The Riverhead Chamber of Commerce is withdrawing its application to produce the Riverhead Blues Festival this year, according to Councilman James Wooten. He said town officials were informed of the Chamber’s decision Monday afternoon.
Chamber president Robert Lanieri said he plans to read a statement to the Town Board at today’s 2 p.m. meeting, but declined to disclose its contents beforehand.
Wooten said the Town Board would consider a resolution today granting the permit to the Council for the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall, which has produced the popular summer festival since 2006. This year’s permit will contain a provision requiring the Vail-Leavitt to submit a financial accounting for the festival — a “profit and loss” statement, Wooten said — to the Town Board at the conclusion of the festival. Town officials have expressed concern about supplying town property and services for the festival at no charge to the Vail-Leavitt, a not-for-profit organization, because the Vail-Leavitt charges admission to the festival. Vail-Leavitt president Bob Barta said last month that the Blues Festival represents a “significant portion” of the group’s annual net income, and helps keep the 1881 historic theater on Peconic Avenue operational year-round.
Vail-Leavitt treasurer Vince Tria said he was surprised by the news of the Chamber’s decision to withdraw, but it didn’t matter. The Vail-Leavitt, he said, will produce the festival again this year “without a problem.” All of the bands, performers and vendors have already been booked, he said.
Under a deal struck late last week in Town Hall by the Vail-Leavitt and the Chamber of Commerce, which had filed competing Chapter 90 event permit applications to run the festival this year, the Chamber was to assist the Vail-Leavitt by obtaining corporate sponsorships for the festival and would earn 24 percent of each sponsorship it brought in. Officials from both organizations were to take the proposed agreement to their respective boards for approval. The Chamber board balked, according to sources close to the discussion.
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