Committee Created to Oversee Red Bank Community Garden

Red Bank has cleared an obstacle in its years-long quest to build a Community Garden with the formation of a committee to oversee the plot, planned for Marion Street.

The Borough Council unanimously passed a resolution at its regular meeting Wednesday night to establish the Red Bank Community Garden Ad Hoc Committee for the rest of 2012. 

"We finally have an ad hoc Community Garden committee... don't faint," Councilwoman Kathleen Horgan said to laughter. "There have been many hours put into this."

The committee will consist of chairperson Elizabeth Seydell of Chestnut Street and members Kathleen Gasienica of Locust Avenue, Anne Jones of Peters Place and Kenton Seydell of Chestnut Street.

Seydell will "report directly to Mr. (Administrator Stanley) Sickels regarding any and all activities that requrire borough approval or require expenditures by the borough," Horgan said.

The Community Garden Committee is tasked with establishing rules and procedures for garden use, including "application forms, hold harmless agreements and a fee schedule for annual use," according to the resolution. Such policies will be subject to Sickels' approval and/or the Borough Council, when applicable.

Fees incurred from the use of the garden will be funneled into the borough's recreation trust account and used to pay for any expenses necessary for the garden.

Horgan said the borough will be responsible for insurance coverage, water, the maintenance of a no-freeze hydrant on the borough-owned property, as well as the "possible use of a small shed" that currently exists.

"It's a positive thing being done in a positive way," Mayor Pat Menna said.

Prospective gardeners initially wanted the Community Garden located on a riverside plot next to the library on West Front Street, but council disagreed.

More than two dozen plots throughout the borough were considered until the Marion Street site, on a piece of borough-owned land, was selected.