STONE HARBOR – Newly elected Mayor Tim Carney referenced the Herald’s government transparency score sheet and said the borough did not get a star on only one of the characteristics the paper used for judging the level of transparency a municipality displayed in the conduct of its governing body meetings.
“We got five stars out of six categories, and we have decided we want all six,” Carney said at the end of his prepared remarks that followed his taking the oath of office Jan. 7. He went on to announce that council work sessions and meetings will start at 5 p.m. in 2025 to allow those who work a better opportunity to attend.
The one area in which the Herald did not give Stone Harbor a star was on meeting times. In this category the paper was looking for a meeting time that was late enough in the day to allow those who work to attend the meeting if they desired to do so. A 5 p.m. or later time was set as the criterion in this category, and Stone Harbor meetings have traditionally started at 4:30.
The change was part of a speech intended to invite greater participation from the public in the council’s deliberations. In addition, Carney challenged residents to get involved through volunteer work on the many committees and commissions that are part of how the borough is run.
