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Executive director reports low fee collections, reserves intact and progress on master-plan digitization
Summary
Executive Director Hutchison told the commission that monthly fee collections totaled $15,400 (below 2025 levels), staff lowered anticipated appropriation to $385,000, reserves stand at $314,233, and the office completed scanning over 400 boxes of project files as master-plan and historic-structure survey work continues.
Executive Director Hutchison briefed the Delaware & Raritan Canal Commission on staff workload, permitting activity and the commissions finances for the period covering Jan. 21 through Feb. 17.
Hutchison said staff issued nine deficient staff reports, 11 jurisdictional determinations and five certificates of approval in the period. Fee collections for the month totaled $15,400, a notable decline from 2025 totals; Hutchison said the commission reduced its anticipated appropriation for the year to $385,000 from $500,000 and continues to monitor revenues closely. He reported a reserve balance of $314,233 and said the commission had collected roughly 71% of the anticipated appropriation with 66% of the fiscal year elapsed.
On an accounting issue, Hutchison described a CRR accounting-program update that had not been installed and which temporarily prevented some deposits from appearing in real-time on the treasury system. He credited Vanessa Montalto (budget liaison) and park-service staff, including Brian LaPolla, for identifying and resolving the problem so that real-time accounting now reflects the deposits.
Hutchison also highlighted non-financial progress: the project-file digitization effort surpassed 400 boxes (401 of 526 scanned, about 76% complete), and work on the commissions master-plan revision continues with consultants (identified as Clark Kent and Hintz) and the project advisory committee. Hunter Research is surveying historic structures within the canal park; to date Hunter has surveyed 33 of 62 extant buildings and 165 of 615 parcels (about 27%).
Why it matters: The financial update indicates lower-than-expected fee revenue this month, prompting a reduced appropriation forecast and continued monitoring; the digitization and master-plan activities affect records access and future planning for public engagement and preservation work.
Whats next: Staff will continue monitoring revenue, process project approvals from this meeting, and proceed with master-plan public-engagement steps and targeted roundtable sessions.
