OSWEGO, NY – The city is getting ready for a variety of summer events.
At its meeting Monday night, the Physical Services Committee gave the green light to an annual concert series.
Councilor Mike Myers (R-Second Ward) requested discussion regarding the closing of Canal Street from 4 to 11 p.m. on Thursdays from July 30 to Aug. 27 for the 13th annual Riverfront Concert Series.
Shane Broadwell of Steamers has held the event for several years.
There has been some consternation due to the noise it creates, however.
The music is amplified by the speakers and it carries across the river into the First Ward, said Councilor Connie Cosemento (D-First Ward). By the time it gets into the heart of the ward it is so distorted it’s just noise, she said.
The program format would be the same as in previous years, Myers said, adding that he has spoken with Broadwell regarding the noise problem.
“He said this year he would turn the speakers more toward the east to alleviate that noise problem,” Myers said.
“The First Ward has had objections to this for many years because of the sound,” Cosemento said. “It just bounces across the river and around Wright’s Landing. It gets very distorted; it’s not music when it gets to the interior of the ward.”
Broadwell has decided this year to use only one rock band (for the very first session), “the rest of the bands are going to be Blues and Jazz which is more amenable especially to the seniors,” she added.
He has also told her he has talked with the bands and said there will be no questionable language, she said.
“But mostly he has chosen a different style of music. I certainly am not going to oppose an activity that will help our businesses,” she said.
The committee sent the request to the full council for consideration.
And, at its meeting Monday night, the Planning and Development Committee OK’d a tavern owner’s requests for outdoor music and waiving the Open Container Ordinance during Harborfest.
Larry Klotzko, owner of Old City Hall, 159 Water St., requested a special variance or permit to the city’s new noise ordinance.
Klotzko requested the waiver so he can have outside music performers playing on his property on July 24 and 25.
He is requesting these performers be allowed to play no later than 2 a.m. on July 25 and 26.
“What I’d like to do is ultimately have a barge in the river and have concerts and small venues all the time,” he said. “But in this particular incident just a couple performers.”
He also requested that the Open Container Ordinance be lifted during Harborfest on July 24 and 25; they are requesting the area of Water Street between Bridge and Market streets and Market Street.
“We wanted to have an area that people could attend outside, in a somewhat larger number than a normal tavern could sustain where the open container would be lifted in a fenced-in area,” he continued.
The entertainment aspect of it would be the focal point, not a “beer blast,” he explained.
“We don’t let real bone-heads into that fenced-in area. We turn away the people we feel we don’t want to deal with,” he said.
Police Chief Mike Dehm said he’s worked with Klotzko and his cadre during the past several Harborfests.
“The crowd is usually well contained and he keeps the group entertained, but not too rowdy,” he said.
“If the people in that age group didn’t have that venue to go to, they would be meandering through the First Ward,” Cosemento said. “And, that’s a nightmare.”
Klotzko agreed to supply sufficient security and bathroom facilities.
Also, he agrees to allow Mayor Randy Bateman and Dehm to set the designated time that this will be allowed.
In the past, during Harborfest, open containers were allowed in this area no earlier than 7 p.m. and no later than 2 a.m., the chief said.
Klotzko also wants to sell food in the Water Street parking lot (between Market and West Cayuga streets) within two or three parking spots in the southeast corner of the parking lot on July 24 – 26.
The State Liquor Authority prefers that there is some source of food in situations like this, Klotzko pointed out.
“They don’t want to just have beer available, they actually want to have the food served,” he told the committee.
The city can grant the use of public space, but he will have to get a health permit to be able to sell food.
The committee gave a favorable recommendation to the requests.
missing or outdated ad config
