Council introduces ordinance to accept Crab Island donation; one member abstains pending more information

The council introduced an ordinance to accept a donation of Crab Island from Genon Rima LLC and scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 18. Council members asked questions about the property’s zoning, environmental condition and whether accepting the island would create liabilities or maintenance costs for the borough. Councilman Dan Balca asked whether the donation would provide additional open space benefits and whether the property was currently zoned for development. Borough staff answered that the parcel is a mudflat island and is not suitable for building, and they noted an Army Corps of Engineers assessment had been referenced in prior discussions. "It's a mudflat island not suitable for building upon," staff said on the record. Council members moved the ordinance for introduction and scheduled the statutorily required public hearing for Aug. 18, 2025. During the roll call vote on the introduction, one member — identified on the transcript as Councilperson Novak — abstained, saying she needed more information before taking a position. No final acceptance or transfer took place tonight; the ordinance is at the introduction stage and will return for public hearing and final vote. Council members requested more details on zoning, environmental conditions and maintenance obligations before the next hearing. Speakers quoted in this article are those who discussed the Crab Island item during the introduction; quotations are taken from the meeting transcript.