Post by richardkelsey on May 6, 2008 11:50:19 GMT -5
I thought this story deserved it's own thread -- rather than being a tack on to the long discussion on Kruise night.
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article....wV68J4yWLRlU%3D
FREEHOLD — Kruise Night in the borough will be back this year, after borough and business officials devised a plan to address security concerns surrounding the events.
"I ask everyone out there to give Kruise Night a chance," Councilman Marc Le Vine said at Monday night's Borough Council meeting.
After roughly two months of discussions, borough officials and members of the Freehold Center Partnership hammered out an agreement calling for several changes to the town's annual vintage automobile and motorcycle events, which are held four times during the summer.
Those changes include: designated show-parking only for automobiles, the elimination of alcohol consumption on the street, increased security, a quicker response to incidents in the crowd and a 9:30 p.m. closing time for entertainment and vendors, according to a release from the Freehold Center Partnership, an economic development organization.
"In any town, public safety must be paramount, especially given an event of this magnitude," Mayor Michael Wilson said in the release. "We are pleased that all parties involved stepped up to the plate to provide creative and resourceful resolutions."
This year, vehicles 25 years or older will be allowed to park in specified areas on Main Street between Spring and Throckmorton streets, and in the Market Yard parking lot, said Freehold Center Partnership Chairman Mike Page.
The Borough Council introduced an ordinance Monday that would let the mayor and council establish special parking and traffic regulations, close all or part of certain streets to traffic and set fines and penalties for violators during special events like Kruise Night.
There will no longer be designated areas set aside for motorcycles, said Borough Administrator Joe Bellina.
Another change this year will be the elimination of outside drinking areas, a staple of previous Kruise Nights.
The borough is also working out agreements with the county Sheriff's Office and the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team for additional security during the events, said Bellina.
The town will pay up to $1,750 per event for security. The Partnership will cover any additional costs, said Bellina.
And though the events are scheduled to end at 10 p.m., vendors and entertainers will be asked to shut down a half hour earlier to encourage participants to leave on time.
After several weeks of discussions, Page said, "(I am) pleased with the outcome."
The borough's first Kruise Night of the year is scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. May 29. Kruise Nights are also scheduled for June 26, July 31 and August 28.
The council plans to review each event after it occurs and make changes if needed.
"We're taking it one Kruise Night at a time," Councilman George Schnurr said.
Public safety concerns had derailed Kruise Night earlier this year, but after appeals from the business community, borough officials agreed to discuss possible changes to the events.
Though several council members hailed the decision, not everyone was happy about Kruise Night's return Monday.
Throughout the borough, there are residents, business owners and police officers who do not like Kruise Night, said resident and borough firefighter Reginald Sims.
"I guarantee you, if the public's polled, the public's not for it," said Sims, who is also Councilman Jaye Sims's brother.
The crowds that attend Kruise Night are a safety hazard for emergency and law enforcement personnel, said Sims.
If a fight were to break out, he said, "I don't know how the police are going to get to it."
But for Ann Marie Lutz — a member of the Kruise Night founders, the Freehold Kruisers — the annual events are a chance for her to catch up with old friends and check out their vintage vehicles.
"I'm hoping it (the new Kruise Night plan) goes over OK . . . It (Kruise Night) is something I'd hate to lose," said Lutz.
Kim Predham: (732) 308-7752 or kpredham@app.com
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article....wV68J4yWLRlU%3D
FREEHOLD — Kruise Night in the borough will be back this year, after borough and business officials devised a plan to address security concerns surrounding the events.
"I ask everyone out there to give Kruise Night a chance," Councilman Marc Le Vine said at Monday night's Borough Council meeting.
After roughly two months of discussions, borough officials and members of the Freehold Center Partnership hammered out an agreement calling for several changes to the town's annual vintage automobile and motorcycle events, which are held four times during the summer.
Those changes include: designated show-parking only for automobiles, the elimination of alcohol consumption on the street, increased security, a quicker response to incidents in the crowd and a 9:30 p.m. closing time for entertainment and vendors, according to a release from the Freehold Center Partnership, an economic development organization.
"In any town, public safety must be paramount, especially given an event of this magnitude," Mayor Michael Wilson said in the release. "We are pleased that all parties involved stepped up to the plate to provide creative and resourceful resolutions."
This year, vehicles 25 years or older will be allowed to park in specified areas on Main Street between Spring and Throckmorton streets, and in the Market Yard parking lot, said Freehold Center Partnership Chairman Mike Page.
The Borough Council introduced an ordinance Monday that would let the mayor and council establish special parking and traffic regulations, close all or part of certain streets to traffic and set fines and penalties for violators during special events like Kruise Night.
There will no longer be designated areas set aside for motorcycles, said Borough Administrator Joe Bellina.
Another change this year will be the elimination of outside drinking areas, a staple of previous Kruise Nights.
The borough is also working out agreements with the county Sheriff's Office and the Monmouth County Emergency Response Team for additional security during the events, said Bellina.
The town will pay up to $1,750 per event for security. The Partnership will cover any additional costs, said Bellina.
And though the events are scheduled to end at 10 p.m., vendors and entertainers will be asked to shut down a half hour earlier to encourage participants to leave on time.
After several weeks of discussions, Page said, "(I am) pleased with the outcome."
The borough's first Kruise Night of the year is scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. May 29. Kruise Nights are also scheduled for June 26, July 31 and August 28.
The council plans to review each event after it occurs and make changes if needed.
"We're taking it one Kruise Night at a time," Councilman George Schnurr said.
Public safety concerns had derailed Kruise Night earlier this year, but after appeals from the business community, borough officials agreed to discuss possible changes to the events.
Though several council members hailed the decision, not everyone was happy about Kruise Night's return Monday.
Throughout the borough, there are residents, business owners and police officers who do not like Kruise Night, said resident and borough firefighter Reginald Sims.
"I guarantee you, if the public's polled, the public's not for it," said Sims, who is also Councilman Jaye Sims's brother.
The crowds that attend Kruise Night are a safety hazard for emergency and law enforcement personnel, said Sims.
If a fight were to break out, he said, "I don't know how the police are going to get to it."
But for Ann Marie Lutz — a member of the Kruise Night founders, the Freehold Kruisers — the annual events are a chance for her to catch up with old friends and check out their vintage vehicles.
"I'm hoping it (the new Kruise Night plan) goes over OK . . . It (Kruise Night) is something I'd hate to lose," said Lutz.
Kim Predham: (732) 308-7752 or kpredham@app.com
