By Mariyah Wojcik –

SOUTH AMBOY – Independence Day fireworks funding and the need to acquire more municipal and state grants were at the forefront of the April 2 city council business meeting.

Funding for the 2014 Fourth of July fireworks display was of great concern to the council, as the city has experienced difficulty raising funds for this event in the past. Last year, the event had to be canceled, because the proper funding could not be acquired.

Business Administrator Camille Tooker

“I want to publicly thank Camille Tooker, as well as former mayor Jack O’Leary, who have taken an active interest in helping with the fireworks this year,” Councilman Mickey Gross said.

Although the cost of the display is split between the city of South Amboy and the city of Perth Amboy, a fireworks show of this magnitude is expensive. In 2012, the last year that this event was held, the total cost for the fireworks alone was $45,000. This price does not include the additional funds that the city must expend for personnel, who often work overtime to protect residents at this event and ensure that it runs smoothly.

“We need more funding this year,” Gross said. “Ask your friends, family members, or anyone who would be willing to help.”

South Amboy has ensured in the past that if the fireworks show is held, there will be no direct cost to residents through taxes or fees. Keeping with this tradition, more sponsors must be secured for the event to take place this July.

The need for additional grant funding for South Amboy was also addressed, because the city budget is currently being reviewed and finalized. While Business Administrator Camille Tooker assured the council that she had applied for several of the grants on the city’s behalf, Gross asserted that more grant funding needed to be acquired.

Councilman Mickey Gross

“We need to apply for grants. We are in the process of doing the budget and we really need to consider and take a hard look at some of these opportunities,” Gross said.

Grant writers, those who write proposals to apply for grants that benefit cities, were suggested as a possible remedy to what Gross feels is a lack of grant funding in the city budget.

“We are already on it, but grant writers are great,” Tooker said.

Although individual methods used to secure grant funding may differ, Gross summed up the feelings of the council members, stating that there is money out there that the city “needs to take a crack at,” and the city’s budget will undoubtedly reap the benefits in the upcoming year.