Mayor Demands Fireworks Funding From Toms River BID

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The Toms River Business Improvement District was created by ordinance in 2002, Shea said. Its goal was a revival of the downtown area, which Shea said was going downhill at the time. It includes businesses along Main Street from Route 37 south to Water Street and along Washington Street.

Its responsibilities, according to the ordinance, include publicizing the district and its businesses, organizing special events, funding the improvement of the exterior appearance of properties through grants or loans and recruiting new businesses to fill vacancies.

The district’s budget for 2024 is $437,095, Shea said. That includes $286,000 from the special assessment on commercial properties. The remainder of the BID’s funding — for its events such as Downtown Night Out, the weekly classic car show, the Irish festival, food truck festival, and the Christmas tree lighting celebration and newly introduced winter wonderland village — comes from grant money, donations and sponsorships.

Shea said the special assessment is earmarked under the ordinance for operational expenses, including employee salaries. There are four employees. Mairin Bennett, the executive director, earns $72,000. In addition there is a marketing and events coordinator whose salary is $52,000, a full-time maintenance employee to care for the buildings and grounds, and a part-time bookkeeper. None of the four receives health benefits or pension benefits.

Under the ordinance, the BID finalizes its budget in November and submits it to the township, which is required to put it on a council agenda for approval. The BID, a nonprofit organization, is governed by a board of directors that includes businesses, residents, the mayor and a county commissioner, and the town’s historical society. It operates separately from the township, with the exception of what is supposed to be a pass-through of the special property tax assessment funds.

Rodrick repeatedly criticized the BID and its budget for several years as a councilman. In April 2023, he again complained about the salaries and said he wanted to see money spent on fireworks and “more to bring people downtown.”

“I’ve been suggesting this for several years,” he said at the time referring to the fireworks.

“No one really has an issue (with fireworks shows) it’s just difficult to do that when you’re ready to operate for the year,” Shea said, noting the BID had told Councilman Justin Lamb in early February that it would accommodate a request for $20,000 for fireworks.

That turned into a request for weekly fireworks displays through the summer, Shea said.

Part of the issue, Shea said, is the logistics of the matter.

According to New Jersey state fire codes, any entity that wants to hold a public fireworks display is required to obtain a permit from the state. Part of that permit requires $500,000 in insurance coverage, for potential property damage.

In addition, the fire codes require a buffer zone for fireworks displays that keeps the fallout area — where ash and embers from the fireworks come down — away from buildings, public roads and the spectators. The larger the shells used, the larger the fallout area.

Huddy Park itself is about 200 feet wide, allowing for very little space for spectators to accommodate a fallout area of 300 feet.

Rodrick, in his comments to the Asbury Park Press, mentioned Mathis Plaza as well. Mathis Plaza is in South Toms River, which would have to agree to host the shows.

“We have not had any communication with Mayor Rodrick or any other official from Toms River regarding the utilization of Mathis Plaza for a fireworks show(s),” said Chris Santiago, South Toms River’s business administrator.

Toms River would need to seek permission from the state to close Route 166 to accommodate the fireworks, and Water Street would be affected as well. Both are heavily traveled on Friday nights in the summer.

Rodrick and Councilman Justin Lamb, who delivered the initial $20,000 request, have been critical of the salaries saying they felt too much of the operating budget goes to administration.

Shea said the criticisms are misplaced.

Bennett, the executive director, is responsible for applying for grants and seeking sponsorships and donations for the various events. She has facilitated efforts such as Downtown Night Out, which originated to boost the restaurants downtown during the pandemic but has become so popular that it continues four years later.

Rodrick has been critical of empty business spaces, but in 2023 Bennett said finding the right fit for a space to ensure a business succeeds is a process. There have been 14 new businesses that have filled spaces downtown, Shea confirmed.

In addition, the BID, as a 501c3, is required to have an executive director to be eligible for grants and a number of programs, including Main Street New Jersey, an arm of Main Street America. Toms River was accepted into the registry in 2021, which opened up funding to assist businesses in the township that were struggling because of the pandemic.

Shea said the BID’s board is open to discussing fireworks displays or other events, but the logistics involved make it not feasible this summer.

“It was unanimous approval from every member of the board that this is just not a good idea at this late date,” Shea said.

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