Officials from the Village of Ballston Spa and the Saratoga County Fair say a new agreement to keep the fair in the village was forged in a “spirit of cooperation.”
The agreement was cemented at the Monday, Dec. 10, Village Board meeting and establishes a mass gathering permitting system, paving the way for the fair to be held at the Ballston Spa Fairgrounds for years to come.
The agreement was reached following a summer of strained relations between the fair and the village. Several events, including two large country music festivals, were cancelled because the village struggled to put in place the required safety services as required by law for such high-attendance events, including police and medical care.
Mayor John Romano clarified that the issues were not between the fair and the village, but rather between the promoters of the events and the village. The fallout affected the fair, however. Promoters ended up moving their events to another venue and the group that runs the fair, the Saratoga County Agricultural Society, lost anticipated revenue from those events.
The cancellations spurred the society and the village to ensure similar problems will be avoided in the future.
“The breakdown was not a lack of communication between the village and the fair,” said Romano. “It was between the village and the event promoters. What was lacking was a formal written process for such notification and that’s the purpose of developing this mass gathering permit, so that we are able to identify the information we require to ensure public safety. I have always been a strong supporter and advocate of the fair and I think it’s been very important to the village over the years and has helped define our village as a destination point.”
Romano said that as times have become more difficult economically, both the village and fair have looked for options to increase revenue. Because of increased events at the fairgrounds, the village felt it was necessary to obtain information ahead of time for planning purposes. He stressed the new permit process applies to not only the fair, but any activities in the village.
The permit was developed by a committee appointed by Romano that consisted of representatives from the fair, the village, the police and fire departments and two village residents. The committee met four times. According to Romano, each meeting was cordial and productive.
The new permitting process will break events into two categories: those with more than 5,000 people and those with less than 5,000 people. Organizers of larger events will be required to fill out all the necessary information and submit the application not less than 60 days before the event. The village has the option to approve or deny the event, and to revoke the event if it does not meet the requirements. Organizers of smaller events need only notify the village.
Before voting on the resolution to establish the permit application, Romano thanked Saratoga County Fair General Manager Jeff Townsend and Fair President Bill Schwerd for their work.
“Jeff and Bill were great to work with,” said Romano. “It was a very pleasant experience and proves that we can work out our differences. I am thrilled that the fair will stay in the village for many years to come.”
Townsend and Schwerd agreed the outcome was beneficial to everyone.
“We are looking to be an economic driver for the village,” said Townsend.
“It was a process we worked through,” said Schwerd. “We are pleased with the results and we expect to move forward for many years to come.
Schwerd said the frustrations in the past were due in part of the fact that nothing was in writing.
“This permit will rectify that,” he said. “It is good for everybody.”