No more water bottle sales outside The Spa
Officials say problems force them to put a stop to the activity near track
Anyone looking for a refreshing drink next year at Saratoga Race Course will not be able to get one from a water bottle they purchase just outside the track.
City officials said due to the problems authorities have encountered, people will not be allowed to sell water bottles next year on city property around Saratoga Race Course.
During Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, Commissioner of Public Safety Chris Mathiesen explained the history behind water bottles being sold on city property around the outside of the track.
Selling water bottles on city property is against the law.
However, Mathiesen said, former Code Enforcer Dan Cogan made it possible for kids to sell water bottles at the track, instructing children ages 14 or younger to bring one cooler to the track and to immediately leave once the cooler was empty.
But over the past several years, the code enforcement and police departments have seen the selling of water bottles turn into a problem.
“This past season I feel was the
straw that broke the camel’s back for code enforcement,” wrote Jack Donnelly, code enforcer, in a letter Mathiesen read Tuesday night. “My department was constantly badgered and disrespected by a few of the water bottle salespersons this season.”
Donnelly’s letter included phone calls about kids playing lacrosse while selling water with patrons trying to traverse through them, kids riding scooters, children selling items other than water and adults selling water.
Police Chief Greg Veitch also prepared a statement that Mathiesen read aloud Tuesday.
“Over the past several years an increasing number of individuals have been selling bottled water on city streets and sidewalks in the area of the race track during the thoroughbred racing meet,” the statement read. “While the police department has no interest in closing down lemonade stands of small children looking to make a few dollars, unfortunately, like many things in life, the actions of a few have led to the decision to ban all unlicensed water sales from the area around the race track beginning in the 2018 racing season.”
Veitch explained the issues that police have faced include: threats and water bottles being thrown between parents and children fighting for a spot to sell water; individuals selling T-shirts and soft drinks in addition to water bottles; blankets, tarps, coolers and umbrellas being left for an extended period of time in order to claim a specific area.
“Police and code enforcement have attempted to negotiate with people involved in this activity in a reasonable manner, however the situation has been a drain on the resources of both police and code enforcement who spend a considerable amount of time this past racing season moderating people involved and mediating their disputes over what amounts to an activity that is in violation of the city’s ordinances already,” the letter read. “Many of the individuals involved in the selling of goods near the track are known to the police and they have been notified that the activity will not be permitted next year.”
Commissioners Anthony “Skip” Scirocco and Michele Madigan said they hope something could be worked out to make selling water bottles outside of the track a possibility.
Scirocco mentioned a lottery system that would allow only a select number of individuals to sell water, and only for a short, specific period of time.
“If there’s a way to legally do it and could be enforced, I would say that the next council should probably take a look at that,” said Madigan. “There’s no issue right now because we are not in track season, but I definitely see as an issue that might come back.”
Mathiesen decided not to seek re-election in next month’s election. Don Braim and Peter Martin are two candidates for the Commissioner of Public Safety.
“I have a feeling this is going to be coming back and if there’s a way to do it that it can be enforced and safe and kids are supervised,” said Madigan. “I think this next council is probably going to take a look at that.”
Mathiesen said the problem has just gotten worse and worse over the six years he has served as commissioner.
“Unless the city council acts otherwise, this illegal activity is not going to take place in 2018,” said Mathiesen.