Oswego Council Votes Against Backing Certain Events

by Steve Yablonski | February 23, 2016 12:32 am

OSWEGO, NY – The debate regarding what the Port City should do with its financial resources boiled over Monday night to include several traditional city events.

Cre8 Studios sought council approval for use of city properties in order to organize and host a St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 12; the Independence Day Celebration on July 3; the Oswego County Paddlefest event on August 6; and the Great Pumpkin Festival to be held September 30 – October 2.

However, city services were approved for Pumpkin Fest and the Independence Parade only, the others were amended to remove city support, fees weren’t waived they weren’t designated as a city sponsored event.

Voting in favor of the amendments were councilors John Gosek, Robert Corradino, Nate Emmons and Shawn Walker.

Eric VanBuren, Caitlin Reynolds and Pat McLaughlin voted no.

Christopher and Heathe Jones of Cre8 Studios aren’t certain just yet whether to move forward with the events.

“I don’t think we’re ready to make that decision yet. But, makes it more difficult,” Heathe Jones said.

“We’re going to take some time to reassess all the events,” Christopher Jones said following the meeting.

During the public session prior to the meeting, several residents, some of them business owners who hold events, spoke about the events and their costs and benefits to the city.

Some said the city (taxpayers) shouldn’t have to subsidize events and if the city waives fees for event organizers, it should also waive them for everyone else, including someone wanting to hold a birthday party in Breitbeck Park.

Some speakers said the events were a positive force that brings the community together, and bring people from all over to Oswego. The city needs to attract more tourists, which will generate revenue, others said.

Councilor Emmons said the city has basic needs for its residents that need to be addressed.

“We need to take care of those things first,” he said. “We can’t afford another tax increase. It’s not about one single event; it’s about consistency … how we best allocate our money without putting any burden on the taxpayer.”

Councilor Corradino added that the city has many other places that it needs to invest its funds.

“I can’t … sit here and give services like the bandstand away, services like firefighters for certain events; I can’t see us giving those services away. We can’t keep giving money away. We have problems and we need to address them. Waiving fees is not the answer.”

They are all great events, but there are so many other things Oswego needs to spend money on, he added.

Christopher Jones pointed out his business absorbs many of the events’ cost when it comes to insurance, bands and resources that are used for the events.

Total revenue for the July 4th celebration was $13,450. The expenses were $16, 860.

“That means that a net loss of $3,410 came out of our business,” he said. “Why? Because we believe in these events. I can’t take any more (out of the business). So if you talk about riding on the backs of taxpayers – that’s not the case. We are investing. We want to make efforts to improve the city.”

Everyone needs to get together and figure out how to move forward and provide quality events for people who live here and people who visit here, Greg Mills, executive director of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce, told the council.

“We have challenges as a community. We have to figure those things out,” he said. “We have to sit down at a table, have a discussion, try to determine what is the best solution.”

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego/oswego-council-votes-against-backing-certain-events/

---