Update: 2 Petitions Circulate Over P.T. Barnum Square Shutdown for Summerfest

BETHEL, CT —

Update 3:50 p.m. Tuesday:

The following was sent from Wendy Smith, Assistant to the First Selectman:

"We had received a letter from the Chamber of Commerce regarding their plans for Summerfest and they are looking for approval from the Board of Selectmen, as well as the Police Commission. It is our understanding that it is on the agenda of the Police Commission (Bethel's traffic authority) for their meeting on April 20th.

Please be advised that this item is not on the agenda for tonight's regular meeting of the Board of Selectmen. I'd like to make it clear that while it is not an agenda item for tonight's meeting, there is a public comments portion on the agenda. Further, we understand that the Chamber Director is out of town and do not believe that anyone from the Chamber will be present at tonight's meeting."

Original post 12:29 p.m. Tuesday:

It takes a village and a very small town to evoke passion amongst their business owners and residents and the small town of Bethel is no different.

Last week two petitions began circulating on whether or not P.T. Barnum Square should be shut down to allow the Chamber of Commerce to hold Summerfest this July in the streets of P.T. Barnum Square in downtown Bethel.

The fate of the fest could be decided at Tuesday's Board of Selectman meeting as both parties will present their views during public comment.

On one side of the debate is Bobbi Jo Beers, Executive Director of the Bethel Chamber of Commerce who told Patch she has gone "above and beyond to try to engage the community as a whole to make a Bethel community festival."

On the other side is a bridal shop and consignment shop owner who do not want their parking spaces taken away during the prime hours of business during the busy prom and wedding season.

Matt Vitti, owner of Mother Brothers Studios, has organized the music aspect of the festival and is bringing seven bands who regularly sell out Brooklyn venues, according to Beers, to play in the streets of Bethel on the weekend of July 15 through July 17.

Beers posted the following message on the Discover Bethel CT‎ page on April 14e:

"We are gearing up for a really exciting event. We've hit a slight snag and could use your help and support. The Street Fair and MusicFest are in jeopardy of not happening because a couple businesses in the square oppose the closure of the PT Barnum Sq. The Board of Selectman will be reviewing the proposal at their meeting on Tuesday the 19th at 7:30 in the Municipal Center. If you'd like to see this happen (or feel the opposite) attend the meeting and voice your opinion."

Beers told Patch that two businesses are opposed to shutting down, however the owner of Occasions Bridal Shop in P.T. Barnum Square, Gail Furniss, told Patch it is five that are opposed. Both are collecting signatures to be presented at Tuesday's Board of Selectman meeting. Beers told Patch First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker suggested she create a petition and present it at the BOS meeting after learning of the issue.

Furniss told Patch she has had a difficult time reaching Knickerbocker to discuss the issue and did not want to go public but now that the issue has escalated, said she is very concerned. Furniss said she is worried this will set a precedent for future downtown events.

Furniss has been in business for nearly three decades and her father owns the building where her shop, Occasions, is located. She said while a festival is good for local businesses such as pizza places or ice cream shops who sell lower price-point items, shutting down the square will hurt her business which sells higher ticket items to mainly to out-of-town shoppers. She questioned why the organizers of the event could not hold it at the Municipal Center which has plenty of parking and more space.

"My customers, some who are elderly, are not going to want to park on School Street walk all the way to my shop carrying a wedding gown across the square," Furniss said. The shop sells dresses for prom, brides, bridesmaids and mother of the bride as well as shoes and accessories.

In 2012, the Bethel Chamber, in partnership with several local businesses, presented a series of children's events at P.T. Barnum Square. During one event a driver on Greenwood Avenue distracted by the show rear-ended another vehicle.

In 2015, the owner of the Gift Cottage, Larry Craybas, was struck by a vehicle on Greenwood Avenue after he stepped out into the street while attempting to direct traffic as people get on and off the horse-drawn carriage rides in front of his shop during the downtown Christmas tree lighting.

The parking battle began several weeks ago when a shop owner called the police to complain that Beers had her airstream trailer parked in P.T Barnum Square for a charity event and was taking up three parking spaces on a weekend. According to Famous Pizza owner Perry Anastasakis, Beers had his permission to park there.

"I can count at least 3 business owners/employees on P.T. Barnum Sq that regularly park their personal vehicles in front of the stores here on a regular basis for YEARS, but I have enough class to not name names or the vehicles they drive," he said in a Facebook forum.

The Facebook forum had many complaints about the Summerfest issue and some residents are calling for a boycott to the business who oppose the shutdown of the square. The consignment shop, the bridal shop and the liquor store are three who oppose.

"As the Executive Director of the Bethel Chamber, boycotting local businesses goes against everything I believe in," Beers told Patch.

Beers said she does not want to move the festival to the Municipal Center because it will "ruin the feel" of the event.

Knickerbocker declined to comment.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments or send a letter to the editor to wendy.mitchell@patch.com.

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