Council Division Existed Down to Library Branch Site Vote

STONE HARBOR — Down to the wire, there was division on where to locate the borough’s branch of the Cape May County Library.
Prior to Borough Council’s Tue., July 3 4-2 vote to place the $6-million facility on the parcel of borough-owned ground known as the Hand Lots, between 93rd and 94th street, even the three-member Library Location Committee was divided 2-1.
On that body, dissolved after the July 3 vote, was Councilwoman Jocelyn Rich, Councilwoman Judith Davies-Dunhour and Councilman Barry Mastrangelo.
Lane and Rich voted for the resolution to place the branch on the Hand lot, Mastrangelo voted against it, as did Councilman Albert Carusi.
Also, down to the wire, opponents of the Hand Lot presented a petition to Borough Clerk Suzanne Stanford with 346 names, reportedly with 273 wanting the library on the borough-owned parking lot at 95th Street and the beach.
Like a previous petition that one would have done no good, since it did not deal with spending borough money, Mayor Suzanne Walters told the petitioners.
That petition sought another committee to take more input from the public regarding placement of the branch facility.
Now, the county and County Library Commission will be informed, officially, of the July 3 decision, and the wheels will again be placed in motion to design a library to fit on the parcel near the museum and elementary school.
As council’s resolution states, “To bring finality to the process and allow for the project to be brought to fruition.”
Borough Administrator Jill Gougher and Solicitor Michael Donohue are authorized to begin discussions with representatives of the county and Library Commission to “reform the lease related to the library in a manner to obtain terms favorable to the borough…”
Both are to report to borough council regarding those discussions at the Aug. 21 meeting of council.
“The Library Location Committee having completed its work, is, hereby disbanded and its charge and authority extinguished with the appreciation of the Borough Council,” states the resolution.
A certified copy of the formal action will be sent to Edmund Grant, county director of operations, and Library Commission Executive Director Deborah Poillon.