Attitude adjustment

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO — Times have changed since the days when Woodstock was seen as a curse on Sullivan County, and the county’s newly revised public gatherings law reflects that, according to County Attorney Ira Cohen.

Large gatherings these days are sought after and “matter of fact” events, Cohen said, and his revision of the law that was approved in June by the county Legislature is in agreement with this attitude.

Cohen said the 1970 law drafted by the county board of supervisors was designed largely to make sure that nothing like Woodstock would ever happen again. But feelings about the original concert and the draw of its history changed with billionaire Alan Gerry’s involvement and plans for a performing arts center.

The law, which was revised in 1990, 1994 and 1998, now basically outlines needed health and environmental requirements. The threshold number requiring a permit has been increased from 10,000 to 20,000.

Priced at a hefty $25,000 if Sullivan is lead agency in a review, the initial permit fee in most cases is $5,000, and a permanent venue can get annual “short form” renewals with a review fee of $1,500. The law also provides for a “series” permit, including concerts timed through a season.

While the attitude has changed, Cohen said a need for regulation continues because mass gatherings can have an impact on the entire county. And with a lot of people in small space, “the potential remains for things to get out of hand,” he said.

Still, this revision was needed because “the original statute was not the kind of message we wanted to send. The performing arts center will be a big part of our economic development picture and we wanted to be more user friendly,” he said.