The Mayor and Council in Atlantic Highlands unanimously passed a very nice resolution at its meeting last week urging everyone to attend the Blue Mass Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Agnes and saying how much they appreciate everything all the first responders in the Bayshore and at Sandy Hook do for the borough.
And I’m certain they do, because everyone in the Bayshore knows how fantastic each of our organizations is, and how much we all appreciate the fact these volunteers keep us safe, many times putting their own lives at risk. Many of us shudder to think what would happen if we did not have these fantastic men and women living right there among us.
But it will be interesting to see whether the Mayor and Council are so grateful that they will make a donation towards the celebratory supper that follows the mass at the Shore Casino.
I wonder about that since, before the resolution was passed last week, a resident at the meeting stood up and asked the governing body if they were going to donate as well. He reminded each of the council members how grateful we all are, and urged them to include in the resolution or even pass another one including a monetary donation towards the event at the Casino.
All he got was a thank you for his comments. Not a single member of the governing body asked that the resolution be changed, offered another one, or said thanks to the speaker, himself a long time volunteer on a local fire department. Nobody gave him any assurance they would do something before Wednesday. Or even after Wednesday to help with next year’s. Or any time.
Hopefully, because they’re all caring and intelligent member of council, because I am certain they sincerely appreciate all these volunteer efforts, each member wants to make a donation of his own and do it without fanfare or publicity. Possibly council just couldn’t think fast enough with so many other things on the agenda, to suggest a change right then.
Myself, because I believe in the heartfelt gratitude of each of the elected officials, I feel certain they will do something.
Heavens knows the Shore Casino goes overboard in its generosity to anything involving the police or volunteers in any town in the Bayshore. I’m sure this year is no different.
Each of the volunteer organizations and the PBAs also contributed heavily to the celebration that’s supposed to honor them, not one they should be paying for. But they all donate, including every single fire company in Middletown’s 11 fire companies.
The Mayor and Council are generous to others it is well known. It was just last week that they had their annual supper, at the Shore Casino, for the boat owners who rent spaces at the Harbor. Presumably, this event is to thank them for keeping their boats here, and to encourage them to rent space again next year.
The tab for that event is picked up by the Harbor Commission. It’s still a little fuzzy to me what are the rights, duties and obligations of the Harbor Commission and how they are different from the governing body when it comes to the Harbor. Either way, they’re still part of the governing body for some things, anyway, and they can spend money on a party for people doing business with them.
So if something like that can be done for out-of-town and local people alike who choose to make use of the magnificent facilities of the Yacht Harbor, then surely the borough can do something for the men and women who get up in the middle of the night to save a boat on fire, or assist at a car crash, or take a veteran or a child to the hospital for lifesaving care.
Wouldn’t you think?
