Parzych, Levins Take Oaths As Stone Harbor Reorganizes

STONE HARBOR – Stone Harbor Borough Council held its 2019 reorganization Jan. 2. At the meeting, two members of council took their oath of office starting new terms.
Raymond Parzych won a full term after two years on the governing body. Parzych was initially appointed to fill the seat vacated by Judith Davies-Dunhour when she successfully ran for mayor.
Following the appointment, Parzych won an election to complete Davis-Dunhour’s unexpired term. He took the oath for a full three-year term.
Robert Levins ran for a seat on the governing body replacing  Joan Kramar, who retired. Levins also began a full three-year term.
The code of the borough stipulates that council members will elect a council president annually for a one-year term.  The council president acts for the mayor during the mayor’s absence. Council members unanimously selected Joselyn Rich as 2019 council president.
With the ceremonial functions complete, council turned its attention to the many housekeeping chores that are necessary at the start of a year.
One routine ordinance was introduced setting salary ranges for borough employees.  Council also approved 31 resolutions that established a temporary budget, set governing body meeting dates, reaffirmed annual appointments, designated individuals for standing committees and adopted dates for parking meter use, along with a variety of similar actions.
The public comment period did raise an issue of contention concerning a possible borough acquisition of property.
Smuggler’s Cove
Smuggler’s Cove is a private business located on 83rd Street. It self describes as a “fishing headquarters,” providing bait and tackle, marine supplies and marine fuel docks.  As 2018 ended, council held discussions about the possible acquisition of the property.
Borough resident, Frank Dallahan, said that council had not been transparent about what he termed as a “crazy” idea to purchase a private business in the borough.
Dallahan argued that there was no reason for council to consider “taking over a retail business especially one not critical to borough business.”
Dallahan went on to cite a recent survey by the homeowners association (SOPHA) that called for much more information on the potential transaction.  
He cited a calculation by SOPHA that the transaction could cost the borough as much as $6 million to $12 million and asked if the borough planned to run the business with borough employees.
Davies-Dunhour responded noting that it is entirely normal for a municipality to hold closed sessions as it explored the possible acquisition of property, saying that the council intention has always been clear that public discussion would take place when necessary information was available.
“There was no lack of transparency,” Davis-Dunhour said. “Our intention has always been to bring the issue forward to the public, but as of now there is no information to bring forward.”
The mayor remarked that the council is composed of serious and rational individuals who would never consider “paying $12 million for a business and staff the bait shop with borough employees.”
She called on Dallahan and others to have faith in the council and its elected officials.
“We are in a situation where it is damned if we do and damned if we don’t,” Davies-Dunhour added.  
She pointed out that council had been blamed in the past for failing to respond in time when “quaint properties in the town” were lost to development.
In this case, they were being blamed for considering saving such a property.
Council member Charles Krafczek noted that this was about more than just history. This also involves water access for the public, he said.
Davies-Dunhour said that she has asked SOPHA to hold another survey after the council completes its due diligence and holds public discussions on the issue.  “The timing of the survey was premature,” she said.