Mayor Breaks Council Tie, OK’s Harborfest Midway Site

May 10, 2010 Steve Yablonski

OSWEGO, NY – Mayor Randy Bateman cast the tie-breaking vote at Monday night’s  Common Council meeting regarding the location of the Harborfest midway.

Noise from the Harborfest midway rides, such as this one in 2009, as well as the screaming and yelling of those who go on the rides are a big concern for residents living across the street. On Monday night, the city narrowly approved locating the midway in the same site as last year.
Noise from the Harborfest midway rides, such as this one in 2009, as well as the screaming and yelling of those who go on the rides are a big concern for residents living across the street. On Monday night, the city narrowly approved locating the midway in the same site as last year.

Tom Van Schaack, executive director of Harborfest, requested to use the marina parking lot along Lake Street for the Harborfest midway again this year.

At a recent public hearing on the matter, councilors heard from some residents, some for the plan and others against it.

“I can’t impose the will to have Harborfest right in the middle of these people’s front yards, for 12 – 14 hours a day with screaming and yelling and all that,” Sixth Ward Councilor Bill Sharkey said Monday night, referring to the Lake Street residents who live across the street from the proposed midway location. “I just can’t support this. If I wouldn’t want it in my front yard, I can’t impose it on someone else.”

First Ward Councilor Connie Cosemento said she had similar concerns.

The area wasn’t the best spot for the midway, she said, adding, “We need to address this or we’re going to go through this all over again next year.”

Cosemento and Sharkey were joined by Third Ward Councilor Cathy Santos in voting no.

Voting in favor of the location were Dan Donovan (Fifth Ward), Shawn Walker (Fourth Ward) and Ron Kaplewicz (Seventh Ward).

Second Ward Councilor Mike Myers abstained, due to his association with the Harborfest board.

The mayor’s yes vote broke the deadlock.

Also Monday night, the council approved bond resolutions totaling $2,145,000 for the west side sewer rehabilitation project.

Approved were:

  • $505,600 to pay the cost of the Westside Sewer Treatment Plant Bypass Monitoring and Sanitary Sewer System Management Project.
  • $730,400 to pay the cost of the Disinfection Project at the Excess Flow Management Facility.
  • $909,000 to pay the cost of the Westside Catchbasin Removal Project.

In other business, the council approved use of public space for:

  • Rachid Manseur, the owner and occupant of a single-family dwelling at 116 E. Eighth St. wants to construct a one-car parking revetment, fronting on East Eighth Street.
  • David Emmons, the owner of commercial property at 47 W. Bridge St. wants to utilize an existing 20-foot by 64-foot area of public space for parking of seven cars, fronting West Third Street.
  • Rebecca Baker, the owner and occupant of a single-family dwelling at 125 W. Eighth St. wants to install 17 linear feet of 4-foot high fencing, fronting on West Eighth Street.

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