Rochester Country Fair Board of Directors Co-Chairman Dave Souza lauded the Rochester Fire Department for their accommodation and generosity with resources and manpower during the country fair this year, but expressed disappointment when explaining that police expenses are by far one of the most significant expenditures of the yearly event.
Everything went smoothly during this year’s country fair, Souza told the Rochester Board of Selectmen on October 7, although the heat on Saturday and Sunday during the fair kept many people from coming out, which cut into the fair’s revenue to cover costs of the fair.
“My only thing with the whole fair … is the cost of the fair is getting more and more expensive,” Souza said, with the biggest expenses being police and fire. “I don’t want to fight with police and fire. Fire does awesome for [the fair].”
Souza said the Fire Department charges about half for its support services. “We get a lot, a lot, a lot of stuff,” said Souza. But with the cost for police reinforcement, said Souza, the country fair does not get a break.
“Police are different,” said Souza, acknowledging that with the police “it’s a whole different union system.”
“I just wish that we could get that [cost] down and help a bit,” said Souza. “We’re not out here on [Route] 105 anymore. We’re not fighting highways.…”
When he takes his son to play soccer on weekends, Souza said, “Watch the amount of cars…. Just as many cars go out,” said Souza, but no police presence is required. “We (the country fair) have to have four or five.”
Board of Selectmen Chairman Richard Nunes said the Rochester Road Race is in the same pickle.
“I’m not trying to stir up trouble,” Souza said. “The fair is a very tough thing to run with the money we have…. “Julie [Koczera] and I are very tired … and as the fair continues to grow, you get more tired.”
Nunes questioned whether the parking area of the fairgrounds could somehow double as a ball field to help generate revenue for the country fair, but Souza rejected the idea.
“You throw that idea at us, I’ll walk away tomorrow,” replied Souza. “…But if you want to do it go ahead and do it…. I don’t want any part of it.” He continued, “Where would it benefit the fair? Where are you gonna park everyone?”
“And then, when you get the grass all nice and pretty, you want people to come and drive their cars on it?” added Julie Koczera, co-chairman of the Rochester Country Fair Board of Directors.
And, unfortunately, our whole society revolves around insurance, as Souza put it.
“That’s what’s killing us,” he said.
There will be no parade for next year’s country fair, but the group is working on expanded kids’ activities and adding more tractor pulls and wrestling events.
“As much as I’d like to see [the parade], I can’t justify the cost,” said Koczera. It costs roughly $800 in mainly police details just for the parade.
The country fair spent about $52,000 this year.
The next meeting of the Rochester Board of Selectmen is scheduled for October 19 at 6:30 pm at the Rochester Town Hall.
By Jean Perry
