Stone Harbor Council Optimistic for New Year, New Challenges

STONE HARBOR — It was a night of political platitudes at council’s reorganization meeting Jan. 5, as officials started the year with a mostly-optimistic outlook.
Two new council members were sworn in and council members discussed borough goals, challenges and expectations for 2010.
County Sheriff Gary Schaffer swore in new council member Judy Davies-Dunhour.
“She is a dedicated public servant with an unbelievable work ethic. I would love to be able to bottle her energy. She is one of the most ethically-sound persons I’ve known in all my years in law enforcement,” Schaffer said.
Councilwoman Joan Kramar took the oath of office from the borough clerk.
Councilman Tom Cope serve as council representative to the Planning Board.
Mayor Suzanne Walters presented a plaque of appreciation to former Councilman H. Brian Levinson. Former Councilman Karl Giulian, who had sought reelection as an Independent, was unable to attend, Walters said.
Council voted on standing committees for 2010, which are as follows:
• Administration and Finance: Joanne Vaul, chair; Mastrangelo and Cope members
• Public Works: Mastrangelo, chair; Randall S. Bauer and Kramar members
• Beach/Recreation/Tourism: Davies Dunhour, chair; Kramar and Vaul members
• Public Safety: Cope, chair; Davies-Dunhour and Mastrangelo members
• Natural Resources: Bauer, chair; Cope and Vaul members
• Utilities: Kramar, chair; Bauer and Davies-Dunhour members
Kramar was the only vote against the new standing committees. She told the Herald that she was “frustrated with the process in choosing the chairs and placing people on committees.”
“I hope to address the process in the future to make it more equitable. I don’t think my people skills, expertise and knowledge is in the right place. I could serve the community better in another capacity,” Kramar said.
“I will give it 100 percent. It will be a challenge, but I’m looking forward to it,” she said. Kramar said she looks forward to working on the Beach/Recreation/Tourism Committee.
The meeting included the announcement that the borough’s much-discussed tourism director position has been filled by Joann DelVescio, who is president of the NJ Travel Industry Association.
Davies-Dunhour will also serve a one-year term on the Municipal Advisory Recreation Board. Bauer will serve a one-year term on the Board of Health and Bird Sanctuary Advisory Committee. Wayne Conrad will fulfill the unexpired term of late William “Bill” Burns Jr. as chairman of the Planning Board for the remainder of the year.
Council passed a temporary budget for 2010, which includes about 25 percent of total appropriations for the year, Vaul said.
During council comments, Kramar said she would strive to be a productive public servant.
“A large majority voted me to council to make our government cohesive,” she said. “We need to learn to agree to disagree.”
Davies-Dunhour, who served the borough for 25 years as a police officer, said she looks forward to continuing to serve its residents and visitors.
“I will work hard, listen to you and do my best,” she said.
Cope said he learned a lot from the entire borough staff during his freshman year on council. He said he learned that, “Respect is the glue that holds this council together and communication is more about listening.”
“Politics is the process that gets you to this table; government is the job you do once you are here,” Cope said. “They’re not the same and no one should ever confuse the two.”
He said the newly established Waterfront Business District will “pave the way for a renaissance of this town.”
Cope thanked his wife Nancy for her “advice, patience and support.”
“It’s a really huge time commitment, for the whole family, to do this job,” Vaul said. “It’s not an easy job and it requires a lot of dedication and hard work. I’m truly excited about this team. There’s lots of promise and a lot in motion; I think we will make a lot of progress this year.”
“There seems to be too much government today that is more rewarding to the officials than to the people,” Bauer said. “Several incidents this past year should alert us to the ever increasing need for more open, transparent government. Because a law is on the books does not mean it is a good law. Many ordinances and laws are self-serving and oppressive and many are unenforceable.”
Bauer said he will open all Natural Resources Committee meetings to the public and include the Bird Sanctuary Advisory and Friends of the Sanctuary committees.
“Our greatest Natural Resource is people, those who live and vote here and the over 80 percent of those who pay the taxes and fees and do not live here. They give us the financial capability to operate this town…we must strive for inclusion of all, not just some ‘shadow government,’” he said.
Mastrangelo said the Public Works Committee has a “full agenda, but is up to the task, although it will require patience to juggle the pre-season to do list.” He said council should not sacrifice quality of infrastructure because of hard financial times.
“We have a mess on our beach right now,” Mayor Walters said. A recent beach replenishment between 98th and 111th streets helped the situation, but sand was lost elsewhere, she said.
Walters said the borough has a $5 million claim for loss of beach and fencing into the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Department of Environmental Protection. She said paperwork for that is being finalized this week.
“Maybe 2010 will be the year we see ground broken on the Sprandio lot,” Walters said. She said owner Dr. John Sprandio told her that it is his intention to do so.
Walters noted the borough’s 100th anniversary celebration will take place in 2014.
She said she would like to see a tree ordinance, Shade Tree Commission and she is “looking to put together a Historical Preservation Commission.”
Walters thanked all borough employees and civic clubs and organizations.
“You’re the essence of Stone Harbor, you make it what it is,” she said.
Notable attendees included Republican leader David Von Savage with West Cape May Boy Scouts of America Troop 73, County Clerk Rita Marie Fulginiti, Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel and Lower Township Councilman Tom Conrad, who is related to Davies-Dunhour.