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NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. -- The New Rochelle City Council discussed a permit fee requiring the citys water front beach clubs to have $1,500 permits for fireworks displays during last weeks council meeting.
City Clerk Bennie Giles originally proposed a $1,000 fee to the council after he felt the city needed a solution to cover administrative costs necessary to have the displays.
My feeling is we need to recoup some of our administrative expenses because of the fact that we do have such attractive venues, Giles said.
Giles said he checked on the fees in other communities and found that amounts ranged from $100 to $750.
The permits include one for the beach clubs to have the displays, and one for the venue where they would be discharged.
City Council member Albert Tarantino, whose district falls in the area of the city's waterfront, suggested the fee be raised to $1,500 because the amount of people who apply to shoot off fireworks could increase if the price is too low.
Tarantino was also concerned with the amount of work the citys police and fire departments currently do to ensure potential spaces meet state requirements.
Theres potential for a lot of work being done by the city workers, police, fire, wherever, Tarantino said.
The state calls for fireworks displays to be 200 feet from nearest permanent building, public highway or railroad, 50 feet from the nearest telephone pole or telegraph line and 150 feet from the point where they are shot off.
The council will vote on the matter Tuesday during its regular legislative session meeting from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the city hall council conference room. City Manager Charles Strome would then approve the matter.
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