American Family Fest Nixed for Lack of Funds

WEST WILDWOOD — Borough residents looking forward to the “American Family Festi-val” better make other plans for June 28.
The festival is traditionally held the Saturday before July 4 and open to the community. In past years it has been described as a borough-wide block party, full of barbeque fare and fireworks in the evening.
In a June 18 letter addressed to “friends and residents,” the mayor and commissioners said they opted to pull the plug on the annual party due to budget constraints.
“The 2008 budget established by the previous administration did not include the esti-mated $33,500 to support the festival this year,” explained borough officials.
According to the letter, grant money from the Urban Enterprise Zone was typically used in the past to offset much of the cost of the festival. However, the letter to the residents said, that the prior administration did not apply for the funds in time to receive the state approval in February or March of this year.
“The borough cannot legally contract for services without having the money appropriated and available prior to signing contracts, such as fireworks,” the commissioners wrote.
Commissioner Scott Golden told the Herald that didn’t want to see something canceled that brought the community together. He said he wants to look for funds to support the fes-tival at a later date.
“I think it is a lost cause in terms of getting something ready for June,” said Golden. “But if we can get some funding together, I don’t see why we can’t have something for the resi-dents later this summer, possibly in August.”
Golden said that he hasn’t discussed the specifics with fellow Commissioners Gerald McNamara and Mayor Herbert C. Frederick but added that he is hopeful that the festival can be rescheduled.
Officials said the borough would continue, as planned, with the annual house decorating contest and children’s parade on July 4.
Contact Suit at: (609) 886-8600 ext. 25 or lsuit@cmcherald.com