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Important Information Regarding GLMF'S Future

Started by wyldfire, August 03, 2009, 09:55:17 AM

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mumsies

Haven't heard much in a few days, although I did get a reply to a letter from Debra Newcomb, the state representative. Has anyone else had any positive feedback from letters or calls...or heard any more info? Want to make it out for the meeting, but just not sure I can get the time away....and still be able to be there for final weekend.

Here is a copy of the reply from Ms. Newcomb

August 11, 2009





Dear Ms. Cousins:



Thank you for your email regarding the annual Great Lakes Medieval Faire held in Trumbull Township. Before serving at the State Representative for the 99th Ohio House District, I previously served as an Ashtabula County Commissioner. As a commissioner, I was made aware of the legal battles between the Trumbull Township Trustees and the owners of the company entrusted with Medieval Fair each year.



It is in my understanding that despite the several lawsuits regarding zoning requirements, the faire has yet to be cancelled. In order to continue the  preservation of this annual occurrence, I encourage you to contact the Trumbull Township Trustees, urging them to reconsider removing the Great Lakes Medieval Faire from Trumbull Township.



Please contact me if I may provide any future assistance.



Sincerely,



DEBORAH NEWCOMB

State Representative

99th House District


Capt. Morgan

This is also taken from Trev's Site and I found it quite enlightening...

****

The following was taken from the owners words and summerized. It has been edited and checked by Larry. This is his story.

Fun Facts about the Legal Issues of
The Trustees of Trumbull Township vs. Lawrence Rickard

Sixteen years ago, Larry Rickard brought the Great Lakes Medieval Faire to its new home in Trumbull Township. The property he began to build on was originally donated to the Girl Scouts, by private citizens who cared about their cause. Some members of the Township were upset when this donated land was sold, as they felt it should belong to the community. In an effort to give something back to the community, Larry offered to aid the Trumbull Township Fire and Ambulance Department. Larry had lived through a traumatic disaster that was much like Hurricane Katrina. The Fire Departments and the Red Cross were the primary organizations that helped him through his grief, and so he cared very much about their cause. Larry offered the Trumbull Township Fire and Ambulance Department the rights to the beer program at the Great Lakes Medieval Faire. The partnership between the Faire and the Fire Department helped supply the Township with an exemplary Fire and Ambulance Department.
However, certain people saw this partnership not as a way of giving back to the community, but as a source of "money"coming in and decided that they wanted a share. Larry graciously offered them options to come work with the Faire. Tambarino turned him down and, instead, expected the Faire to just give him the money with nothing in return for the community or the Faire. This is extortion. When The Faire refused to be apart of this corruption several frivolous lawsuits were brought against the Faire.

The first round of lawsuits were concerned with zoning. The lawsuits questioned whether or not the Faire was allowed to operate on its own property. The property on which the Great Lakes Medieval Faire lies, was originally zoned as a "park". The Township, not understanding how to define a park, re-zoned the property as a "single-family residence." This was all done behind closed doors. The Trustees broke the Sunshine laws which state that all regulatory authorities' meetings, decisions and records are to be made available to the public. GLMF was up and running for five years, before the Trustees decided to demand a zoning permit for operation. A permit was promptly filed.
Now zoned as a "single-family residence" the operating procedures of the Faire were put into question. Some of the ridiculous suits put up against the Faire are as follows:
The Jousting Horses vibrate the ground so much that they cause windows to break miles away.
The Tilt-a-Whirl lights shine in peoples windows. (The Faire does not have a Tilt-a-Whirl or any other electronic rides, and closes before dark)
The sound systems are a noise violation.
Dust from the Faire's road gets cars dirty
An archery arrow attempted to kill a neighbors horse
Traffic issues, such as too many fumes

The Township went so far as to force the Faire to remove safety features (i.e. street lamps and traffic control signage) which the Faire put in place to regulate the flow of traffic, and to protect individuals traveling on State Route 534, both those coming to the Faire, and those just passing by. A result of this removal has made the Township liable for accidents.

