LETTER: Revenues From Concerts Belong To Whole Village

3-05-10

To the Editor:
“Republican Charges Democrat with Filling Village Coffers.”
That should have been the headline when Ed Tripp sent his letter to the editor that appeared Feb. 18, 2010. 
Ed had many mistakes in his letter and left out a rather important and appalling detail: the Concert Committee, chaired by his friend Lee Malone, asked the Board of Trustees to forgive the amount stipulated by contract that Ed Tripp owed the village for the Beach Boys Concert.
What I can’t believe is that as a former Trustee Ed Tripp would allow that request to be made, and that he would keep the cash he had promised the Village.  When you invest in a show it is like investing in stocks – you risk capital in hopes of profit.
Ed then went into great detail of how he wanted to bring Kenny Rogers to Cooperstown.  Ed apparently believed that the Concert Committee could allow a contract to be signed.  Only a vote by the Board of Trustees can allow the village to enter a contract agreement.
Ed also failed to mention that was the year that Kenny Rogers cancelled his entire tour due to problems he experienced from plastic surgery.  There would have been no performance that summer.
Jeff Katz was fulfilling his campaign pledge of finding new revenue for the Village of Cooperstown when he urged his fellow Trustees to pursue a contract with professional concert promoters. 
The fact that they brought two deals to the table that summer brought money both to the Village and to the volunteer Fire Department for the work they did selling concessions.  Jeff worked hard to make sure that the Village got the best possible deal.  He made sure that the taxpayers were not left holding the bag. 
That is why he was re-elected trustee.  That is why you should vote for him for mayor.
Additionally, Lynne Mebust has worked hard to make sure that the village residents do not have to bear the burden of our aging infrastructure alone.  She made sure that paid parking was implemented in a sensible and sensitive way, and the proceeds from parking in Doubleday Field defrayed the bond cost of the extensive repairs done to streets, sidewalks and storm drainage on Irish Hill.
Now that our county representatives have cut out funds for infrastructure, this is even more important to each and every taxpayer.  That is why Lynne should be re-elected trustee.
MARY MARGARET KUHN
Cooperstown