South Amboy High School Students Sing the National Anthem.
By: Carolyn Maxwell
SOUTH AMBOY – On 3/21/19, Mayor Fred Henry announced that those present were going to be a part of history because this will be the first South Amboy State of the City that will be televised through a fiber-optic system. The Council Meetings will be televised and available for public viewing on the South Amboy website. Two digital signs will be placed by the library and high school (on O’Leary Boulevard) and a permanent sign is in front of City Hall. Henry then mentioned the recent personnel changes, Glenn Skarzynski, who became the Business Administrator a little over a year ago, and the new CFO (Chief Financial Officer) Dan Balka.
Henry was pleased to announce that the Police Department received their accreditation. They are rewriting and enacting new policies and procedures. The NJ Police Chief Association did an audit of our records and an inspection and no deficiencies were found. I’d like to thank Police Chief Darren Lavigne and his Department. I’d like to thank the Police Department for being the City’s protectors and our peacemakers.
Mayor Fred Henry with his wife, Linda
Home values are going up. Houses that were selling for $278,000 in 2010 have increased in value by around 11% and are now worth $304,000. We are selling million-dollar homes in the City. In 2017, we had a surplus of $2.3 million and in 2018 that surplus increased to $2.4 million. Standard and Poor has increased the City’s ratings from A- to A+. This is due to a strong budgetary performance and growth, especially in resources. S&P is happy with our direction. I’d like to thank our CFO and financial experts.
Henry mentioned the Ferry, the Manhattan Beach Project, and Debt Restructuring which helped in having a zero increase in our budget. Progress benefits everybody. You can’t project the future, but we have smart redevelopment plans. He quoted FDR, “People acting together as a group can accomplish things which no individual acting alone could ever hope to bring about.”
Henry then thanked the Public Works Department. Bulk pickups in town have been a great success. So far, we’ve had 90 tons of recyclables picked up.
He then talked about City Engineer Mark Rasimowicz who in the past year has been instrumental in securing a total of $1,600,000 in grant money for City improvements.
The Middlesex County Freeholders were given thanks, especially Freeholder Director Ron Rios. The Freeholders, along with Conrail have begun work on the Hole in the Wall. Work will begin in a few weeks on lower Main Street.
Henry was proud of the fact that Governor Murphy made a recent visit to South Amboy which highlighted the City’s smart development. Sites mentioned were: Venetian, the YMCA, and Woodmont Cove. He compared this to Michelangelo’s vision. Woodmont Properties built units that are fully occupied. I want to thank SARA (South Amboy Redevelopment Agency) Executive Director Eric F. M. Chubenko and Asm. Craig Coughlin (Attorney for SARA) who helped make those projects come to fruition. SARA has taken dormant and contaminated land so they can be developed. I want to thank the Planning Board and all the professionals who approved those plans. There were a lot of naysayers who spoke against some of these projects, but those naysayers and Superstorm Sandy did not deter us.
Some of the new projects were undertaken by B&E and Sherman Capital which were approved by the Council. The process took many years. Three renewable energy companies are interested in investing in the City and building on an eyesore.
Henry was hopeful to have shovels on the ground by September when talking about the Ferry.
The Historical Society was mentioned next. He mentioned a vintage baseball game that they played using 1860’s rules. The cemetery tours are always popular, and they will be having an upcoming open house soon featuring genealogy. He thanked the Historical Society for keeping South Amboy’s history alive.
Mayor Fred Henry delivers the 2019 State of the City Address
*Photos by Katherine Massopust
Henry then mentioned the children’s summer programs which will have an additional two weeks added. He was excited about the joint fireworks taking place with Perth Amboy again and recognized Council President Mickey Gross and Barry Rosengarten from Perth Amboy who is the Chair of the Fireworks Celebration.
Henry recognized Code Enforcement Director Jay Elliot and South Amboy’s Green Team. The City recently acquired a tractor which will be used on the beach for cleanups. The City will be eligible for more grants. The summer trips have been expanded. More programs for our senior citizens will be expanded, especially when it comes to warning them to avoid being victims of scams.
The Municipal Alliance in South Amboy will be sponsoring teen dances and antidrug programs. He praised the library staff who has education and entertainment activities almost every day. On March 28th, the library will be celebrating its 105th Anniversary.
(L to R) Dr. Jorge Gonzalez, Barry Rosengarten, Council President Mickey Gross, Mayor Fred Henry
Henry recognized Business Association President Dr. Jorge Gonzalez and Councilman Tom Reilly. Three businesses have either opened or will be opening soon in the City. The town will continue to have a strong partnership with the schools.
Companies that come in under PILOTs (payment in lieu of taxes) have created revenue. We will be purchasing digital signs for the schools and library this year.
Henry then made a plea for people to volunteer for the Fire and First Aid Departments. We especially need people to volunteer for the First Aid because that Department is getting smaller.
I want to thank volunteers in both departments for their dedication and sacrifice.
Our recent St. Patrick’s Day Parade was successful. He thanked the honorees and Grand Marshals. I know that Mickey Gross who is chair of the St. Patrick’s Day Committee has already started working on next year’s parade. I want to thank my staff and especially my Secretary, Kathy Kudelkak for all her help and all the duties that she performs. She continues to excel. He also thanked Camille Tooker who is the former B.A. who came out of retirement, but came back to work as the Mayor’s Confidential Aide. He again thanked B.A. Glenn Skarzynski for keeping South Amboy on the move. He thanked the Council who always have their hearts in the right place when it comes to what’s best for South Amboy.
He acknowledged his family and was pleased to announce that his daughter recently made him a grandfather and his son became engaged.
After that announcement, Camille Tooker gave the Mayor a bouquet of flowers sprinkled with green and white carnations which he presented to his wife, Linda.
As he presented the bouquet to her, he spoke lovingly how much her support meant to him. She has seen him in good times and bad times, always defending him. “I love you, Linda. I am committed to South Amboy, its smart growth, and doing what’s best for the City,” he said.
