AMHERST — New procedures for licensing events that use town properties are being finalized, shortly after a permitted party grew out of control at Mill River Recreation Area in North Amherst.
Peter Hechenbleikner, interim town manager, told the Select Board last week that he and staff are working to develop a comprehensive permitting process for all town properties and any neighborhood block parties.
Under this plan, applicants to hold events will need to get approval from what he terms “all applicable departments,” which may include police, fire, health and public works and Leisure Services and Supplemental Education, prior to issuance of the permit. Then, when the permit is issued, a copy will go to each department.
“The purpose is to get sign-off from all applicable staff, and then to make sure that all departments know what permits have been issued,” Hechenbleikner said in an email Friday.
On Sunday, April 17, police responded multiple times to an event at Mill River that received an all-day pavilion rental permit at a cost of $265. This event was dubbed the Smith Family Reunion and approved by leisure services.
But the Select Board later learned that neighbors were bothered by loud noise inability to access the park. There was also vandalism of town property, as well as trash and beer bottles left behind that required both Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek and DPW employees to spend Patriots’ Day morning doing cleanup.
Hechenbleikner said town officials are still tallying the costs of the damage before trying to recoup expenses.
“We do not yet have all of the costs for cleanup and repair, so no, we have not sent a bill,” Hechenbleikner said.
Under the current pavilion rental permitting, at Mill River and Groff Park in South Amherst, people pay either a $40-per-hour fee for a two-hour minimum at Mill River, or $25-per-hour at Groff, or pay an all-day rate set at $265 at Mill River and $165 at Groff.
As part of the deal, people are required to carry out all trash generated, and use of alcohol is prohibited. In addition, softball and baseball diamonds cannot be used.
“Please leave premises neat and clean when you finish your picnic and carry out your trash,” reads the pavilion rental permission agreement.
As part of the new process, permit holders will be required to have the permit on site, and to give town officials contact information where they can be reached during the event, Hechenbleikner said. With this information, police and others will be aware of events happening on town property, and address violations as they occur, he added.
