Responsible Lighthouse Care; Hewitt Descendant Speaks

NORTH WILDWOOD ─ “This is not about personalities,” Mayor Patrick Rosenello said Jan. 24. “It’s about the lighthouse.” Public opinion runs the spectrum of either side, from the city’s perspective of order and documentation to the Friends of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse and Steve Murray’s passion for the site and years of dedication.  
Both parties’ attorneys met before Judge John Porto of the Superior Court Jan. 24. According to Murray, discussion surrounded two points:
* The Friends being allowed to remove items belonging to the organization (i.e., cash register, paperwork, monies, etc.) from the city-owned storage facility to another location.
* The Friends determining with city officials what lighthouse artifacts may be returned. No decision was made.
Murray told the Herald (Jan. 25) he was satisfied with the hearing’s outcome. Murray added that the Friends never conducted an inventory as such because the lighthouse itself is the prime artifact.
Rosenello told the Herald Jan. 24 that he and City Council received a letter from Wilmer F. Burns III, great-grandson of lighthouse keeper Freeling Hewitt. In the letter, Burns wrote, “I wish the following items to remain permanently donated and displayed in the lighthouse and relinquish ownership of.” 
Artifacts include Hewitt’s fire chief badge, pump organ, gold pocket watch, framed portraits of Hewitt’s ancestors, and an iron kettle.
“This letter gives me a lot of satisfaction,” said Rosenello. When asked why, Rosenello said it reflects what happens when “reasonable people” take the time to understand the matter at hand.
Murray countered the city’s claim that he never intended to remove artifacts from the lighthouse. Murray said he wished that donated items would be returned.
According to the city, after an inventory, if families expressed the desire to have their items returned, it would be carried out. However, the Hewitt family wishes its ancestor’s effects to remain on permanent display.
Murray said the February hearing would address the Friends’ further complaints such as denied access to the site. Murray also said the method of the city’s “packing up” of Friends’ items was “unnecessary and careless.”
Murray reflected on the Department of Environmental Protection and its lease of the lighthouse to the city.
“I guess we lost the battle,” Murray said, referring to the Friends’ request for direct stewardship. According to Murray, the 600-member Friends will disband sometime in 2018.
Murray described the Friends’ protestations as a “good” fight.
Larry Hajna, the DEP press representative, told the Herald that no plan existed to break the lease with the city.
“We (DEP) hope they reach an amicable decision,” said Hajna in previous comments, regarding the tension between City officials and Friends.
Since 2011, the Friends have cared for the gardens, hosted fundraisers, and managed the historical displays within Hereford Lighthouse.
The newly-formed city historical commission will carry out the same functions, ensuring the continued care and preservation of the historic site.
City officials have stressed responsible care of Hereford Lighthouse due to a $17,000 grant not properly “closed out” by the Friends.
Murray countered the city’s claims, saying the Friends were not aware of the error since the paperwork had been handled by the architect of the project.
In 2016, the architect retired due to illness.
The Herald asked what paperwork had been missing; according to Murray, it was “just forms.” Due to elapsed time, the grant was revoked and no reimbursement provided.
“It’s a shame,” Murray told the Herald, regarding the future disband of the Friends. Murray stands by his belief in the city’s “hostile takeover” while the city maintains its stance on responsible care and management.
Explained in an open letter dated Nov. 16, 2017, “The existing liabilities at the lighthouse and grounds…can no longer be ignored, as the city is the sole leaseholder of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse from the State of New Jersey, accepting all liabilities thereon the grounds/property.”
According to previously released information, failure to close out grant results in “the city’s ability to obtain future grants for any variety of infrastructure and capital improvement projects has been jeopardized.” This is why the city severed the agreement with the Friends.
Included in released information, the Friends replaced the former Lighthouse Commission in 2011: “The Friends of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is a private, non-profit corporation over which the city….exercises no oversight nor appointing authority.”
In 2017, Murray said the city failed to pay the Friends a total of $15,000 ($5,000 per year), as stated in late Mayor William Henfey’s management agreement.
According to Murray, the new chief financial officer at the time was not aware of the agreement.
“We forgave the city; we wanted to have good relations with the city,” Murray said. “I put my heart and soul into this (lighthouse) for 32 years.”
Another hearing will be held in Superior Court in February.
To contact Rachel Rogish, email rrogish@cmcherald.com.