The Office of the City Business Administrator was created in 2019 by Mayor Julia Fahl and the City Council. The first individual to serve in the capacity as the City Business Administrator is Alex Torpey.

The City Business Administrator, under the direction of the Mayor, is the chief administrative, operations, and personnel manager for the City, responsible for the City’s day to day operations. Their duties include:

• Serving as the City’s Purchasing Agent and manager/internal auditor of bills, procurement, and all aspects of the City’s Finance Department
• Preparing, managing, and advising the Mayor and City Council on the City’s budget and finances 
• Study, prepare, and implement recommendations regarding the operations or administration of the City Government 
• Investigate, manage, and resolve the affairs of the municipality or complaints registered by members of the public 
• Personnel and human resources related responsibilities, including the hiring, firing, promotion, or demotion of various City employees
• Liaise and work with outside entities and governments 
• Prepare, submit, and manage grant applications 

You can find Ordinance 03-2019 here, which is the ordinance that establishes this position.

Samuel Stryker, born in 1790 in the vicinity of Pittstown, NJ, came to Lambertville with his younger brother James in 1826. They prospered here, opening first a general merchandise store and later a lumber business. Samuel was the first president of the Lambertville National Bank until his death in 1863.

By 1882 the Stryker Library Association had secured a location for the library, and had furnished it with books and fixtures. An impressive catalog was printed as a pamphlet by Grant, Faires & Rodgers of Philadelphia and the library was opened on June 21st, 1882 in a room over Cochran's Drug Store at the corner of Union and Coryell Streets. The following year the library moved to rooms in the Masonic Hall at 19 Bridge Street, where it remained until moving to City Hall in the early 1950s.

The library's collections amounted to over 1300 volumes, by the estimate of the Beacon, which reported on the opening and noted that, aside from works of Literature, " The farmer will find such works on Agriculture as Waring's 'Draining for Profit', Downing's 'Fruit and Fruit Trees', Randall's 'Sheep Husbandry', and Harris' 'Insects Injurious to Vegetation' (a work copiously illustrated and interesting not only to the agriculturist to the general reader)".

Not a lot is known at this point about the operations of the library from 1882 to 1888, because the only records we have of the library's operations in that period are in the form of a ledger maintained by various treasurers of the Association, beginning in 1888. From this ledger we can identify book and periodicals purchases, payments for gas, rent, insurance, salaries and the like, payments for library programs, income from library operations, book rentals and subscriptions. In many cases, the entries include the names of the payees, or the titles of the materials purchased, and from whom.
For example, in 1888 we can see from the records of Joseph Smith (treasurer), that the Association bought two shares of Lehigh Valley Railroad stock ($100), a stove ($12.28), coal from A. B. Holcombe ($14.65), paid for three months of gas ($6.53), three months of rent on the rooms ($25), and three months of the Librarian's salary ($31.25).

Miss Susie B. Hunt was the first librarian, and remained so at the salary of $31.25 per quarter until April of 1894, when she was succeeded by Miss Harriet Holcombe who presided as librarian until March, 1916.
Bessie M. Dilts took over in March, 1916 at the rate of $18.75 per month. By then, the rent on the rooms, payable to the Amwell Lodge, was $65 quarterly.
In July, 1919, A. C. Holcombe became the librarian, and continued as such until the City of Lambertville (after a municipal referendum in November, 1925) took over the library in May of 1926.

The portrait of Samuel Davis Stryker which hangs in the first floor reading room of the library has been displayed in the library for most of its one-hundred and twenty-five year history. But over the years, the staff seems to have lost the connection between his portrait and his name, so that in February 1968 an photograph of the painting was published in the Lambertville Beacon with a query for information on the subject and the artist. Five months later the portrait had been re-identified as that of Samuel Stryker, done by William Bonnell.

The Lambertville Free Public Library has provided library services to the city and residents of Lambertville since its establishment in 1926.  The Library, now currently housed in the historic Lilly Mansion at 6 Lilly Street in Lambertville, provides a full range of services including access to Interlibrary Loan services, Internet, and ebooks, as well as books, audiobooks, movies and programming for adults and children.

The Board of Trustees Meetings are held the second Tuesday of the month beginning at 7 PM at the Library, 6 Lilly Street, Lambertville. For more information please contact the board secretary Jacqueline Sornstein at (609) 397-5085.

For a full list of the services and programs offered by the library, please visit their website The Lambertville Free and Public Library.

History

The Stryker Library Association of Lambertville

On September 5, 1881 twenty-eight gentlemen of the City of Lambertville gathered in the offices of Charles Skillman to witness and sign the document establishing the Stryker Library Association, according to the specifications of the will of Samuel Davis Stryker, deceased some fourteen years before.
Thus begins the history of the Lambertville Free Public Library, which arose from the bequest of Samuel Stryker forming the Stryker Library Association.

The provisions of Stryker's will included a bequest of $1000 to James Stryker -- his brother --, Ashbel Welch and Charles Skillman as trustees, for the benefit of the town. The sum of $1,000 was to be loaned out at interest until such time as the citizens of Lambertville should raise an amount of money equal to the bequest and the interest for the establishment of a library in Lambertville.

Continue Reading Library History

The Lilly Mansion

Home of the Lambertville Free Public Library

About 1812, Judge John Coryell, a son of Captain George Coryell, sold a large tract of land to an early settler, Dr. John Lilly, who built a mansion upon it, sometime between 1812 and 1830. 

