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Council negotiates conditions for short-notice carnival at Memorial Park and confirms parade/fireworks schedule
Summary
After a presentation by Parade Committee chair Kathy Lamontae, the council discussed a last-minute Rockwell carnival proposal for Memorial Park, pressing for police detail paid by the operator, insurance, a safety plan, limits on hours, parking controls and neighbor notice; council also confirmed the parade and fireworks dates.
The Glocester Town Council on May 21 debated whether to allow a short-notice carnival at Gloucester Memorial Park as part of the town’s 250th celebration and negotiated a set of conditions the operator must meet before the town will authorize the event.
Kathy Lamontae, who briefed the council on the proposal, said Rockwell (the operator) offered to provide $5 million in liability coverage and would bring its own equipment, bathrooms and dumpsters. "They will provide a $5,000,000 liability," Lamontae said. She said the operator had limited open dates and was able to come on short notice.
Councilors raised multiple concerns: neighbors had not had formal notice; parking on Adelaide is not town property and must be managed; a public hearing may be required under the town code for a special event; DPW and police resources will be needed and any police detail should be paid by the operator; EMA and fire inspections would be required for ride safety; and hours should be limited to reduce neighborhood impacts. Council members emphasized that standard special-event conditions and a formal license must be filed before the event proceeds.
After extended discussion the council read and negotiated a list of stipulations (food-handler requirements, licensing for food-truck participants, applicant responsibility for cleanup, police and fire coordination, certificate of insurance to be filed prior to licensing, minimum porta-johns, posted parking signs, and limits on dates and hours). The council moved toward approving a three-day configuration with chief-of-police flexibility for the precise hours but no later than 9 p.m.
The chair also reported updates on the town’s parade and fireworks: fireworks were scheduled for June 26 with a rain date of June 27, and the parade will proceed as planned; EMA had received the safety plan.
Next steps: The operator must submit required documentation, insurance and licensing and pay for any required police detail; the clerk’s office and police chief will ensure conditions are met prior to issuing a special-event license.
