Stone Harbor Forms Committee to Review Library Location

STONE HARBOR — Borough Council, at its reorganization meeting Tue., Jan. 3, appointed a special committee to review, by July 3, sites for a county library branch, and report its finding to the governing body.
The resolution, offered by Councilwoman Joselyn O. Rich, who was sworn to her three-year term earlier in the meeting, won unanimous support from council, including Councilwoman Karen W. Lane, who was also sworn to her post at the meeting by Borough Clerk Suzanne Stanford.
The new committee was charged to study the potential location of the library. It will solicit public input on the project for a six-month period. That means no action will be taken by the borough on the library initiative until summer, at the earliest. The county was awaiting a CAFRA permit from Department of Environmental Protection, which had until Jan. 7 for comment. However, the resolution seems to stall action by either the county, which had already awarded a contract to build the structure on the 95th Street borough parking lot, or the borough.
“This is an effort to engage the public and proactively solicit support from residents and property owners in Stone Harbor regarding the potential location of the library,” stated Mayor Suzanne Walters.Noting that public officials have responsibility to “listen to the public and set public policy based on a consensus, Walters added that the governing body recognized there was both support for, and opposition to the branch library in that beachfront location.
On the committee will be Rich, as chair, along with Councilmembers Barry Mastrangelo and Judy Davies-Dunhour.
The new committee will be known as the “Special Committee for Review of the Library Location.” it will be referred to as the “Library Location Committee. That committee will be purely advisory in scope, and will have no express or implied authority.
The body’s recommendation will be given “great weight” by the council.
The resolution asks the county Library Commission to take no action with regard to construction of the branch library unless requested to do so by council.
In the interim, the public is asked to communicate its desires on the proposed location(s) of the branch in writing, if possible, to Business Administrator Jill Gougher.
Comments may be emailed to jgougher@stone-harbor.nj.us or mailed to 9508 Second Avenue, Stone Harbor, N.J. 08247.
Comments via telephone will be accepted at (609) 368-5102.
At the reorganization, Councilwoman Joan Kramar was voted council president.
Scott Wahl was named public information officer to ensure clear and on-going communications from the borough council to the public. He holds a similar post in Avalon.
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Statements by newly-sworn council members Joselyn O. Rich and Karen W. Lane.
Rich’s statement:
First, thank you to those who supported me on election day and throughout the campaign. And, to those who could not vote for me this time, I will work hard to earn your respect and confidence as well.
I consider the election results to be a big win for Stone Harbor voters and taxpayers in knowing their voice for change has been heard loud and clear. And for me, winning the great opportunity to again be of service to the place I love and call home.
The planks of my campaign will continue to be my guiding principles.
Inclusion: We are Stone Harbor and everyone deserves to have a voice that will be heard.
Transparency: There should be nothing to hide so I will practice open government.
Order: A careful step by step process will assure good results.
As for my initial goals?
Change:
I to we,
Them to Us,
Closed to Open,
Concerns to Solutions,
My way to Our way, and
Silence to Discussion.
I look forward to working with my fellow council members and the mayor to lead Stone Harbor in the right direction.
Lane’s statement:
Thank you. When you walked into that voting booth and pulled that lever for me, you weren’t just giving me your vote you were placing your trust in me. That is a mantle I will not wear lightly. I made no promises during the campaign, they are too easy to make and too easy to break. But, I did make a commitment to keep you included, informed and involved. I can do the first two, you have to remain involved. I know you elected us to represent you in the matters of our government, but you also elected us to listen to you, to your concerns and your ideas. I will do that. I may not always do everything you like, I may not vote the way you believe I should, but I will be open and transparent about everything that I do.
One of the ways we can include you and keep you informed is through town meetings. I will ask mayor and this council to schedule two town meetings a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. Then, we will have a venue where voters and property owners will have the opportunity to discuss their issues and concerns.
No on elected to any position has all of the answers and knowledge required to be an effective leader. You have to realize what you don’t know and then seek out the expertise necessary to formulate plans and projects for the benefit of our town. Stone Harbor is fortunate to have people with incredible talent, skills and knowledge in so many diversified areas.
These are the people we, as a council should be calling upon to assist with projects and ideas for the future of our town.
This will be an exciting, challenging three years. So, in addition to thanking those of you who voted for me, I would like to thank my husband Jim, who has always been the wind beneath my wings, for his support and encouragement during the campaign; living with haphazard dinners, long meetings, numerous telephone calls and just to let him know.. That’s not over. It will probably only get worse. Thank you also to all of our friends who worked so hard to elect us. I will work hard to keep your trust.