Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fairgrounds Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fair and agricultural societies ask Legislature to protect year‑round uses of fairgrounds
Summary
Representatives of agricultural societies and fairgrounds testified in support of legislation (Senate 1455 / H.2354) to prevent municipal bylaws from unduly restricting off‑season uses of fairgrounds, arguing that year‑round events keep fairgrounds financially viable and deliver community benefits.
Representatives of Massachusetts agricultural societies and fairgrounds told the joint committee that many fairgrounds rely on off‑season events to fund maintenance and community programming and urged passage of bills to limit municipal restrictions on year‑round uses. Speakers included James O’Brien, general manager of the Topsfield Fair; Ted Costa, second vice president of the Essex Agricultural Society; and David Grindle, president of the International Association of Fairs and Expositions. They said fairgrounds host educational programming, 4‑H and FFA events, training for first responders and emergency staging and that off‑season rentals, flea markets and concerts generate revenue needed for upkeep. Witnesses described cases where zoning or municipal rules limited off‑season uses and said small societies that operate on thin margins have closed in recent years. They asked the committee to clarify that agricultural fairgrounds, typically nonprofits that predate modern zoning, be recognized as community assets and not effectively limited to a short seasonal window. The committee heard testimony and did not vote.
