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
Lifeguards
Sandy Bosacco reported on the Beach Patrol’s training, equipment, and procedures for medical emergencies. Currently, there are four lieutenants who have been on the Patrol for 27 years and have been CPR instructors for the past 10 years. All guards are annually certified for Professional Rescuer CPR, Automated Electronic Defibrillators (AEDs), advanced first aid, and stop-the-bleed. They get refresher courses throughout the season. Beach Patrol Headquarters, vehicles, and stands are equipped with thorough first aid kits, spine boards, and tourniquets.
The vehicles have AEDs and are quickly dispatched to emergency situations. The Patrol has used AEDs three times in the last five years, all with positive outcomes.
Highlights from Recreation and Tourism:
Shannon McPherson detailed the Mayor’s Wellness Program which will begin Jan 12. It’s a nine-week program to “help people with their new year’s resolutions,” open to employees this year. People are asked to send in three, 30-minute workouts per week. There will be CPR training for all employees. There will be guest speakers and prizes. The program will end with a chili cookoff.
Natural Resources
Marc DeBlasio: The second Point Survey Report was sent to the Borough on Dec 5. About a third of the beach was lost and two thirds grew. In summary, there were approximately 13,000 cubic yards of beach lost between the two surveys.
Construction on the 114th Street Pump Station is approximately 75% finished.
Items of discussion
Manny Parada described a new grant program sponsored by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to encourage the study of the effects of sea level rise on beaches and bays, and to devise natural remedies to deal with it. Stone Harbor will apply to participate.
The Planning Board voted to allow virtual participation by members of the Board, on a trial basis for six months.
Council Meeting
During Public Comment, there was a lengthy discussion about installing kiosks for people to pay for parking with cash or credit card, to supplement the ParkMobile app. The Council will look into the price of the kiosks.
SHPOA President Rich Fuchs offered condolences to Councilmember Robin Casper on the passing of her father, and thanked the Council, Mayor, and Borough Administration for a collaborative year and wished everyone a productive and enthusiastic 2024.
SHPOA Trustee Geoff Woolery spoke about the importance of purchasing AEDs for the lifeguard stations.
A number of resolutions were passed, including one to establish a shared-services agreement with Cape May County for snow/ice removal on County roads in the Borough, and another to extend the scope of the Special Counsel.
Appreciation was expressed to Councilmember Reese Moore for his service on the Council.
To read legislation discussed at the meeting, please click here: https://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/12.19.2023-Regular-Meeting-Agenda.pdf
To view a video of the meeting, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYww5shATMU
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/