The lawns and gardens originally stretched from Bridge Street east to the cliff and south to Swan Creek, and included a pond and stables. 

In 1946, the front lawn became the site of a service station, and over the years subdivided lots were sold to the south and east. In later years the mansion was used as the Moose Lodge, apartments, and the Senior Citizen Center.

The building was purchased by the City of Lambertville in 1980 after falling into disrepair. Major restoration work was completed in 1993, retaining the mansion's historic character while providing a modern facility to meet the needs of the community. Spacious surroundings, a second floor meeting room, children’s library, and computer capabilities pave the way for future growth.

Lambertville Public Library Painting Information

Paint Color Strategy

The Library Board of Trustees has expressed an interest in proposing a color scheme that not only respects the history of the Victorian structure but also highlights the structure’s current use as a library. A library that serves young and old alike will be energized through the use of bright colors and unexpected rhythm. Since the building’s current colors are not based on any historical color scheme, the Board is proposing a scheme routed in the “Colorist Movement” that is featured in the Daughter of Painted Ladies Publication. This scheme of brightly painted Victorians can be seen throughout our country in forty-six states. The actual colors are selections from the Sherwin Williams exterior preservation palette.

Approval Process

Approvals have been received from the following agencies:
   - The State of New Jersey Historic Preservation Office
   - The Delaware and Raritan Canal Commission
   - The Lambertville Historic Preservation Commission
   - The Lambertville Public Library Board of Trustees

Download Additional Information about the library painting. 

SSH TANF 


SSH TANF provides temporary financial assistance provided to families with at least one dependent child to prevent homelessness when other funding is not applicable. 

AIDS Waiver (ACCAP)

Home and community-based services for individuals with AIDS or AIDS Related complex (ARC). 

Adult Protective Services

Services for vulnerable adults residing in the community who need protection and/or assistance in dealing with an abusive, neglectful or exploitative situation. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Division is dedicated to serving people with disabilities. We encourage people to request reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). ADA complaints may be filed with Barbara Metzger the Disability Services Planner at: 908-788-1361 or email [email protected] 

Boarding Home/Rooming House Services

The Division investigates complaints of abuse, neglect and exploitation of residents of boarding homes, residential health care facilities, rooming houses and unlicensed facilities as well as providing outreach services to these residents. 

Car Repair

County funded program for individuals with disabilities, TANF and GA recipients. 

Child Support and Paternity

The Division is responsible for locating absent parents, establishing paternity and/or securing child support for TANF/WFNJ recipients and non-TANF applicants for child support services. 
County Child Care Program The Division provides reimbursements of child care costs to eligible county residents to assist them in obtaining/retaining employment, education and training. 

Dr. Orlie Pell Fund, Inc.

The Division administers a safety net fund for those individuals in need of food, clothing, utilities, prescription drugs, etc., who are ineligible for other categorical assistance programs and services. 

NJ FamilyCare Program

Provides free or low-cost health insurance to low-income working families and their children who cannot afford to privately pay the cost of health insurance. 

Food Stamp Program

Federally funded USDA program, which provides benefits to income eligible households in order to increase their food purchasing power and improve the nutritional adequacy of their diets. 
Food Stamp households that incur heating expenses can apply for heating and cooling assistance through the Home Energy Assistance program. 

Special Fund for Purchas of Non-Food Personal Care Items 


Food Stamp households that do not qualify for other programs may receive a maximum of $100 per calendar year for the purchase of personal care items. 

Food Stamp Employment Training Program (FSETP) 

Can provide $6/day travel reimbursement for individuals who use their own vehicles, or LINK transportation assistance can be provided in order to search for employment 

General Assistance Program (GA) 

The Division provides General Assistance Program benefits to individuals 18 and over without dependent children who can qualify for cash benefits, medical coverage, transportation and possible housing to residents of all County municipalities, with the exception of Lambertville, E. Amwell, W. Amwell and Holland Township. 

Homeless/Emergency Programs

The Division provides shelter and shelter related services to clients eligible for TANF/GA and SSI Emergency Assistance. The SSH State program and the Emergency Food & Shelter Program (EFSP) provides funding for clients who are ineligible for services under Emergency Assistance. 

Medicaid Programs

Medicaid coverage is provided to eligible individuals/couples in the following categories: 

• Aged, blind and disabled individuals residing in the community, boarding homes or nursing homes 
• Medicaid Only
• Pregnant women
• Parents with children
• Children under the age of twenty-one (21)
• Medical Emergency Program for Undocumented Residents
• NJ Workability Program
• Breast and Cervical Cancer Program
• Community Resources for People with Disabilities (CRPD) 

Global Options Waiver Program (GO) 

Medicaid services are provided to eligible clients to remain in the community or return to the community, rather than be cared for in a nursing home or hospital setting. 

Medically Needy Program

This program provides specific medical benefits to pregnant women, needy children, the aged, blind and disabled whose income and assets are too high to qualify them for the Medicaid Only Program. 

Personal Assistant Services Program (PASP)

The Personal Assistant Services Program is a State funded program that serves self-directed people ages 18-65 who have a physical disability and can supervise a personal assistant. 
The Hunterdon County Department of Human Services is an equal opportunity employer. There is no discrimination in employment nor in the provision of services based on race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, marital, parental or birth status. 

For questions and further information call the county at: (908) 788-1300, Fax (908) 806-4588, TDD (908) 806-4718