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 Departmental Reorganizations:
Fire
Council President Jen Gensemer presented proposed changes to the Fire Department and EMT service, which she said were driven by Council’s plan to seek permission to exceed the state-mandated budget cap. The Fire Department’s current reliance on a mix of paid employees and volunteers is not sustainable over time, she said, due to shortages of volunteers, not only in Stone Harbor but in most municipalities. She said Public Safety Committee members met with fire officials to discuss options. Borough administrator Joe Clark said borough officials met with state Local Assistance Bureau experts who supported the move to a full-time professional Fire Department. He said there is not yet a cost estimate for the change but emphasized a full-time paid department would still welcome volunteers. Gensemer also said changes to the organization of the Police Department and new shared construction services with Wildwood Crest have been implemented after guidance from the Department of Community Affairs Local Assistance Bureau. She stressed DCA’s consulting services were not a formal recommendation or audit report, adding that she believes the changes are working well so far.
Fire
Council President Jen Gensemer presented proposed changes to the Fire Department and EMT service, which she said were driven by Council’s plan to seek permission to exceed the state-mandated budget cap. The Fire Department’s current reliance on a mix of paid employees and volunteers is not sustainable over time, she said, due to shortages of volunteers, not only in Stone Harbor but in most municipalities. She said Public Safety Committee members met with fire officials to discuss options. Borough administrator Joe Clark said borough officials met with state Local Assistance Bureau experts who supported the move to a full-time professional Fire Department. He said there is not yet a cost estimate for the change but emphasized a full-time paid department would still welcome volunteers. Gensemer also said changes to the organization of the Police Department and new shared construction services with Wildwood Crest have been implemented after guidance from the Department of Community Affairs Local Assistance Bureau. She stressed DCA’s consulting services were not a formal recommendation or audit report, adding that she believes the changes are working well so far.
Public Works
Council member Bunny Parzych, who chairs Council’s Public Works Committee, said a new ordinance would be introduced on August 19 to reorganize the Department of Public Works. The ordinance would amend the borough code to create three divisions in the department instead of the current two. Each division would be managed by a supervisor reporting to the director. The current position of deputy director would be eliminated, but an executive assistant would be established to help with the director’s workload. One division would cover trash collection and maintenance of the beaches, marina, and vehicle fleets. A second would maintain buildings and grounds. The third would manage utilities including sanitary sewers, clean water delivery, and stormwater management. The overall department’s name would be changed to the Department of Public Works and Utilities.
Council member Bunny Parzych, who chairs Council’s Public Works Committee, said a new ordinance would be introduced on August 19 to reorganize the Department of Public Works. The ordinance would amend the borough code to create three divisions in the department instead of the current two. Each division would be managed by a supervisor reporting to the director. The current position of deputy director would be eliminated, but an executive assistant would be established to help with the director’s workload. One division would cover trash collection and maintenance of the beaches, marina, and vehicle fleets. A second would maintain buildings and grounds. The third would manage utilities including sanitary sewers, clean water delivery, and stormwater management. The overall department’s name would be changed to the Department of Public Works and Utilities.
Tax Bills
Council also announced that tax bills are being mailed out, but a grace period would be extended to September 1. Bills may state a deadline of August 1 or August 20. The municipal portion of the tax rate will increase 7.2 percent.
Council also announced that tax bills are being mailed out, but a grace period would be extended to September 1. Bills may state a deadline of August 1 or August 20. The municipal portion of the tax rate will increase 7.2 percent.
Utilities
Council member Ken Biddick, who oversees utilities, reported a major water meter failure at The Reeds, that lasted three months, has since been repaired. The Reeds is disputing its bill. He also said 35 percent of residential meters in the borough have failed and the manufacturer has agreed to repair all of them. He said it is unclear if the meter problems have created issues with revenue. He said the committee is also taking a look at the borough’s billing structure in an attempt to manage debt service better.
Council member Ken Biddick, who oversees utilities, reported a major water meter failure at The Reeds, that lasted three months, has since been repaired. The Reeds is disputing its bill. He also said 35 percent of residential meters in the borough have failed and the manufacturer has agreed to repair all of them. He said it is unclear if the meter problems have created issues with revenue. He said the committee is also taking a look at the borough’s billing structure in an attempt to manage debt service better.
