Harvey Cedars authorizes use of Harvest Cottage by Historical Society amid funding questions

The Board of Commissioners of the Borough of Harvey Cedars on Oct. 3, 2025 adopted a certified resolution authorizing the Harvey Cedars Historical Society to use the Harvest Cottage and Museum and accepted a donation of a historic house from the Sisters of Charity of St. Elizabeth that will be moved to Sunset Park.

The resolution (No. 2025-109) authorizes the society to use the property for meetings, exhibits, archives and educational programs under a written use agreement and empowers the mayor and borough clerk to execute necessary documents, according to the resolution text and its certification in the meeting record.

Why it matters: Preserving the house would save one of the borough's remaining historic homes and create a local museum space, but elected officials and residents flagged potential costs to the borough and outstanding logistics that could affect town budgets and operations.

Commissioner Joseph F. Gieger said the borough and the Sisters of Charity had “avoided losing one of the last historical houses in the borough,” described plans to move the house to Sunset Park and said grading at the receiving site will begin. Gieger told the board the newly established Harvey Cedars Historical Society intends to finance modifications and that Department of Public Works staff will be involved in project tasks such as removing the roof and chimney.

Commissioner Paul G. Rice explained his view of the vote, saying that at the time of the vote he considered himself a “no” because the borough does not yet have sufficient funding for other responsibilities and that he worried the borough could inherit costs volunteers may not be able to raise. The transcript record also contains roll-call tables showing all three members recorded as voting in favor on related ordinance items; the resolution's motion and contemporaneous vote tally were not recorded in the motion/vote table in the transcript (see Audit). The resolution text later in the record includes a certification stating it was passed on Oct. 3, 2025.

Residents offered both support and practical questions during the public-comment period. Margaret Poochy Buccholz pledged a large donation to the historical society. Robert Danna asked whether parking would be sufficient for the proposed museum site; Mayor John M. Imperiale said current parking is not sufficient and that details will be worked out after the house is secured. Kevin Knightly, a member of the historical society, said he visited Barnegat Light's museum to research operations. Hilary Fiorella asked which bonds were repurposed to fund the move. Jim Fritz asked why an initial figure of $86,000 was reduced to $60,000; Commissioner Gieger said the earlier amounts were preliminary estimates. Mindy Berman asked whether moving a stone wall was included in the cost; Commissioner Gieger said it was included and discussed the wall’s history. Sean Murphy inquired where staging rocks would be placed; Gieger said they would go to the designated staging area. Kathy Ries asked for a breakdown of who would work on the project; Gieger said DPW would remove the roof and chimney.

The certified resolution requires a written use agreement that will set hours, maintenance responsibilities, insurance and legal compliance, and it directs the mayor and borough clerk to execute documents necessary to implement the agreement. The resolution text in the record lists the certification by Acting Municipal Clerk Christine Lisiewski and shows the resolution as passed on Oct. 3, 2025.

Next steps: The resolution takes effect immediately upon adoption and the borough and the historical society will negotiate the written use agreement and work through site logistics, fundraising and final cost details. The meeting adjourned at 10:34 a.m.