By ANDREW MARTIN

CHARLESTOWN -- It’s déjà vu all over again for the Parks and Recreation Commission. The discussion on the fee schedule for events at Ninigret Park will continue for a while longer and won’t be set until a special meeting on Jan. 26.

The commission had already approved all the applications for the four major events – the Charlestown Seafood Festival, the Ocean State Reggae Festival, the Big Apple Circus, and the Rhythm and Roots Festival – the night before. Though the fee schedule for the Big Apple Circus was approved, that was not the case for the other events.

At least the promoter for the Big Apple circus thought the new fees were all approved.

Per a letter presented at a meeting between Ninigret promoters and the Charlestown Town Council, Big Apple representatives went directly to the town with a suggestion of its own fee schedule for the coming years. The letter outlined that the promoter would pay $1 per ticket to the town for an amount up to $12,500. Last year, the circus and the other promoters paid $2,500 per day as a flat rate.

But it was apparent that the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce, which promotes the circus, was unaware of the letter, even though a chamber representative had signed it.  

The chamber’s executive director, Jack Marshall, was surprised to learn about the deal with Big Apple. According to him, such an agreement had not been met. “And since the chamber is the sponsor, no one has the right to negotiate on our behalf,” Marshall added.

Council Vice President Gregory A. Avedisian, the liaison to Parks and Recreation, was confused since he attended the previous meeting and had seen the letter outlining what Big Apple was willing to pay for a fee schedule.

Parks and Recreation Department Director Lisa DiBello explained that Big Apple did in fact contact the town because of an approaching deadline.

Commission member Robert Schiedler thought it was encouraging that Big Apple approached the town with its $1 per ticket suggestion. “I’m surprised they didn’t communicate that to the chamber,” he said.

As a result of all the contention and confusion, the council decided that the commission should meet with all of the promoters again before Jan. 26. On that night, the council is holding a special meeting to set the fees for the Ninigret Park events.

Discussion of the fees

Although a fee schedule will not be set until Jan. 26, several councilors made their feelings clear that they would prefer it to remain the same as last year, when promoters paid $2,500 per day. The only councilor who indicated he was against this idea was Richard H. Hosp.

Based on the weak economy and other variables, councilor Forrester C. Safford pleaded that the fees be frozen until next year. “This is one of those years that we should be very careful,” he said.

Council President Marjorie F. Frank concurred and also cited the struggling economy as well as the fact that this discussion is happening so late. She then suggested that the town, chamber, and the promoters get together this year to get the ball rolling for 2010.

Driving that point home was Avedisian, who said a deadline should be set to ensure the promoters make sure to get onboard with the new fee schedule. “We want you and we want all of you to be happy, but enough is enough,” he said. “Let’s be done with it.”

Some members of the Parks and Recreation Commission were in favor of charging a fee per ticket for the coming year.

In particular, outspoken member Bernard Bishop explained that it would be beneficial to promoters since if there was a rain-out and no one showed up, they would owe nothing to the town. He then added that the commission came to the consensus that the fee rates would not be frozen.

Schiedler agreed that the idea of charging $1 or 50 cents per ticket made more sense that the flat rate of $2,500 per day. But he then added that rushing a new plan now would be difficult.

“So let’s follow the idea [Safford] had at one more year at the same rate with the idea that it is time for a change [for next year],” Schiedler said.

Feedback from promoters

Although most of the event promoters were in attendance, only a select few used the forum as a chance to voice their opinions on the fee schedule.

Phillip and Sherri Rowe, who run the Reggae Festival, both preferred keeping the fees the same as last year based on previous reasons such as the weak economy. And even though it seems like they might be making money with all the people that show up for the event, Phillip Rowe said that is not the case.

“I haven’t made a dime,” he said. “But I do it because I love it.”

Rowe continued to say that he would also prefer to have a flat daily rate in the future, too, because it is much easier to work into his budget, which runs around $50,000.

Rhythm and Roots promoter Charles Wentworth was also in favor of a flat-fee for this coming summer. He added that the $7,500 he paid last year is somewhat inaccurate since he has to also provide police, fire, and medical services as well as insurance. Altogether, he said that amounts to nearly $30,000.

Sharing that belief was Heather Paliotta, who runs the Seafood Festival through the Chamber. “$7,500 is not chump change,” she said. “That’s a lot of money we’re paying.”

The council expressed that it understood everyone’s concerns and that is exactly why they postponed setting the fees until the special meeting on Jan. 26.