Thought I'd share this, newest article in Plain Dealer about the meeting with the trustees tonight~
Keep smiling
Hundreds of Medieval Faire backers confront Trumbull Township trustees at meeting
Posted by John Campanelli/Plain Dealer Reporter August 13, 2009 22:01PM
TRUMBULL TOWNSHIP -- About 200 supporters of the Great Lakes Medieval Faire converged on the town's fire department building Thursday night, trying to stop what they believe is a vendetta by the township trustees to kill their beloved event.
The Middle Ages-themed Faire, held on about 180 acres of private property in this rural Ashtabula County community of 1,400, has been fighting litigation from the township for more than 10 years.
This summer, the feud boiled over, with dozens of Faire vendors receiving citations for not registering with the township as "transient vendors" and paying a $150 fee. This, despite Ohio law that exempts vendors invited onto private property from registering with townships.
The trustees, led by chairman Ron Tamburrino, say the transient-vendor law only protects the residents of the township.
Despite legal victories, Faire owner Larry Rickard says the litigation costs have put him near bankruptcy and are jeopardizing the future of an event that draws tens of thousands of visitors during its six-weekend run each year.
A sheriff's deputy allowed only 100 people into the building, which has no air conditioning or microphones. About 100 others waited outside trying to listen to the passionate, often contentious meeting.
A resident asked the trustees how much the township had spent on litigation against the Faire.
"Between July 2008 and today," said Tamborino, "I would say about $60,000."
Amid some hoots and whistles, resident Bob Kovach, then stood up.
"How much are we going to spend," he asked. "I'd like to see some potholes filled."
Resident Chuck Loya, who lives just south of the Faire property, complained that five arrows had landed on his property over the past few weeks.
"I'm afraid to go outside," he said. "I'm watching from my window."
Earlier on Thursday, the vendors who received citations were scheduled to appear in Judge William L. Stevens' courtroom in Geneva. That didn't happen because the citations were never filed with the court, said lawyer Michele Stuck, who is representing many of the vendors.
It turns out the citations contained a typographical error, stating the vendors were violating section "5055.94" of the Ohio Revised Code; the section in question is actually 505.94.
Stuck says she does not know whether the citations will end up being filed at a later date or if the matter will be dropped by the prosecutor's office. County Prosecutor Thomas Sartini was out of his office Thursday.
The saga is beginning to take a toll on the Faire's vendors.
"What this has successfully done is put a very foul taste in every professional crafter's mouth," said illustrator Ed Beard Jr., one of the vendors cited by sheriff's deputies earlier this month. "Is it really worth it? What's the next thing they're going to do? What other new ordinance are they going to have?"
He said some vendors have said they are considering not returning to the Faire if it's held next year.
"It's no sweat to the crafters," he added. "They'll just walk away, which, of course, is exactly what the trustees are hoping for."
