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
ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE COMMITTEE
Councilwoman Jennifer Gensemer presented a report regarding the budget which is summarized below. 
She noted that the Borough will no longer need to seek a waiver from the Division of Local Government Services for the 2025 Budget.
The budget is scheduled to be introduced on April 15. The public hearing is scheduled for May 20. 

She said that the borough made some changes with Chief Financial Officer and Administrator Cynthia Lindsay conducting a line-by-line review of the Water and Sewer Utility Budget. It was determined that many administrative expenses—such as pension contributions for utility employees, liability insurance, workers’ compensation, and other shared costs—had not been properly allocated to the Utility Fund. These costs, which should have been distributed between the Current Fund and the Utility Fund, are now being properly accounted for.

In addition, thanks to a Shared Services initiative for the Construction Department, the borough was able to shift related expenses outside of the appropriation cap. 

Expenditures related to stormwater management and water pollution control programs can also be treated as outside-the-cap items. These measures provide the necessary relief to bring the Borough’s Current Fund appropriations within the mandated cap limits.
Along with budget planning, the borough is advancing Capital Improvement Planning. A comprehensive review of departmental needs is underway, with a focus on infrastructure investments. They include new playgrounds, improvements to municipal buildings and the firehouse, and acquisition of essential equipment for Public Works.
 
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
Councilwoman Bunny Parzych reported that the point road is open. Grass on Second Avenue islands has been cut and thatched, public flower beds have been cleaned and prepped, and plans for new roofs at the firehouse and Borough Hall are underway.
 
UTILITIES COMMITTEE
Councilman Ken Biddick reported the following:
Water & Sewer Fees
The Borough has retroactively shifted mis-allocated expenses from the Borough account to the Water & Sewer Utility. This has resulted in a budget shortfall for the Utility of $1 million. The remedy for this shortfall will be a $125 quarterly increase for the final three quarters of 2025 for every homeowner in the borough.  The Utility Authority will be re-working the rate structure for 2026. The 2026 structure likely will pro-rate fees based on actual usage. The heaviest usage is irrigation.

RECREATION FEES
The Mayor and Council want to revise recreation fees, with a primary focus on Pickleball and plan to vote on it soon.

Regular Meeting
Council passed several resolutions and ordinances including awarding a contract for work at the 96th Street Recreation Complex, exploring a shared services agreement for building inspections with Wildwood Crest, as well as hiring a private firm to do construction inspections.
 
To read legislation from the meeting, please click: https://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/04.01.2025-Regular-Meeting-Agenda-and-Documents.pdf
To view a video of the meeting, please click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fy_kLS6OBg
 
 

NOTE: The Cape May County Herald recently had  articles related to topics covered at this Council Meeting. These articles can be found along with others as part of their coverage of Stone Harbor.

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/