Deputy Mayor 'Doubts' He Will Support Fireworks Next Year
Paying for this year's fireworks display with borough funds was approved unanimously by council
Photos
Ticket sale revenue from this year's Fourth of July fireworks display is still trickling in, but Deputy Mayor Ed Trawinski has already stated that he does not intend to support funding next year's display with taxpayer money.
"Next year I doubt that I will support [funding the fireworks] because John [Cosgrove] and Kurt [Peluso] said they were going to cover the cost," said Trawinski, who, in fact, volunteered Cosgrove to do the fireworks fundraising. "They did their best, and I applaud them for trying it, but I don't think we can afford to spend $30,000 anymore on fireworks."
As of Tuesday, the borough had recouped $18,594 of the $20,584.60 that it spent on the display itself, not including the $10,000 anticipated for employee overtime.
The $18,594 revenue figure includes money raised through tickets sold -- both at the gate and at participating businesses leading up to the fireworks -- and private sponsorships, which accounted for about $3,000. It does include ticket sales made at Daniella's Track Side Grille, which has yet to submit its sales data.
The cost to maintain the borough's annual fireworks display, which originally had been removed from the manager's budget this year, was reinstated after an accounting error discovered at one of the budget meetings freed up additional cash.
Once council members learned of the error, they quickly consented to fund the fireworks using the new-found funds.
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Melvin Brokes
9:47 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Bravo Deputy Mayor Ed Trawinski, bravo, horray, finally, after years of lost money, the lightbulb came on. Now, shut the pool, sell the rec center, quit putting stupid flags on the poles, and close the library and everything is fixed!
FLResident98
7:25 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Yes, please close everything that makes a community a community and desireable to live in. Then we can just incorporate with Patterson.
Fair Lawn Tax Payer
7:40 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
If your idea of community is taking from everyone to entertain a few, count me out. Governments don't make communities people do. If the fireworks had value to you, find enough people to voluntarily pay for it. I would donate. Just don't send the taxman to collect funds to pay your bills.
BellairBerdan
8:08 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
That's right FL Tax Payer! Why have our taxes go to benefit everyone when we can either put that $10K into the pocket of Trawinski for his prescription drug benefits or into the pocket of Metzler as a raise. Why benefit all when we can use our tax money benefit a few better? Totally reasonable how Trawinski can't support funding the fireworks when there are wealthy people that need (or want) the money even more. Share in the sacrifice Little People! You don't deserve it as much as they do anyway!
Tommy P
10:18 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Better late then never! Now Deputy mayor, how about tackling the pool next?
Michael Agosta
10:19 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
How about he stop taking the medical stipend from Fair Lawn, estimated at $12,000 per Zac's article. He already gets full medical benefits from his county job.
I wonder how difficult it is to speak out both sides of your mouth.
*
10:39 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
With the lacking number of Police, our neighborhood was treated to a weekend full of "personal " fireworks shows from various locations. They lasted longer too!
the boss
11:26 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
good point michael- got to love how the tax payers are paying for double benefits for trawinski, if he didnt accept the benefits for being on council it would cover the loss from the fireworks.
how is he not going to support them next year? i thought trawinski and barattas handlers told them they cant run for council in 2013. did donovan realize its nice to have two insiders in fair lawn and would like them to continue on council for future years?
i like how deputy poppycock tries to throw cosgrove and peluso under the bus. the whole council consented to fund the fireworks, therefore you are responsible too.
Chris Antonelli
1:32 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
What's so great about having two insiders in Fair Lawn as opposed to Paramus, Englewood or Teaneck?
the boss
2:10 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
they shouldnt have insiders anywhere. if you hold a county job it is a clear conflict of interest. i had this opinion when ganz did it and that has not changed.
chris i read your posts- you are a republican cheerleader. i am a conservative but unlike you i will question my own party when i see wrong. your view is republicans= right dems=bad. i bet you were opposed of ganz holding dual positions, but have no problem with the reps doing it.
keep holding those pom poms christopher
Chris Antonelli
9:10 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
How do you compare Ganz with anyone in this town? Who holds 2 elected positions? You really don't know very much, do you?
