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
Reorganized
The Stone Harbor Borough Council held its annual reorganization during its meeting on Jan. 6. Three council members who won election this fall – Frank Vaul, Bob Ross, and Kenneth Biddick — were sworn in. Biddick had been serving out the unexpired term of Tim Carney, who became mayor a year ago.

Councilmember Robin Casper was elected Council President. New committee heads are: Kenneth Biddick, Administration & Finance; Bob Ross, Public Works; Frank Dallahan, Public Safety; Robin Casper, Natural Resources; Bunny Parzyck, Recreation & Tourism; Frank Vaul, Utilities.

The following council liaisons were also appointed: Robin Casper, Museum; Bunny Parzyck, Chamber of Commerce; Tim Carney, SHPOA. Community members of the Go Green, Recreation Advisory, Shade Tree, and Bird Sanctuary committees were also named.

The council also approved appointments for professional services, including financial consultants, attorneys, and engineers.

Parking and Marina Fees Go Up
The consent agenda passed unanimously except for a resolution to raise parking and municipal marina fees, raised to help offset a looming budget hole. Casper and Ross voted no. Casper said the increase in parking fees from $1 an hour to $2.50 is extreme and should have been discussed publicly with business owners and residents. Ross objected to new marina fees of $2,625 and $2,424, depending on the slip. He said boaters have absorbed hefty increases in recent years and the additional hike is unwarranted because no additional services, including restrooms, are offered.

Infrastructure
Carney outlined major infrastructure programs for the coming year. He said the 121st Street resurfacing, 82nd  Street playground construction, and pickleball court resurfacing should be completed before the summer season. He added that work will begin on the 111th and 114th Streets outfall elimination project this year, with completion set for 2027, and the borough is in the process of seeking permits to replace the 81st  Street marina boat ramp.

Public Comment
Pat Bridgeman, who owns several hotels in Stone Harbor, asked that council hold off on enacting the three percent occupancy tax on certain rentals that was made law in December. He said council should consider other sources of revenue, including charging for parking lots that are now free.

SHPOA trustee Justine Herzog urged council not to hold any discussion on repealing the tax, especially since it is about to enter a difficult budget process, due to high debt levels and the loss of federal beach replenishment funding last year. Carney said he will be going to Washington with other local officials to try to restore some money for beach replenishment.

To read legislation from this meeting, please click: https://stoneharbornj.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Reorg-Agenda-and-Back-Up-01.06.2026-Final-Version.pdf

To see a video of the meeting, please click:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQKJgHQxPU8

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/