All of these suits went to court, and, in the end, a 100% victory on all accounts was in favor of the Faire. After our Trial Court victories, and with several trips to Appeals Court, they again ruled in favor of the Faire. Theses cases were then sent to the Supreme Court, but were turned down. These suits sat in Trial Court for over ten years. The Faire had to spend ten years waiting on a ruling, and lost out on over ten years of income and convenience. The Faire was forced to not hold the annual Halloween show, they were not permitted to allow on-site camping, and not permitted to house their own employees, many of who travel some distance.
Twenty-one days after winning the rights to resume Halloween Knights,and to gain back many other rights that were suspended by this long going battle, the Faire was back in court, and again, won in appeals. The Trustees took their case to the Supreme Court, and a ruling is still forthcoming.
Tamborino then turned his attention on destroying the Fire Department that the Faire helped to build. It has been made abundantly clear that certain members of the Township are against the Faire. Despite this aggression, the Faire continued to supplement the Township with the best Fire and Ambulance Department in Ashtabula County with no tax increase. It was the enormous egos, built up by Ron Tamborino's personal vendetta, that caused the Fire Department to go bankrupt. Now, Trumbull Township has a significantly smaller Fire Department and no Ambulance service. People in this Township have died as a result.
When Tamborino forced the Fire and Ambulance Department to go bankrupt as a result of frivolous lawsuits, the Township agreed to absorb all of their assets, and all of their debts. The debts are still outstanding. The Trustees feel that because the Faire allowed the Fire Department to operate out of their pubs, that these pubs belong to the township. Ron Tamborino wants the rights to the beer money, the Pub buildings, and everything else involved with beer at GLMF. Instead of asking the Faire to help rebuild the Fire Department, Ron Tamborino and the Trustees sued the Faire for the right to operate the beer program at an establishment they think should not exist.
The Trustees have spent a full year learning if they even have a case. The Trustees have spent over a $100, 000 to interrogate innocent people in order to gather information on a case they don't even have yet. They are using deposition as a tool to attempt to bankrupt the Faire. The Trustees have spent over a $100,000 in Township funds to obtain beer privileges that they never even asked for, at a Faire that they feel should be shut down. Furthermore, township accounting is public record. By law, Township accounting records must be released to whomever asks for them. Kris and Russ as well as others have requested to see this accounting information and have yet to receive said information.
Ron Tamborino publicly swears to shut down the Faire at all costs. He even went so far as to contact the State of Ohio, and through pulling strings convinced the State to investigate the Faire's charitable contributions. An effort is being made to turn the Faire's charities against it. It is not working.

Below is a list of just a few of the Charities that GLMF supports:
APL
Camp Cammo
Conneut Fish and Game
Lewie and Alissa Wortman – Junior Drag Races
Peaceful Pastures
The Human Society
Red Cross
Joe Kaluza Motorcycle Run – Sponsored with KFC
Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital
RESCU
Food Pantries


Tamborino's current tactic is to harass all of the vendors who make a living selling their wares at the Faire. Over 50 vendors were cited this past weekend for not obtaining a transient vendor license. Such a license clearly is not required by The Ohio Revised Code, which states:

505.94 Registration and regulation of transient vendors.

(A) A board of township trustees may, by resolution, require the registration of all transient vendors within the unincorporated territory of the township and may regulate the time, place, and manner in which these vendors may sell, offer for sale, or solicit orders for future delivery of goods, or the board may, by resolution, prohibit these activities within that territory. If the board requires the registration of all transient vendors, it may establish a reasonable registration fee, not to exceed one hundred fifty dollars for a registration period, and this registration shall be valid for a period of at least ninety days after the date of registration. Any board of township trustees that provides for the registration and regulation, or prohibition, of transient vendors under this section shall notify the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the township is located of its registration and regulatory requirements or prohibition. No transient vendor shall fail to register or to comply with regulations or prohibitions established by a board of township trustees under this division.

This division does not authorize a board of township trustees to apply a resolution it adopts under this division to any person invited by an owner or tenant to visit the owner's or tenant's premises to sell, offer for sale, or solicit orders for future delivery of goods

Ron Tamborino has had a personal vendetta to close down the Faire, and anything else the Faire does to create income. Thirteen years later he is still failing. Now, he is trying to infiltrate the Faire take their livelihood, and the livelihood of its employees in other ways: frivolous lawsuits, demanding beer sales, harassing vendors and charities. What will Ron Tamborino and the Trumbull Township Trustees do next? They have already destroyed our Fire Department and Ambulance service, neglected our roads, run local businesses out of town, and spent our Township's funds foolishly to fight Ron Tamborino's personal war. Can we really trust them? Let's remove Ron Tamborino, and restore our Township's safety, dignity, and trust in those elected to lead us! Just Ask him to leave our Township so we can again, live in Peace!
I can be one of those "bad things" that happen to bad people.

trevor ylisaari

Morgan.
Thanks for copying stuff over here.
With my ongoing car repairs I just don't have the time to get to it.

Capt. Morgan

No worries!  ;)

We made the papers!!!!

http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/08/_john_kuntz_the_plain.html

"Tamburrino said the trustees' only goal is to protect the health, safety and welfare of township residents, saying "I can't think of any financial benefit the township derives directly from the Great Lakes Medieval Faire."

I bet this guy still thinks the world is flat too....Sheesh!
I can be one of those "bad things" that happen to bad people.

Scarlett

Thanks for posting the link Robin.  I've been staying abreast of this battle here and on Trevor's board.  It's a huge plus for Larry to have the bureau of tourism on his side.  If the faire goes belly up, the county and state will surely suffer as a result.  Definitely more than this piddly township board of trustees.

