New Philadelphia Council weighing application process for events on city land

NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio - Over the last few weeks, the New Philadelphia City Council's public works - economic developments committee has been weighing a proposal to create an application process for events on city property.

Councilman John Zucal said New Philadelphia does not have an application process or control process to ensure the safety and well-being of citizens while an event takes place.

"In response to some of the concerns from constituents," said Zucal, "I began to look at a number of different events that have taken place during the pandemic - but even slightly prior to that - that constituents have raised questions about."

"As I began to unpack a lot of those different events, and asked questions with some of the city administration, I found out we were really lacking a mechanism for communication."

The proposal, which would require event organizers to provide all details of events (such as whether or not alcohol would be served, if there would be live music, and if there would be food trucks). Proof of insurance for events would also be required, although there would be no fee for the application.

However, some council members have questioned the necessity or extension of such a proposal, including Councilwoman Cheryl Ramos.

"Personally, I'm a big believer in personal responsibility. Each of us is ultimately responsible for our own health, safety, and well-being. The current proposal does nothing it stated, for its stated goal."

"The people who are organizing events," Ramos added, "I think that they're intelligent people, and they are well able to think out things, and they don't need us telling them, as a city, how to organize an event safely."

Some local business owners and event organizers are also concerned with the issue, including Rick Arredondo, who runs The Ezekiel Project and runs the Save Our Downtown Square Facebook page, which has been openly against the proposal.

"We need to have visitors in our downtown, to generate business, and so we felt we just needed to be heard," says Arredondo.

November 23 was originally the next scheduled date for another council meeting to discuss the issue, but the meeting was canceled just hours before it could be held. No new meeting date or time has been confirmed at this time.