Party Politics: Republicans Not Happy With Port Chester Fest Sponsorship

By most accounts, was successful -- , local organizations worked together, and even forecasted rain held off for most of the day.

But village Republicans aren't happy about one aspect. According to an internal e-mail discussion between trustees, some elected leaders believe the festival did not prominently credit the village's involvement despite the municipal costs of sponsoring the event.

The village contributed money and staff, including on-duty police and firefighters, DPW employees and a portable generator, but was not properly credited as a sponsor, Trustee Bart Didden wrote in an e-mail cc'd to other board members and some professional staff.

Although trustees said they didn't know the total cost to the village in, but Didden said it was far more than the top-billed sponsors.

"We did not get - The large logo on the T-Shirts - NOPE. The large logo on the street banner (Main St)- NOPE - in fact I don't recall seeing such a banner at all," Didden wrote. "The Village logo was to be placed on all event brochures (including the street signs that [Trustee] Dan [Brakewood] pointed our had our name) and the website. NOPE. Verbal recognition throughout the event. NOPE. Free booth space. I guess that is what the Fire Department used."

"What we did get - The Village logo displayed on the stage, because it was our stage! I look forward to what the real dollar cost was to the Village in salaries."

Whether or not the village government was specifically credited doesn't matter, Mayor Dennis Pilla wrote in a reply. Pilla said he judged the event's value to the village by the crowds and the wide participation that included businesses, non-profits, local art galleries and community leaders.

"Over 2,300 people attended the Fest yesterday I have been told. The Village's 'co-sponsorship' participation has legitimatised and aided the Council for Community Services to be solicit somewhere around $15-20k annually to put on this event," Pilla wrote. "If we were 'lead,' we'd likely not get those donations or grant funding.  We'd also need to be more involved I'd say, something we don't have the luxury of staff to really do. This is a huge undertaking you see, involving months of preparation."

In the e-mail exchange, the mayor suggested Republicans should raise the issue publicly at the next Board of Trustees meeting if they intend to push the issue.

That may yet happen, and the usual verbal barbs between trustees at public meetings were included in written form as Pilla, Didden and Trustee Sam Terenzi exchanged replies.

Terenzi took a shot at the mayor and his former campaign manager, Blanca Lopez. Lopez sits on the school board and works for Human Development Services of Westchester.

"Considering we have costs associated with the event it would have been nice to received recognition on the flier that went out to the public," Terenzi wrote. "Maybe the Mayor or [Trustee Daniel] Brakewood could pass that along to Ms. Lopez at their next campaign meeting."

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