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Demonstrated Lack of Support

Visitors to downtown Essex have likely noticed that, during events on the Connecticut River Museum grounds such as weddings and major fundraisers, both police and fire personnel are on hand. This is both logical and reasonable to ensure the safety and security of these events.

Recently, the First Congregational Church in Essex and the Bob Hughes Big Band presented the third annual Big Band concert on the Essex Town Green. This free concert, which attracted more than 600 attendees, is arguably the largest annual town event, and is a gift of world class entertainment to the community by the church and the band.

In light of the unprecedented crowds that the big band event has drawn in prior years, prior to this year’s concert, I contacted town officials about providing safety and security coverage similar to that provided to substantially smaller Connecticut River Museum events. The response was that there would be a substantial charge for such coverage despite the fact that the free big band concert was a gift to the community and neither a fundraiser nor private affair. I was told that the public safety department would “take note of the activity.”

Thus, the event proceeded with nary a sign of any public safety presence the entire evening. And yes, we did have a medical situation that fortunately was handled by folks with medical training in the audience.

I believe the demonstrated lack of support by the town for this volunteer activity, which provided immense benefits to the Essex community, is both short-sighted and irresponsible.

I hope town officials will have the foresight to provide for the security and safety of the members of the Essex community who attend such events in the future.

Roger Kern

Essex