Lewis County opts not to amend gathering law

LOWVILLE — On with the moe!

Lewis County's legislative Courts and Law Committee decided Thursday not to make any changes to the county's outdoor mass-gathering law that would affect this fall's moe.down music festival in Turin.

The committee's 2-1 decision to table the issue effectively eliminates a planned public hearing on proposed changes to the 1970 law that had been set for 5 p.m. April 7.

With moe.down tickets set to go on sale April 1, committee member Richard C. Lucas, R-Barnes Corners, argued there is not enough time to take a comprehensive look at possible law changes.

"I think we need to really study it hard and go page by page," he said.

Committee Chairman John O. Boyd, D-New Bremen, agreed.

However, committee member Michael A. Tabolt, R-Croghan, opposed the move, suggesting the matter has been talked about since the last moe.down ended in early September and the county should receive more money from the event to help cover enforcement and prosecution costs.

The three-day event generates sales and hotel occupancy tax revenue, but county officials have said that figure is difficult to quantify.

Even with no law in place to regulate the annual festival, county officials still could try to negotiate with promoters for additional funding, County Attorney Richard J. Graham said.

"You can always enter a contract, assuming there are willing partners on both sides," he said.

The town of Turin and its local fire department, ambulance squad and library, along with the South Lewis Central School District, already receive donations of money and supplies for hosting the event.

"I would go that route," Mr. Lucas said.

The county's mass-gathering law, enacted in response to the original Woodstock festival in Sullivan County, now regulates events drawing more than 10,000 people, while the most recent moe.down drew slightly more than 6,000 people.

Mr. Graham told committee members that the current law is fairly vague on permit administration and enforcement, among other things.

The committee plans to meet April 2 to begin a more extensive review of the law. Mr. Graham said he will compile an outline of issues that should be addressed.

Turin Town Supervisor Tina M. Paczkowski, by letter, suggested that county officials work with representatives of the town and village of Turin and the Lewis County Chamber of Commerce to implement changes "that would not deter events from happening in Lewis County and at the same time protect Lewis County's many assets."

Carmen A. Sweet, chamber board chairman, expressed a similar sentiment.

"I just hope we can work together down the line," he told committee members.

Mr. Sweet, co-owner of the Butterscotch House Bed and Breakfast in Lowville, said his business rarely had occupants over Labor Day weekend before moe.down, but now is booked every year on that weekend.

Sheriff L. Michael Tabolt said the intent of any changes to the mass-gathering law would not be to stop moe.down or to harm local businesses.

However, he and District Attorney Leanne K. Moser both said that while most festival-goers probably are law-abiding citizens, such events do attract a pervasive group of drug sellers. "They are coming, and they are inventive," Ms. Moser said.

"People you deal with are not the people we're dealing with," Sheriff Tabolt told Mr. Sweet.