Requests for Brockport Main Street closures raise concern

Requests for Brockport Main Street closures raise concern

Individuals trying to get through the Village of Brockport on Friday, May 4 were hard pressed to wend their way through the streets and access to Main Street and other side streets was impossible; the cause - Brock The Port, a SUNY Brockport sponsored event.

"Friday was very busy downtown but with the appropriate traffic detours it went off well,"

The discussion on requests for Main Street closures for community events was raised again during the regular board meeting on May 7 when Rob Blair, president of BISCO, came to ask for the closure of Main Street for the annual Arts Festival. The festival is planned for August 11 and 12.

Trustee Maria Castenada pointed out that trying to limit the closure of Main Street has been discussed and said with the Main Street (reconstruction) project looming the village officials have to explore other options. At a prior meeting she had said, "We know how important foot traffic is to our merchants but we have to think of the safety of all the residents and the expense to the village (incurred by DPW and police overtime hours)," she said. "We need to have police officers volunteer their services or charge a fee to the organizations hosting the events to offset

When asked by Trustee David Wagenhauser whether the booths for arts vendors could be moved off to the side to allow a path for fire or emergency vehicles to pass, Blair said that would interrupt the flow of the festival and limit access to Main Street merchants' stores.

Castenada asked Blair if BISCO had ever surveyed merchants to see if their businesses truly benefit from the Arts Festival traffic. "The Arts Festival serves as sort of an open house for the village and has a soft economic impact - the festival is the backbone of BISCO," he said.

"Are you opposed to reimbursing the village for police overtime?" Castenada asked, pointing out

"It would be like robbing Peter to pay Paul," Blair said. "We aren't opposed but if we reimburse the village for police overtime, that will be $2,000 less we will have available to give to the service organizations that BISCO funds - the Toy Shelf, the Food Shelf, Lakeside programs, gifts we've given to the fire department and Cool Kids programs."

Wagenhauser pointed out that BISCO is a not-for-profit organization. "You return money to the community, you give to services in the village."

"If we are asking for reimbursement from one organization, it only seems fair that we ask for reimbursement (for police overtime) for all," Castenada said.

Maziarz pointed out that the Arts Festival is a fundraiser. "We get a phenomenal return on our investment. If we 'give up' $2,000 for overtime and BISCO brings in $40,000 to $45,000 - where else would we be able to get a return on our investment like that? They put on this event at a low cost to the village and many groups benefit - it's well worth it," she said.

Castenada said she is not opposed to the festival but has questions on the costs the village incurs.

Mayor Mort Wexler said the difference between the BISCO event and the Brock The Port event, as an example, is that with BISCO the money comes back to the village in the form of support to service organizations. "I do have concerns with the middle of Main Street not being open," he

Blair said, "It is good to think of the worst case scenario - but there have never been problems like that - but you can't give in to 'what ifs,' " he said in response to concerns about closing Main Street for the festival.

In the end, unanimous approval was given for the closure of Main Street for the two-day event.