Despite attempts by local business merchants to delay the process, members of the West Chester Borough Council voted 5-2 at their monthly meeting last Wednesday night (Feb. 15) in approval of plans to close major roads in the downtown area for the 2006 Iron Hill Twilight Crititerium. The counsel also voted unanimously in favor of making amendments to the borough’s trash and recycling ordinance, which would include setting the price of trash bags at $2.50 per bag.Set to take place in June, the criterium is a day of bicycle circuit races around the historic West Chester area, beginning and ending at the intersection of Gay and High Streets. Last year, the day’s contests consisted of five individual races, two of which involved professional male and female cyclists from United States Cycling, as well as past and present Olympic champion cyclists. The event also included two amateur races and a race for kids. Currently, the 2006 criterium is scheduled for Saturday, June 17, 2006.
Recently, 70 local businesses and restaurants organized a petition to change the projected date of the event to Sunday, June 18, claiming that last year they lost a lot of Saturday business. A few business owners who attended the meeting last Wednesday night tried to convince borough council to wait for local merchants to reach agreements with event sponsors before anything could be approved.
Bar owner Michael Dempsey and caf owner Tom Mitchell, both who own and operate their businesses in the downtown area, even went so far as to ask the borough council to hold a special public hearing this week before making any decisions regarding the race.
“What we’re looking out for is the best interest of the town,” Mitchell said, “and I can tell you clearly that business owners and the town are not happy.”
Joe Norley, who is president of one of the neighborhood associations and also owns a small business, claimed that he had found out from a source in United States cycling that due to scheduling complications within the league, the event would have to be on a Saturday if it is to happen. However, Norley seemed to agree with business owners in saying that it was only fair in “asking for a little more time.”
“We simply need time to get feedback from the Chamber of Commerce and other businesses,” he said, “because ultimately this is about their finances.”
According to Daily Local reporter Adam Cirucci, Iron Hill Brewery was the only title sponsor for the event last year and as a result many other businesses got “the shorter end of the stick.” Roads were closed early and several businesses lost money during the day.
After hearing the arguments of the business owners and the testimony of his fellow council members, Council President H. Paul Fitzpatrick made his point clear in saying that a delay in approving the event could result in its total cancellation for this summer. Furthermore, as the decision was approved Fitzpatrick pointed out that “it’s not the responsibility of borough council to facilitate these matters or dictate the day, but only to decide whether or not the streets will be closed.” Any business in West Chester that has problems with specifics of the event will have to work it out with the Chamber of Commerce.
Council member Susan L. Bayne also brought to light how this event brings a “different element” to the West Chester community and therefore it had to be promoted and advertised as early as possible.
“If we want West Chester to be a famous community, we have to support this event and it has to move forward now,” she stated. “Proper advertising and marketing won’t happen if we delay.”
Borough council also approved a recommendation from the Public Works Committee to propose several amendments to the trash and recycling ordinance, including one which would set the price of trash bags at $2.50 with a $.05 discount for merchants selling them. These measures were taken to reduce trash intake and increase recycling in the area.
In granting approval, borough council made it clear that there will be an annual event to reissue the price of trash bags and nothing will prevent them from altering the price of the bags at the end of the year after the program has been evaluated. Despite the set price of bags, residents will still get two thirty-five gallon garbage cans to use at no charge.
Representing West Chester University at the meeting was Senator Matthew Holliday of the Student Government Association. Holliday, who is the SGA representative to the borough, extended an invitation to Mayor Yoder and the town council to attend a safety forum that SGA will be holding on March 2, 2006. The forum is being organized by SGA to address any concerns that students might have regarding crime in the area and campus safety.