29-04-2025
South Amboy mayor highlights city projects on tap in 2025
SOUTH AMBOY – The mayor highlighted the city's projects coming this year in the annual State of the City address.
"To say that we in South Amboy have begun the new year with improvement, achievement and success, I believe, would be an understatement," Mayor Fred Henry said Saturday at the South Amboy Senior Center.
The mayor's speech covered issues ranging from schools, infrastructure and programs.
Schools
With the cooperation of the South Amboy school district, the city is creating the position of Student Resource Officer, Henry said, with Patrolman Marvin DeAusen promoted to the post.
Considering the district's fiscal and repair issues, Henry pledged the city will assist in making the school environment safe and secure.
Ferry
Henry said New York Waterway's ferry service ridership is up to about 6,000 per month, adding the permanent docking facilities and parking lot are nearly 70% complete and on track to open later this year.
Pumping station
With approvals in and bids out, the city will begin replacing the old Raritan Street pumping station, Henry said. The $6.6 million project, mostly funded with an almost $5 million grant from the federal Economic Development Administration, will begin later this year and be completed early next year, he said.
More: South Amboy's first female police chief sworn in
Business
A new parking lot, which will add an additional 80 parking spaces, is being built in the downtown business district which hopes to be completed by year's end.
The mayor said the city has also reached out to business owners in an effort to get their messages out to the public through the government's media sources.
Library
The Sadie Pope Dowdell Library now has a social work intern from Adelphi University to help the community connect to various resources and referrals for mental health issues, health care, substance use, housing, food assistance and more. All assistance is confidential and free of charge, Henry said.
Beach
The Manhattan Beach project will get underway soon and will provide more access to public beach areas and create a beautiful nature walk, which will be open to the public, the mayor said.
Budget
Henry also spoke about the city's budget, which was reduced by $161,820 from last year, lowering municipal taxes by $78 on an average assessed home. The mayor noted when he took office in 2011, the city had no surplus; last year's surplus was $5,034,000 and this year's surplus is $6,200,000, he said.
Email: sloyer@
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on South Amboy NJ mayor highlights city projects on tap
