Stone Harbor council adds five DeBlasio engineering contracts, approves solid-waste ordinance

Council President Jennifer Gensemer said the meeting notice complied with the Open Public Meetings Act and opened the Sept. 16 session of the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Stone Harbor, which met in person and by Zoom.

Borough Clerk Jeanne M. Parkinson asked the council to add five late resolutions to the evening’s consent agenda, saying the additions relate to bond ordinances recently adopted and that the "estoppel period for those bond ordinances ended today so the funds can now be certified," which is why the items were listed late. Councilmember Bunny Parzych moved to add the resolutions; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously.

The five added consent resolutions award engineering contracts to DeBlasio & Associates for borough projects with the following engineering-fee amounts: FY2025 NJDOT reconstruction of 121st Street ($90,000); 82nd Street Recreation Complex — resurfacing of pickleball courts ($22,000); 111th & 114th Street outfall elimination and reconstruction of 105th Street ($350,000); flood mitigation improvements including 81st Street boat ramp replacement and bayside storm sewer valve installation ($190,000); and a flood mitigation and storm sewer master plan re-examination ($12,000). The council adopted the full consent agenda, which also included routine items such as a donated Concept2 rowing machine, the appointment of a volunteer firefighter, several fee refunds and payment of bills. The consent agenda passed on a unanimous voice vote.

On the agenda under Old Business, Council considered Ordinance No. 1696, which amends Chapter 466 (solid waste; recycling; dumping; enforcement officers) of the borough code. A motion to approve Ordinance No. 1696 on second reading and final passage (mover: Councilmember Ken Biddick; second: Councilmember Bunny Parzych) passed unanimously with Dallahan, Foschini, Parzych, Casper, Gensemer and Biddick voting yes.

During public comment, resident Geoff Woolery asked whether a target completion date had been set for a bridge project; Administrator Clark said no definite completion date was specified because several factors remain to be resolved. Woolery also asked whether the ongoing reassessment would include commercial properties; Councilmember Biddick said the reassessment is required for every property in the borough, including commercial properties, though he did not anticipate a large commercial-side change.

The council then adopted Resolution 2025-S-231 to move into closed session under the New Jersey Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-12, to discuss an employment relationship. The governing body entered closed session at 6:03 p.m. and returned to the dais at 6:20 p.m. No substantive action taken in closed session was recorded in the minutes. The meeting was adjourned at 6:21 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Ordinance No. 1696 (Chapter 466 amendment): Motion by Biddick; second Parzych — Passed unanimously (Dallahan, Foschini, Parzych, Casper, Gensemer, Biddick). - Consent Agenda (including Resolutions 2025-S-232 through 2025-S-236 awarding DeBlasio contracts and Resolutions 2025-S-226 through 2025-S-230): Motion by Biddick; second Parzych — Adopted unanimously. - Resolution 2025-S-231 (authorizing closed session under N.J.S.A. 10:4-12): Motion by Biddick; second Parzych — Adopted unanimously.

Next steps and context: The five engineering contracts proceed to contracting and work planning now that the related bond-estoppel periods have closed and funds can be certified. The minutes were later approved and signed Oct. 7, 2025.