Board of Trustees agrees to give "Franki" another chance to organize an Ecuadorian festival--this time in the train station parking lot. August 25 is the date.
Last year's Chicha Fest at Senasqua Park drew some 1000 people and raised questions about how straight the organizers had been with the village. The Board agrees to forgive but not forget.
Many villagers will recall that in August 2023, a major music festival organized by Patricio Records of Peekskill took place in Senasqua Park. Original estimates that between 275 and 500 people would attend—already a lot for the park—turned out to be wrong. The real numbers were more like 1000, and a lot of local residents complained about traffic, noise, and other problems to village management and on local Facebook groups.
Fairly or unfairly, a lot of the blame was directed at Franquin Leon, owner of Franki’s on Old Post Road South, who had reserved Senasqua Park on behalf of Patricio and was a major vendor of food and drink at the event. One issue among many was the question of whether the organizers had charged admission, which is not allowed in village parks, or whether the money that participants paid to get in was a “donation,” as Franki insisted in communications with village manager Bryan Healy and in statements to the editor of the Chronicle (this was before the Chronicle had begun publishing but after informal reporting on village affairs had begun.)
Eventually the organizers paid the village nearly $3000 for unanticipated expenses incurred during the event, and a $250 fine for violating park policies concerning charging admission.
At the July 17 Board of Trustees meeting, Healy informed the Board that Franki had requested permission to hold the event again, this time in the Croton-Harmon train station parking lot on August 25. Healy told the Board:
I have reviewed the request with Chief of Police John Nikitopoulos and Superintendent of Public Works Frank Balbi, and appropriate staffing levels will be provided for this event, if use of the parking lot is approved by the Village Board of Trustees. The cost of such overtime shall be borne by the event organizer. Additionally, a rental fee of $1,120 will be charged for use of the Village space.
Healy went on to suggest some conditions if the Board approved the event, including that it end by 7 PM and that private security guards be provided by the organizers.
The trustees discussed the request at some length, making clear that they did not want a repeat of what had happened last year. Trustee Ian Murtaugh stated that those events had “left a bitter taste” and that the event had been a “debacle.” Trustee Nora Nicholson, who spoke the most on the subject, agreed that it had been a “debacle” and made note of the significant profits Patricio Records had made on the event—as well as Franki himself, who was the main food vendor at the festival.
“I didn’t see what the upside was for the village,” Nicholson said.
Mayor Brian Pugh suggested that the village might make it a condition of approval that “local vendors can participate.”
The Board decided to invite Franki to address its work session, scheduled for the next evening, July 18, and Franki did indeed appear. He pointed out that the event was meant to mark Ecuador’s Independence Day, which is actually August 10. As most readers will know, Westchester County is home to a large Ecuadorian community, and a large Ecuadorian festival is also held each year in Sleepy Hollow.
The trustees discussed issues such as the fee that the organizers should be charged for the event, the importance of encouraging attendees to use (and pay for) train station parking spaces rather than create parking issues in the village, and related concerns.
“It has less to do with money and more to do with making sure the event is run properly this year,” Nicholson said.
Franki appeared deferential to the concerns and agreed to the Board’s requests, including their insistence that water and cooling stations be provided in case of very hot weather; the trustees then voted to approval the application.
At the Chronicle we hope the event goes well, and we are sure most Crotonites agree. If not, it is unlikely that Franki and Patricio Records will be given another chance.
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