Has The July 4th Carnival Been Cancelled For This Year?

Question: I heard that the Board of Appeals denied a permit for the July 4th carnival. Does that mean it's cancelled or is there some type of appeal process?

Answer: Your information is correct. Earlier this week, the five-member Board of Appeals denied a special permit needed for the carnival to take place this year.

The problem is connected to the construction of the new high school. Because of that construction, the July 4th Committee put forth a plan to hold the carnival in the parking lot adjacent to the Fourth of July Building.

As is the case each year, the committee needs Board of Appeals approval for the carnival. However, because of the new location, the permit application generated concerns from abutters, who were concerned about late hours, bright lights and loud noise.

In what was said to be a close vote, the Board of Appeals denied the petition.

Reached by telephone, Fourth of July Committee Chairman Scott Garrant admitted being very disappointed by the board's decision. He said his committee will be meeting Tuesday night, April 23, and will be discussing a course of action. He said there may be options to try and appeal the ruling but that the committee may simply accept the will of the board.

"At this point, I think we'll probably be moving forward with our plans without the carnival," he said.

Featuring rides and games, the carnival is the primary attraction during the weeklong Fourth of July celebration. According to Garrant, the carnival is responsiblel for generating about 90 percent of the budget that pays for the  celebration, exclusive of "Family Day." This year, that budget was around $55,000, Garrant said.

Garrant said he is also concerned that the absence of the carnival will have a dramatic impact on the overall attendance at the festival, which will have a negative impact on the dozens of non-profits that set up booths at the event.

More details will be available following the committee's April 23 meeting.