By Ann Genader
West Milford — Holding the annual Autumn Lights Festival in West Milford this year could follow its usual pattern of success or it could be a disaster with lasting effects.
So debated the Township of West Milford Council this week and still remain unsure.
Police Chief Tim Storbeck has recommended to the council to cancel the event this year in light of the Marshall Hill Bridge reconstruction project and related road closings that will be taking place in October at festival time.
Festival Committee Chairman Rocky Hazelman, who is also president of the West Milford Chamber of Commerce, told the Township Council members during their meeting on Monday night that with safety considered as a number one concern, he would go along with the police chief's recommendation.
Hazelman, who has chaired the committee for a decade, would rather skip the event this year and come back in October 2019 with a bigger and better family fun fair when the bridge work is done.
Thousands of visitor expectedThe festival was to use the Union Valley Road route for hundreds of vendor spaces and foot traffic. Last year, 370 spaces from 270 vendors, civic groups, food availability and sponsors, a music stage, local dance stage and children’s entertainment, and rides used the route that would now be closed due to the bridge construction.
“Beholden to the success of the committee the event draws 15,000 attendees with safety as our number one concern,” Hazelman said. “Looking at the most feasible alternative to use the library, town hall and the closed section of Marshall Hill Road, would see the festival disjointed at best, doubling the density of people and providing a higher interaction between festival attendees and motorists.”
Added to that the smaller amount of space for entertainment, vendors and civic groups there was concern by the organizing committee that the festival would not be well received by attendees, vendors or sponsors.
They feel that while missing a year of the festival the cost — with some momentum — would be far less than the damage that can be created from a pedestrian accident or a festival that provides less than in years past.
Council debates pros and consFollowing a lively council discussion on the subject, Mayor Bettina Bieri suggested there be another meeting before a final decision about holding the festival this year is made. More detailed information will be gathered.
The council will look at use of detour signs and amount of staffing that would be required if adequate signage is in place.
Hazelman commented that one bad event could damage the festival’s future beyond repair. He said it would be difficult to tell his 7-year-old daughter that the event that brings her so much joy was canceled this year, but he believed it was in everyone's best interested.
If the event is held, it should be on Union Valley Road as usual, the chairman said.
It has become too big to squeeze into a smaller place, another reason why he supports the one-year moratorium.
Councilman Luciano (Lou) Signorino said he was not aware of any recommendation not to use Union Valley Road for the annual festival and he could never support moving it from there.
Signorino pushes for more ideasCouncil President Tim Wagner was officially appointed as festival committee council liaison on Monday night. He said that there was a meeting attended by Administrator Antoinette Battaglia, Officer of Emergency Management Officer Edward Steines, Hazelman and Chief Storbeck several weeks ago.
At that time, the police chief recommended that Union Valley Road not be used as the festival site this year. The chief's opinion weighs in a lot, Wagner said.
Signorino said despite Storbeck’s recommendation he still supports having the festival and as usual the location should be on Union Valley Road. A lot of people want more things (events) brought in but if there’s a resulting problem that affects them their opinions sometimes change, he said.
“ALF is such a gem for the town,” Signorino said. “Maybe there could be more (traffic) coordination with the help of the county.”
Resident warns of consequencesRobert Nicholson, resident with experience in the entertainment business, warned that if attendance is compromised it is hard to get people to return the following year.
The replacement of the Marshall Hill Road culvert over a tributary to Belcher’s Creek is expected to get underway in July with work to continue for seven months. Construction bids for the project will be received Thursday, April 5 by Passaic County at the Procurement Center in Paterson.
The bridge (culvert) will be replaced with a three-sided frame structure of similar span length. Because of its construction dating back to the 1930s engineers said it is impossible to keep a lane open while work is underway so the bridge must remain closed during the construction.