Peekskill staff seek approval for $7,500 New Year’s Eve fireworks display

Peekskill recreation staff on the common council agenda presented a contract from Garden State Fireworks to stage a New Year’s Eve fireworks show at the Upper Deck Parking Garage Grounds, asking the council to authorize the city manager to execute the agreement.

“We received a contract from Garden State Fireworks, and I'm asking, the council to consider that we're allowing the city manager to enter into an agreement, for the service for this year,” the recreation presenter said. Staff told the council the total cost is $7,500 and that the display will be viewed from the center of town.

Council members pressed staff on safety and permitting. One council member noted the company’s prior work for the city and that it uses short-range projectiles; the council and staff said the fire department and building department already reviewed the approach. A councilor also recommended adding a contract clause to allow cancellation if hazardous weather or a red-flag condition makes the display unsafe: “we may want something in the contract regarding if there's a red flag warning that we have a right to not if we're not if we're not permitted to go ahead, that we have a right not to go ahead.”

Staff said they will follow up with Garden State to confirm the company’s permit packet and to confirm that the contract includes appropriate cancellation language and fire-department sign-off. The presentation concluded with staff saying they will bring the resolution and all required documentation back to the council for action next week.

The item was informational this week; no final contract signature was recorded in the public session.