Jenkinson's May Have to Pay Fee for Some Spring and Summer Events

Jenkinson's thinks its Easter events, concerts and fireworks are great, but doesn't think they're all "special."

Would Jenkinson's really say some of its events are not special?

Yes, they would and they are. That's because calling them "special events" means they might get charged a fee for event licenses that may be imposed by Point Pleasant Beach.

The fee would be $2,000 for a license per day for outdoor events that draw 200 people or more. That would be a $1,000 increase beyond what an existing ordinance requires.

However, Jenkinson's has not been paying the $1,000 fee because it has never filled out applications for the license, said Councilman Michael Corbally on Thursday.

"I just want them to fill out the applications," Corbally said. "I just want them to be treated like everyone else."

If Jenkinson's does not submit applications, they risk facing fines for being in violation of an existing ordinance, he added.

The number of and type of events that would incur any fee remains to be worked out and will be based at least partially on information in submitted applications, Corbally said.

Borough Council members voted Tuesday night to table a proposed ordinance, titled "Public Assembly," that calls for the new fee of $2,000 for each event that draws 200 or more people.

The motion to table was made at the request of Edward R. McGlynn, an attorney for Jenkinson's. He said at the meeting that while he had met with Corbally and Police Chief Kevin O'Hara, he would like more time to meet with Corbally again and negotiate the amount of the fees.

"That's a great idea," Corbally said. However, he also asked McGlynn for Jenkinson's to begin filling out applications for licenses for 45 of their upcoming events, at least some of which may be assessed a fee under the existing ordinance or the proposed one if it is passed.

"We charge the chamber, you're the only folks who don't fill out applications," Corbally told McGlynn.

Carol Vaccaro, chamber executive director, said on Thursday that the Point Pleasant Beach Chamber of Commerce paid about $7,300 to reimburse the Beach for police for the seafood festival last year.

The chamber also paid approximately $2,000 directly to off-duty public works employees to clean up afterwards.

"And we pay a fee for every event we do," she added.

At the request of Jenkinson's, O'Hara supplied the council and Jenkinson's with a list of specific spring and summer boardwalk events that require extra police coverage.

The list, which is also available to the public, has a total of about $20,000 in costs for police services for events, such as the Easter Egg Hunt on Palm Sunday, the Easter Sunday parade and the Memorial Day WPLJ concert.

The list also includes weekly summer events such as Wednesday night concerts; Thursday night fireworks; Big Joe Henry shows on Sundays and Radio Disney concerts.

The  calculations were based on the number of officers needed, the hours required and a hourly pay rate of $11 for special police officers.

"That includes only the pay, not the uniform, the car, the gas, the insurance, administration, training and scheduling," Corbally said. "They asked the chief for information on what we pay for extra police, and the chief gave them that. But there are also other expenses that the taxpayers pay for."

McGlynn told Corbally at the meeting he disagrees with some of the events on the chief's list being classified as "special events" and therefore incurring a license fee.

"But we want to negotiate to try to make the town happy," McGlynn said.

Then, looking at Barrella, McGlynn added, "Well, I don't know if we could ever make you happy, mayor."

The two had a heated exchange on various topics. However, Barrella did tell McGlynn that even if Jenkinson's fills out applications, the company can still challenge whether some should be in the category of "special events."

Just after that, in an interview in the hallway, McGlynn said, "We're not going to fill out applications. We're going to tell them what events we'll do," he said, meaning Jenkinson's will tell the Beach what events are "special."

He and Marilou Halvorsen, Jenkinson's Marketing Director, said they are willing to negotiate regarding the amount of the fees for some events.

When asked how much Jenkinson's is willing to pay, they said they do not yet know.

Jenkinson's representatives disagreed among themselves Tuesday night about which items on their upcoming schedule are "special events."

McGlynn said outside the meeting room, "Maybe the concerts and fireworks are special events."

Halvorsen, who is in charge of planning and running events, then said to McGlynn, "And the WPLJ event. Didn't we say that's a special event?"

"No, I'm not too sure about that one, I don't think so," replied McGlynn, looking at Halvorsen.

Halvorsen said the Radio Disney concerts should not be included as "special events" because they do not draw 200 people.

Minutes later, Ron Gasiorowski, another Jenkinson's attorney walked back down the hallway, called a reporter back and said that he doesn't think fireworks should be in the category of "special events."

"When Disney has fireworks, do they have to pay the town an extra fee?" asked Gasiorowski, an attorney based in Red Bank.

But Disney has in-house security to police the event and does not typically use the Orlando police department.

"But Jenkinson's is an entertainment business, so when they provide fireworks, that's part of what they do," he said. "When the Chamber of Commerce runs the seafood festival, that's different because they are not in the seafood business."

So how does any of that mean fireworks is not a "special event?"

Gasiorowski did not explain that.

Vaccaro said, "The purpose of the seafood festival is not about seafood. It's about bringing people into town, to promote the businesses in the downtown. And it brings people to the Boardwalk too."

Corbally had proposed the ordinance, which was passed on first reading at the March 8 meeting. At that time, Councilman Sean Hennessy seconded the motion, only Councilman Frank Rizzo voted no and Councilman Jeffrey Dyer was absent.