Town Approves Beer Garden for Maplewoodstock

A motion was passed tonight allowing for a one-year pilot of a beer garden at Maplewoodstock. The resolution passed 3-2 despite concerns voiced by Maplewood Police Chief Robert Cimino in a letter to the Committee.

The pilot was being allowed under the restrictions to be put forward by the Township Committee and after further consultation between Maplewoodstock organizers and Township staff with the onus on Mapelwoodstock to perform the necessary research.

India Larrier and Marlon K. Brownlee voted against the resolution; Mayor Vic DeLuca, Jerry Ryan and Kathy  Leventhal voted for it.

A presentation regarding a beer garden for Maplewoodstock was made by organizers Drew Dix and Gary Shippy who said that Maplewoodstock will take place July 7 and 8 this year. Dix said that such an enterprise would confine drinking and discourage underage drinking at the event. It would also help to generate profits through sales and sponsorship, ensuring quality headline acts and the continued free price of admission.

John Meade of St. James's Gate has said he would manage and staff such a beer garden which is proposed as a fenced-in area adjacent to the flag pole near the food mart area. Meade has managed such gardens at events for 20 years. Only those age 21 and above would be able to enter and make purchases. Adequate security and liability coverage would be provided. Despite the fact that Meade came forward with the idea, Dix said that the Maplewoodstock organizers are willing to put it out to bid if directed by the Township Committee.

Dix noted that the festival operates at no cost to the Town.

Shippy added that Police Chief Robert Cimino has said he is not in favor of the idea, citing concerns of security and the potential for disorderly conduct. Most of the Township Committee members said they had reservations based on the Chief's concerns (Brownlee even chided the event organizers for not bringing the proposal to the Committee earlier if timing was so critical in terms of booking a headline act), but Mayor DeLuca strenuously argued that the town move forward.

"It's a one-year experiment. We are in control." DeLuca said that the Township Committee could dictate drink minimums, a cut-off hour for sales, etc. Regarding the Police Chief, DeLuca also said, "He works for us."