I wish everyone success at tonights meeting!  I hope the local tv news covers it too!

See you all on Saturday!
Mimosas - They're Not Just For Breakfast Anymore
SWG, Chapter 1, co-founding member

mumsies

A reply to an email that I sent to Geneva Tourism Bureau.....

On behalf of the Geneva-on-the-Lake Visitors Bureau and the business community in Geneva-on-the-Lake, I can assure you that yes, we are concerned about the potential loss of the Medieval Faire and are very aware of the movement by a minority in Trumbull Township, where the Faire is located.

Unfortunatly, our concerns or voice seems to carry no weight with the Trumbull Township trustees.

What I personally believe, however, that no matter what happens in Trumbull Township, there WILL be a Medieval Faire.   Two different landowner along the Route 531 corridor have pledged their assistance to host the Faire in future years, should it come to that.  At least that is what I have been told.

Thanks for your concern, and again, I can assure that  the Geneva-on-the-Lake business community is 100% behind the Medieval Faire.

Sincerely,

Don Woodward, Special Projects Director


Capt. Morgan

This just keeps getting better and better:

Seems the problems with Township government are also being discussed on another local forum

http://www.happyhackerbbs.com/index.php?topic=3520.0
I can be one of those "bad things" that happen to bad people.

Athena

So, certain trustees are pissed off because they can't line their pockets (I'm convinced it's all about personal gain) with the GLMF's beer money, and they're putting the squeeze on Larry. Are these people elected officials or gangsters? I really, really wish I could vote in Trumbull Township, though I'm starting to wonder if that would make any difference. Something sure stinks up there.

I'm doing some early Christmas shopping this weekend and showing support for our vendors. I hope if worst come to worst Larry moves the faire to another location. It would be a damn shame to lose something special that means so much to so many.
A book is like a garden carried in the pocket. ~ Chinese Proverb

bosswench

It was so nice to see the amount of ppl that showed up tonight! We almost had 200 supporters there for the faire! When Larry the owner showed up we gave him a standing ovation. I think he was really suprised at how many ppl turned out!

Please check out Channel 3 news in cleveland! They showed up! :D

mumsies

Latest news on the township meeting borrowed from Trevor's board:

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."

   

Arianwyn

Wow....I was reading the history of this vendetta.....what excessive corruption and what a waste of ones life energy.  What a sad man.  How is this possible?  I must admit that I am totally naive about the political structure of your fair country.....States, Townships & Trustees....but this blatant abuse of public funds is mind-blowing.

I was thinking about this meeting all night tonight....will be watching and reading.  I know that I only attend one weekend per year but that weekend from gas, to food & hotel, to the Faire itself runs me about 400.00-500.00...and that is only one person.  To even hint that the Faire does not benefit the economical and fiscal state of the township is remarkably shortsighted.

Nancy
(Arianwyn)

evan

I wasn't able to make the meeting, but a big THANKS! to all who did. So; what was discussed?
    The Plain Dealer article quotes Larry saying he is almost bankrupt and Ed Beardsly talking about "some vendors" possibly not returning. That all makes it seem more dire than it may actually be. "Vendors" come and go for any number of reasons, but where sales are good we "vendors" will weather a lot, including long commutes, poor accommodations, belligerent and distasteful fair owners, a high percentage of imports and buy-sell, exorbitant real estate prices, high show fees and even show managers that demand a percentage of our gross sales. The Great Lakes Medeival Faire, as these events go, while not completely free of annoyances, is quite reasonable and friendly compared to most, and compared to some is an absolute delight. The only "vendors" I've heard speak of quitting are those with poor sales, or who are, in fact thinking of retiring all together.
     Besides; we have an affinity with many of the residents of Trumbull and the faire's other regulars. For myself, at least, I feel a sense of loyalty to the event and the folks who attend it. That loyalty is not affected by Mr. Tamburrinio and his antics. That just makes me mad on behalf of the people of Trumbull, and more determined, therefore, to persist.

Professor M

I sent an email to the author of the story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer.  I made two points. 

  • If Mr. Tamborino admits to spending $60,000 since July 2008, how much taxpayer money has he spent over the whole 10+ years that he's been litigating against the faire?
  • If he doesn't see any benefit to the township, ask him to explain the past relationship with the fire department.

Hopefully this reporter will do a follow-up story.
"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me."
~ C.S. Lewis

Ratman and Bobin

Here is a link to the channel 3 Cleveland news story about Great Lakes Medieval Faire. Video is on the top right.
http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=119699&catid=3
Cheers!
Ratman & Bobin
If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants!
Isaac Newton 1642-1727
Chroniclers of Willy-Nilly