Rather than vote a second time to negate the proposed ordinance introduced minutes earlier, action which would save time and money and was requested by Councilman Jon Crowley, the Mayor and Council introduced an ordinance at its meeting last week that if approved, would create a new Arts and Culture Commission.
Mayor Lori Hohenleitner interrupted Crowley’s questioning of the proposed ordinance, instead querying him on how many meetings he had been involved in, how many people he had spoken with, and telling him there would be a public hearing and time for discussion before the second reading. Her interruption of his comments came after asking any of the council members if they had any comments.
Crowley had asked that introduction and advertisement in its present form be postponed until he had more time to educate and learn about a new commission. “I don’t like raising problems without solutions,” he said, questioning the difference between holiday cultural events and non-holiday cultural events.
He suggested that rather than introducing another ordinance and establishing another commission, which would have its own budget as well, Crowley suggested adding arts and culture, if it be needed, as a subcommittee of the Recreation Committee on a trial basis for year.
He also highlighted the current recreation committee covers a variety of events and could support a subcommittee for arts if necessary. Currently, the recreation committee heads a variety of sports programs, supports a sailing clinic, a music festival, the Christmas tree lighting, borough parade, Atlantic Highlands Day and movies in the harbor.
Councilman Brian Doughtery, who with Crowley and Brian Gorsegner is a council representative to the recreation committee, had explained the possibility of a new arts and council committee at the February meeting of the Recreation Committee, He said if a new committee were to be formed, there would be discussion including if any current recreation programs, would come under the new committee. He said at that meeting there would be more discussion after the borough’s new administrator comes on board.
Ironically, the proposed ordinance was first posted on the Council agenda as an Arts and Culture Committee; that was amended the day before the meeting to change the proposed addition from a committee to a commission.
Although Crowley also indicated any changes he was suggesting would be “substantive” and the borough attorney noted such changes would mean the new proposed code with the changes would have to be introduced, advertised and undergo a public hearing again, no council member supported Crowley’s recommendation to negate the introductory vote introduced minutes earlier.
The proposed ordinance will be advertised in its current form; however because of time constraints in advertising, the public hearing will not be until the March 16 Borough Council meeting.
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Crowley had asked that introduction and advertisement in its present form be postponed until he had more time to educate and learn about a new commission. “I don’t like raising problems without solutions,” he said, questioning the difference between holiday cultural events and non-holiday cultural events.
He suggested that rather than introducing another ordinance and establishing another commission, which would have its own budget as well, Crowley suggested adding arts and culture, if it be needed, as a subcommittee of the Recreation Committee on a trial basis for year.
He also highlighted the current recreation committee covers a variety of events and could support a subcommittee for arts if necessary. Currently, the recreation committee heads a variety of sports programs, supports a sailing clinic, a music festival, the Christmas tree lighting, borough parade, Atlantic Highlands Day and movies in the harbor.
Councilman Brian Doughtery, who with Crowley and Brian Gorsegner is a council representative to the recreation committee, had explained the possibility of a new arts and council committee at the February meeting of the Recreation Committee, He said if a new committee were to be formed, there would be discussion including if any current recreation programs, would come under the new committee. He said at that meeting there would be more discussion after the borough’s new administrator comes on board.
Ironically, the proposed ordinance was first posted on the Council agenda as an Arts and Culture Committee; that was amended the day before the meeting to change the proposed addition from a committee to a commission.
Although Crowley also indicated any changes he was suggesting would be “substantive” and the borough attorney noted such changes would mean the new proposed code with the changes would have to be introduced, advertised and undergo a public hearing again, no council member supported Crowley’s recommendation to negate the introductory vote introduced minutes earlier.
The proposed ordinance will be advertised in its current form; however because of time constraints in advertising, the public hearing will not be until the March 16 Borough Council meeting.
