279, authorizing the award of a contract to Jesco, Inc. for the purchase of heavy construction equipment in an amount not to exceed $140,995.02; and
Resolution 2026-S-280, authorizing the Public Works Department to hire Robert McHale as a full-time Class 3 maintenance mechanic within the Grounds Division.
Public Comment:
Gayle Maurer, a resident of First Avenue, expressed her concern that landscaping between the curb and the sidewalk is impeding foot traffic and creating a hazard for visually impaired pedestrians. She stated that Stone Harbor has an ordinance that limits the height of plants and other shrubs to 2.5 feet and requires a setback from obstructing curbs and intersections. Mayor Carney requested that Administrator Clark look into her concerns.

To view legislation discussed at the meeting, please click:
https://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/11.2.2026-REG-website.pdf

To view a video of the meeting, please click:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guB4TxnvDbE
NOTE: As you may know, our friends at the Cape May County Herald are offering SHPOA members only an exclusive discount for Herald subscriptions — 25% OFF with code “SHPOA” — and they are also providing your association advertising space in print and online for us to promote the association and the initiatives important to our members.

To subscribe and use the discount, please click on https://capemaycountyherald.com/subscribe/ and use promo code “SHPOA” at checkout to claim your 25% discount. Only valid for new subscribers.
To read past Stone Harbor Council Meeting summaries, please click here: https://www.stoneharborpoa.org/category/borough-meeting-summaries/

To watch recordings of past meetings, please click here: https://stoneharbornj.org/agendameetings/watch-mayor-and-council-meetings-online/