Chris Antonelli
9:11 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
And why do you call them insiders? What makes you think this town is so instrumental in the running of the county?
the boss
9:45 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
keep shaking those pom poms chris-tina...
see the new article about barratta and trawinski supporting the 2011 budget. when all year ive heard them blame the dems for it. cant wait to hear the excuses the reps #1 cheerleader has for that one.
Chris Antonelli
10:39 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
I'll ask again: And why do you call them insiders? What makes you think this town is so instrumental in the running of the county?
the boss
12:05 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
chris- i am not saying this town is instrumental or special. if you work for county gov you should not be able to be on any town council within that county, not just fair lawn.
you really dont see any conflict of interest? heres an example: say donovan wants the county to run thier police dispatch through on regionalized station. howevr the majority of FL wants to keep it local (not saying thats true this is just an example).When it comes down to vote are baratta and poppycock going to do what make FL residents happy or are they gonig to do what makes thier boss happy.
this is nothing personal against baratta and poppycock, but if you keep allowing people to hold dual posistion within gov eventually somone will take advantage
Chris Antonelli
5:07 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
You called them insiders, not me. Apparently you feel there is some benefit to someone somewhere. And it's not personal? His name is Ed Trawinski. And it's not a dual position. Dual means two of the same. One is his job he was HIRED to do, the other is an ELECTED position, by a MAJORITY of the residents. You and the other knuckleheads around here cannot understand that difference for some reason. If it were a conflict, it wouldn't be. Ed is a respected lawyer and has been for many years. I trust he would be able to identify a conflict of interest.
By the way, if the County Police want to regionalize their dispatch, fine. That's not Fair Lawn.
the boss
5:31 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
chris you are full of it and thinjk you are a lot smarter than you actually are.
yea ed seems very trust worthy, when hes been blasting the past dems for 0 percent tax increase meanwhile he supported it. that shows a lot aof character chris.
i am not affiliated with any party and cant have debates w/ some who only sees republicans are always right and dems are always wrong even if they are doing the same thing, keep cheerleading from the side lines chris, maybe trawinski will let you wear his varsity jacket one day.
the boss
11:31 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
a major problem with generating revenue from the fireworks is the hundreds of people who watch them from neighbors backyards or the field near memorial. if everyone who enjoyed the fireworks paid for a ticket we'd probably end up posistive money.
i cant say i blame the people who do watch them for free or if there is a possible solution to it. but if people took responsiblity and actually paid the pretty cheap admission fee for the benefit of fair lawn then the fireworks wouldnt be an issue.
STOP the SPINS
4:15 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
SUPPOSEDLY F.L. has NO money. With this in mind, why would the town even consider having the fireworks? NO money? NO FIREWORKS! Simple enough. Oh that's right, it must be a facade - we can't let outsiders know just how poor the town really is. MANY, many NON residents flock into town EVERY year to watch our fireworks for free - try to get a nickel from them. By the way, if F.L. says NO to fireworks next year, there is nothing stopping the F.L. residents from hopping in their cars and driving to more "affluent" towns to see the fireworks ....is there?
Ha!
12:19 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
@Boss, you're pretty comical!
First you blast Trawinski for sayin it like it is:Fireworks=Loss .....then you want to have the Free world pay just because they may be able to see the display .
Change that name to Boob!
the boss
12:52 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
ha!- i am not referring to the people who just may happen to see the fireworks, i am talking about the 100s of people who bring blankets and chairs to the field at memorial school with family in friends with the intention of enjoying fireworks for the evening (for free). also the houses that boarder the pool have partys were all thier friends enjoy the fireworks for free, or many just sneak in through a backyard.
LENNY
1:47 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Mr Brokes
I hope in your post "the stupid flags" are not the american flags put up along FAIR LAWN AVE, as I think they are put up to honor the people who servered our country
Melvin Brokes
2:13 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Old Glory, never I speak of the holiday and other flags, never old glory
Bruce Knuckle
9:00 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Glad to see Trawinski hittin' the hard issues. Wont spend the 2000 lost for a community event, but can find it in his heart to over pay Metzler with a big fat raise. I think he is full of poppycock.