Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Municipal Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Harvey Cedars commissioners adopt routine ordinances and resolutions, approve events and fireworks contract
Summary
At its Aug. 18 meeting the Harvey Cedars Board of Commissioners approved a package of ordinances and resolutions including a first reading to finance $250,000 in borough improvements, a tax-appeal settlement for Block 13, Lot 15, amendments to personnel job descriptions, and a $9,500 fireworks barge contract; multiple community event permits were also approved.
HARVEY CEDARS, N.J. — The Board of Commissioners met Monday, Aug. 18, and on a series of unanimous roll-call votes approved routine ordinances and resolutions, awarded a fireworks barge rental contract not to exceed $9,500, and granted permits for several community events and school field trips.
The board opened the meeting at 4:30 p.m. Mayor John M. Imperiale said the meeting complied with the state Open Public Meetings Act. The agenda included a first reading of Ordinance 2025-020 to amend a 2024 capital ordinance and appropriate $250,000 for borough improvements and authorize $237,500 in bonds or notes. Commissioners moved and adopted the measure as recorded in the minutes.
The board also conducted a second reading and adopted Ordinance 2025-019, which sets base salaries for borough officers and employees for 2025. Commissioners approved routine financial business, including Resolution 2025-099 to pay bills.
In a more detailed action, the board adopted Resolution 2025-094 authorizing settlement of tax appeals relating to the property known as Block 13, Lot 15 (6 Camden Avenue). The resolution states the property owners agreed to withdraw their 2024 appeal and settle the remaining 2025 appeal pursuant to a stipulated settlement; amounts of any tax overpayment will be calculated and applied as credits to future tax liabilities.
The commission also adopted Resolution 2025-095 to amend the borough Policy and Procedure Manual with updated job descriptions (adding positions such as Lead Carpenter of Special Projects & Public Property, Assistant Carpenter, Assistant Municipal Water Operator, Mechanic, and Confidential Administrative Assistant, and removing the Dispatcher position). Resolution 2025-096 renews membership in the Ocean County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund; Resolution 2025-097 expresses support for U.S. House Concurrent Resolution 27 recognizing open-water lifeguards as first responders and directs certified copies to congressional offices and county municipalities.
The board authorized Resolution 2025-098 to award a contract to Mariner’s Barge & Pushboat Rentals, LLC for the borough’s Aug. 30 fireworks display in an amount not to exceed $9,500 and approved a series of public-property usage requests, including the 77th Annual World Series of Fishing Invitational Tournament, the 38th Annual Catboat Race (with a rain date), two Ocean Acres Elementary School field trips each expecting roughly 250 attendees (with police assistance requested for street crossings), a bocce-tournament fundraiser by Empowering Women Thru Motion Inc., and recurring beach use by the Southern Regional High School Surf Team for practices and scrimmages.
Commissioner Paul G. Rice noted Aug. 18 was the final day of the tax-payment grace period and said water and sewer rates have increased as finance staff begin work on the 2026 budget. Mayor Imperiale congratulated the Department of Public Works for its fishkill prevention efforts and praised the Harvey Cedars Taxpayers Association for a successful event; Commissioner Joseph F. Gieger said the DPW will begin taking down the fishing pier for repairs and is reusing donor landscaping from demolished properties to aid borough beautification.
During the privilege-of-the-floor period, resident Jim Fritz asked whether Kids Night in Sunset Park could be combined with National Night Out; Rebecca Wessler, secretary of the Harvey Cedars Police Foundation, replied that coordinating both events is difficult because the island shares many agencies.
All motions and votes recorded in the meeting minutes show Mayor Imperiale, Commissioner Gieger and Commissioner Rice voting 'aye' on the listed agenda items. (The meeting's attendance line also notes Commissioner Rice as absent; the minutes record both attendance and roll-call votes as presented.) The meeting adjourned at 4:43 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Ordinance 2025-020 (first reading/finance) — adopted; Ordinance 2025-019 (salary schedule, second reading) — adopted; Resolution 2025-094 (tax-appeal settlement, Block 13, Lot 15) — adopted; Resolution 2025-095 (personnel manual/job descriptions) — adopted; Resolution 2025-096 (insurance fund renewal) — adopted; Resolution 2025-097 (support H. Con. Res. 27 for lifeguards) — adopted; Resolution 2025-098 (fireworks barge contract, not to exceed $9,500) — adopted; Resolution 2025-099 (bills) — adopted; multiple public-property usage requests — approved.
