OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford Fredonia Village Hall and Temple Street as seen through the Gazebo at Barker Common on Thursday. The village elders don’t want a young music enthusiast to hold a festival centered around bands playing at the Gazebo.

Fredonia village officials won’t allow an ex-SUNY Fredonia student to stage a music festival in Barker Common.

Alexander Rasmussen recently asked the village if he could organize bands to play at the Gazebo on May 8. His request was read out by the village clerk at this week’s Board of Trustees meeting.

“Fredonia has so much musical talent that is hardly heard within the community. I wanted to have a showcase that can act as a catalyst for musicians to showcase their musical talent and get an opportunity to be heard,” he wrote.

Rasmussen proposed music from late afternoon to about 10 p.m. He promised to “hire people make sure that everything would be cleaned up and it would be regulated.” He also said he would get liability insurance and promised “a family-friendly show for all ages.”

Trustee Dave Bird said the event would cause too many problems and spread police thin during a time period where SUNY Fredonia students often party hard. He referred to “Not FredFest,” unofficial partying that is the successor to the infamous FredFest. That annual event, an on-campus gathering of musicians, was canceled by SUNY Fredonia primarily because of the rowdiness it attracted.

Trustee James Lynden said it could attract people away from events that have alcohol. Trustee Michelle Twichell said she didn’t think Police Chief David Price supported Rasmussen’s proposal, asking him to speak. “That weekend is typically (Not) FredFest … over the last couple years, COVID has slowed the event down. I do know the event is being talked about on social media,” Price said. “As a department, I have to plan.

“Typically they start on Wednesday night and by Sunday, we’re hoping nobody dies.”

Price said a music festival downtown would bring in out-of-towners who would not otherwise be in Fredonia. “There isn’t enough law enforcement in the county to stop people from drinking in the park” under such a scenario, he said.

“I think it’s more suited for the event to be held on campus, if you want to know the truth of the matter,” Bird said. “It’s college students, pertains to college kids. Plan it on campus and get their approval. Let their campus police handle it.” Twichell said she agreed with Bird.

Mayor Douglas Essek said, “We’ll see what they can do, if they can hold it on campus.” He then closed the discussion.