Town of Niagara Supervisor Steve Richards made it clear Thursday that the music doesn’t have to stop altogether, it just has to be played in moderation.
“The funding is drying up,” Richards said at the board’s work session, speaking in response to criticism the town is cutting back on the number of concerts scheduled this year.
Due to funding restraints, town officials have decided to reduce the number of free outdoor concerts from five last year to no more than three this year. In addition, the staging equipment will be downgraded.
“Sometimes we can’t have the Cadillac, we’ve got to go with the Chevy,” Richards said.
The cuts have attracted concern from members of the town’s Recreation Committee, according to Recreation Director Lee Wallace.
But Richards insisted the anger is being misplaced — he’s coming under scrutiny for a problem he did not create, and an issue he alone cannot address.
Instead, he suggested committee members and town residents aim their discontent at Assemblywoman Francine DelMonte, D-Lewiston, who lobbied for state legislation that took away Niagara County’s share of casino money and gave it back to the City of Niagara Falls. Richards said the town received $10,000 from the county’s share last year for the town’s annual Electric Lights Parade — money that won’t be coming this year.
“Go to Pine Avenue and to Francine DelMonte’s office for answers,” Richards said.
He also complained the town has not received any federal stimulus funding, despite the more than $260 million that’s been allocated for Niagara and Erie counties.
“We got nothing,” he said.
As a result, Richards indicated officials had to analyze recreation offerings across the board, while adding the town lost $38,000 in operation costs from concerts and other recreation activities last year.
Richards additionally noted a projected budget deficit also has forced the town to leave unfilled the vacancies of five full-time positions, including one police officer.
“If we cut a police officer, you know there’s a serious problem with funding,” Richards said, directing his comments at Wallace and another member of the Recreation Committee in attendance Thursday. “Should we have more concerts when we did not fill a police position? Think about that.”
Giving the board a rough outline of what the committee can do to increase the amount of money it has to work with — cut back on concerts, raise prices and look for outside funding — Richards closed the discussion on a sliver of optimism: “Let’s have three good concerts, rather than five with two bad ones.”
Local News
TOWN OF NIAGARA: Less song and dance this year
- Local News
-
-
State senator, wife beaten at Seneca Niagara Casino
A state senator and his wife were attacked and beaten and a casino “shareholder” was arrested after one or more incidents at the Seneca Niagara Casino Friday night.
- Staff cuts, large tax increase being considered to fill N-W's $10.M deficit
-
Police searching for jewelry thief caught on tape
-
Falls cops arrest pot and heroin dealers
-
Child run over be car on Niagara Avenue
Falls Traffic Division investigators said an 11-year-old boy was struck after he darted into the street, in front of a car as it pulled away from a stop sign.
-
Gerber resigns from SPCA board; calls for adding veterinarian to staff
A Town of Niagara veterinarian and long-time member of the SPCA of Niagara Board of Directors has stepped down.
Dr. William Gerber submitted his resignation on Tuesday. It was effective immediately. -
Militello paid $50K to leave Niagara-Wheatfield
Former Niagara-Wheatfield Superintendent Carl Militello is receiving a $50,000 from the district, according to a separation settlement agreed to on Feb. 1.
-
Joseph Davis State Park gets some green
Officials in the Town of Lewiston received approval Thursday to spend a significant portion of the community’s incoming greenway funds on the redevelopment of Joseph Davis State Park.
-
Has NYPA relicensing agreement led to a revival?
A state senator is calling for an audit of the low-cost power and cash used in the last seven years by Niagara County entities that have shared in the benefits of the 50-year relicensing agreement with the New York Power Authority.
-
Autopsy unable to determine cause or time of Judith Burr’s death
An autopsy by an Erie County Medical Examiner has failed to determine either the time of death or the cause of death of Judith Burr.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48
Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria
Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC
Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion'
5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La.
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs
Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames
LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal
$25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses
