Board denies noise permit for Highland Park party

Geneseo Village Trustee Ben Gajewski, who took office at the beginning of April, cast his first dissenting vote in a 4-to-1 decision by the Geneseo Village Board on Monday.

The majority voted to deny a noise/band permit for the SUNY Geneseo senior class event scheduled to take place at Highland Park Thursday, May 10. The college seniors intended to also rent the park pavilion.

While the permit application was late (Rules officially require applications to be filed three weeks before the event.), Mayor Richard Hatheway made it clear that the reason for the denial was the  loud band disturbing the neighborhood near the park.

There was some additional concern that electrical wiring system at the park might prove insufficient for the band’s power draw. Additionally, Trustee Bob Wilcox suggested that a loud concert in proximity to the Teresa House hospice care facility would be inappropriate.

However, Gajewski noted that noise permits are commonly granted for private parties at locations throughout the residential neighborhoods in the village. He wondered if all noise permits in residential neighborhoods will be henceforth denied.

In particular, he is concerned that APOG, which hosts a private annual fundraising wine tasting event featuring a band might likewise have its permit application denied. (Gajewski is an APOG director.)

The SUNY Geneseo Seniors had informed the village that they had already committed $1,700 for two bands plus the fee for catering by Brian’s USA Diner.

Trustee Sandra Brennan suggested that the seniors be directed to the village park on Main Street, where large bands are hosted on a regular basis and the electrical system has been upgraded for that purpose.

There was additional discussion as to whether Highland Park has ever hosted bands. The consensus was not in recent times, or at least not anything very loud.

However, after the meeting The County News was informed that the park had actually played host to circuses in the 1960-70s, even featuring elephants.

On Tuesday college seniors modified their application to relocate the event to Village Park. There is, however, no overhead cover unless a tent is set up.