Public Comment
Lt. Lou Donofrio of the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Department read a statement criticizing plans to rely more on professional employees. He said the volunteers have worked with the borough to develop a successful department that combined paid professionals with volunteers. He criticized the haste in which the plan was conceived and put forth for introduction on August 19. Mayor Tim Carney said he is pleased with the way the department runs and sees no reason to initiate any changes. He questioned how the addition of professional firefighters would reduce budget overruns that are leading Council to seek approval to raise the cap. The proposal under discussion would increase the number of fire captains and squads from three to four. Biddick said it is unclear how many paid firefighters are required beyond the plan to make four captains because it is unclear how big their squads should be. He said the problem could be solved by consolidating services with Avalon but said that notion has come against resistance. Later, during the public comment section of the Regular Meeting, Cynthia Lindsay, Chief Financial Officer, said that if the two towns combined departments Stone Harbor would likely be the lead agency because it has professional staff while Avalon is fully volunteer. Both towns have volunteers cross-trained for fire and emergency calls. She said shared services save municipalities money and their costs would not count against the budget cap. She said Stone Harbor would need to develop a structure before it could approach Avalon, adding that there has been no discussion of the arrangement between the two towns. Gensemer explained the Fire Department proposal stems from a prior plan to hold a non-binding referendum on exceeding the state budget cap in November, followed by a binding vote in February. To make that schedule work, Council had planned to discuss the Fire Department changes at the August 19 meeting. However, she said state officials have informed Council that the timeline to exceed the cap requires a referendum in April after the 2026 budget is finalized. So, Council then began to consider the Fire Department changes to build the new budget. After discussion, Council agreed to put any new ordinance on the Fire Department on hold until additional information can be gathered. In a written comment, Carrie Todd, owner of the Bread & Cheese Cupboard on 96th Street, objected to an ordinance to add two farmers’ market pop-ups on Wednesdays during the current market season. She said the Sunday market blocks the rear door to her shop and she said adding weekdays could interfere with deliveries and trash collection. She also raised questions of whether the current market vendors are blocking fire lanes. Will Boyer, manager of the farmers’ market, said the proposal to add pop-up dates comes after requests from residents who are finding the market is becoming overcrowded. He said the market is already packed into the 95th Street parking lot and the only way to improve access to residents is to add an additional morning.
Lt. Lou Donofrio of the Stone Harbor Volunteer Fire Department read a statement criticizing plans to rely more on professional employees. He said the volunteers have worked with the borough to develop a successful department that combined paid professionals with volunteers. He criticized the haste in which the plan was conceived and put forth for introduction on August 19. Mayor Tim Carney said he is pleased with the way the department runs and sees no reason to initiate any changes. He questioned how the addition of professional firefighters would reduce budget overruns that are leading Council to seek approval to raise the cap. The proposal under discussion would increase the number of fire captains and squads from three to four. Biddick said it is unclear how many paid firefighters are required beyond the plan to make four captains because it is unclear how big their squads should be. He said the problem could be solved by consolidating services with Avalon but said that notion has come against resistance. Later, during the public comment section of the Regular Meeting, Cynthia Lindsay, Chief Financial Officer, said that if the two towns combined departments Stone Harbor would likely be the lead agency because it has professional staff while Avalon is fully volunteer. Both towns have volunteers cross-trained for fire and emergency calls. She said shared services save municipalities money and their costs would not count against the budget cap. She said Stone Harbor would need to develop a structure before it could approach Avalon, adding that there has been no discussion of the arrangement between the two towns. Gensemer explained the Fire Department proposal stems from a prior plan to hold a non-binding referendum on exceeding the state budget cap in November, followed by a binding vote in February. To make that schedule work, Council had planned to discuss the Fire Department changes at the August 19 meeting. However, she said state officials have informed Council that the timeline to exceed the cap requires a referendum in April after the 2026 budget is finalized. So, Council then began to consider the Fire Department changes to build the new budget. After discussion, Council agreed to put any new ordinance on the Fire Department on hold until additional information can be gathered. In a written comment, Carrie Todd, owner of the Bread & Cheese Cupboard on 96th Street, objected to an ordinance to add two farmers’ market pop-ups on Wednesdays during the current market season. She said the Sunday market blocks the rear door to her shop and she said adding weekdays could interfere with deliveries and trash collection. She also raised questions of whether the current market vendors are blocking fire lanes. Will Boyer, manager of the farmers’ market, said the proposal to add pop-up dates comes after requests from residents who are finding the market is becoming overcrowded. He said the market is already packed into the 95th Street parking lot and the only way to improve access to residents is to add an additional morning.
Regular Meeting
On the consent agenda, Council approved technical resolutions and one allowing Wildwood Catholic to use the soccer field and tennis courts. A full vote was taken on the farmers’ market resolution. Council member Robin Casper opposed the measure, raising concerns that expanding the market days would create a hardship for local merchants. Additional days are proposed for August 13 and August 27. Parzyck said residents support the market and she said the resolution only creates two pop-ups as a test. She said it is not a sign that Council will expand the market days in 2026. The resolution was approved with only Casper opposed and Biddick voting to abstain.
On the consent agenda, Council approved technical resolutions and one allowing Wildwood Catholic to use the soccer field and tennis courts. A full vote was taken on the farmers’ market resolution. Council member Robin Casper opposed the measure, raising concerns that expanding the market days would create a hardship for local merchants. Additional days are proposed for August 13 and August 27. Parzyck said residents support the market and she said the resolution only creates two pop-ups as a test. She said it is not a sign that Council will expand the market days in 2026. The resolution was approved with only Casper opposed and Biddick voting to abstain.
To view legislation discussed at the meeting, please click: https://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Agendas-and-Back-up-for-August-5-2025-Council-Meeting.pdf
To view a video of the meeting, please click:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDmtp_hppkE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDmtp_hppkE
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
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