Toms River mayor: I want weekly summer fireworks, and downtown group better pay for them
TOMS RIVER - The board of directors of Toms River's business improvement district voted Wednesday to resist Mayor Daniel Rodrick's demand that the BID fork over money from its operating budget to pay for 10 weekly fireworks shows downtown.
Instead, the board agreed to send a letter to the mayor and township council, requesting again that the BID's 2024 budget be placed on an upcoming agenda for a vote and public hearing, and agreed to consider legal action if the budget is not put before the council.
"We need a response, one way or another, by 5 p.m. Monday," said BID Board Chairman Robert Shea. "We will take all necessary steps to protect the integrity of the BID."
"I don't think this was a very smart idea," Rodrick said of the BID's actions. "I tried to get them to see reason. If they are unwilling to change, perhaps we'll dissolve them. That's my feeling on it."
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The mayor said the BID has been "a failure" in revitalizing the downtown, and accused the board of directors of using the organization for patronage for themselves and their friends.
"All of this is a cesspool," he said. He said the BID's events only benefit a couple of downtown businesses. "How does that benefit any of the businesses outside of one street of the town? It’s a tax on all of the businesses in the southern end of the town to help two or three businesses downtown."
Shea said the BID is not opposed to fireworks shows or other suggestions for drawing more people to the downtown.
"I think fireworks is a nice thing, in the proper time and proper place," Shea said. "The board has no issues with discussing that. (But) having that used as a hammer to take operational expenses away from the BID is ridiculous. It’s unfair. There could be other ways that could be accomplished, through sponsorships or otherwise."
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Downtown Toms River, the township's business improvement district, was formed in 2002 by the then-Township Committee, to lure more businesses and create more events in the township's downtown area. The BID is operated by a nonprofit, the Toms River Development Corp., which owns the organization's offices and business incubator at 53 Main St.
It is funded through an additional property tax assessment levied on commercial property owners in the downtown area and along Route 37 from the Garden State Parkway east to Lexington Avenue. That assessment totals $286,000 for 2024, according to Mairin Bennett, the BID's executive director.
The total budget of $440,000 includes grants and sponsorships received by the BID, which has four employees: Bennett, who is paid $72,000, Melissa Fernandez, marketing and events coordinator, who earns $52,000, a full-time maintenance man who oversees buildings and grounds, and a part-time bookkeeper.
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Bennett said the BID has 68 permitted events planned for 2024, including the Comfort Food, Summer in the Street and Harvest Arts festivals, the Crusin' Downtown classic car shows, a Cinco de Mayo celebration and the weekly farmers' market.
The BID also sponsors the annual tree lighting ceremony in December, along with Downtown Night Out, the popular outdoor dining event on Washington Street that is planned for Fridays and Saturdays from May 31 to Oct. 12. Nonprofit organizations, including Toms River's Fire Co. 1, on Robbins Street, often use the BID's events for fundraisers.
The budget must be approved by the council after a public hearing. Bennett said she has requested that the spending plan be placed on a council agenda for the past month, to no avail.
BID Treasurer Lee Pelton said the organization has enough money to operate until about May 15.
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In a report to the BID's board Wednesday, Bennett gave a timeline of meetings she's had with Rodrick, Council President Craig Coleman, Councilman Justin Lamb and Administrator Jon Salonis to discuss the BID's budget.
She said Lamb told her on Feb. 27 that the mayor and council were seeking $20,000 for fireworks, but on Feb. 29, Rodrick said that the BID needed to earmark $70,000 to pay for 10 fireworks shows that could be held in Huddy Park or in South Toms River's Mathis Plaza on Fridays in the summer.
If the BID did not agree to this, Rodrick told her he would "take the BID down," Bennett said. Fernandez, the events coordinator, researched the cost of 10 fireworks shows lasting eight to 10 minutes each and determined that it would likely be close to $120,000 to put on that many.
"Fireworks is a lovely idea, but it's a logistical nightmare," said Alizar Zorojew, the former BID executive director who is now a member of the board of directors.
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Rodrick denied asking for the specific $70,000 figure, but said his administration had made it clear to the BID what he and the council would like to see downtown.
"We explained to them that this is something that this administration and council wants to see," he said. "… What these guys in government do, is they resist change, they spend every moment of their waking day thinking of why they can’t do something."
Shea said the township has already collected the first-quarter tax assessment that should be transferred to the BID.
"The money is earmarked for the BID," Shea said. "This is not personal. I have no animus towards anybody. … I just want the council and Dan to do the right thing."
Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and writes about issues related to Superstorm Sandy. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Downtown Toms River group threatened by mayor to pay for fireworks
