The Village of Brockport board of trustees voted unanimously to exempt Brockport Student Government's (BSG) spring concert from the village noise ordinance Wednesday, March 29, enabling BSG to hold the concert outside on the green space adjacent to Alumni Walk.

Village trustees first questioned BSG President Eric May on what precautions the organization is taking to ensure the concert does not interfere with the peace of the village as Glow Fest did. Glow Fest was an Aug. 28 event with the electronic band SAVOY, held from 10:30 to 11:40 p.m. in the Campus Mall.

May said he met with Brockport Police Chief Varrenti prior to the board meeting to address any "unintended consequences" that could arise out of the concert. May also said Varrenti supports the event.

"Chief Varrenti is supportive in terms of logistics," May said. "With the addition of Brockport police officers (for crowd control), he (Varrenti) said the event is ‘logistically sound.'"

In an e-mail to The Stylus, Varrenti refuted  this notion.

"I wasn't at the time I met with Eric, nor am I now, in support of an outdoor concert and especially one with 4,000 people," Varrenti said. "There is no doubt in my mind that this event has the potential to cause annoyance to a number of village residents."  

A few days after Glow Fest took place, Brockport Police Chief Daniel Varrenti sent a letter to May detailing resident's complaints and warning him that in the future, "those who approve and/or coordinate events" will be held responsible for violations of the village code.

The spring concert is scheduled to take place April 17 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are expected to go on sale within the next two weeks, once BSG receives the signed contract from the Goo Goo Dolls and books one or more opening acts, BSG Programming Director Matt Vogt said.  

Vogt also said having the concert on the green space increases the concert's capacity by about 2,800, from 1,200 (capacity of Tuttle South Gymnasium) to 4,000.  

May told the village board that "building a relationship with the village is the most efficient way of [planning for the concert." He also emphasized the earlier time slot, "the nature" of the band and the location of the concert.

"In booking the Goo Goo Dolls, we made plans and had conversations to prevent the use of vulgar language," May said. "And given the nature and genre of the band, it'll be a low-key, calm concert."

May also said the new location will make for a much quieter concert.

"I'm confident that the tree line and the structure of the college will absorb the majority of the sound."

BSG is also expanding its crowd control for the concert. May said that in addition to 10 University Police Officers, BSG is bringing in four officers from the Brockport Police Department and six Monroe County Sheriff deputies, including two mounted units (officers on horseback).

May said BSG has an "official" verbal agreement with the BPD. Varrenti was unavailable for further comment.

BSG will be using employing a professional fencing company to close off the 46,000-square foot green space, Matt Vogt said. He also said the concert will require about 150 event staffers, including facilities and ambulance services.

May could not give a total dollar amount for the cost of the concert, as too many variables still exist, but he did confirm the cost of the Goo Goo Dolls contract to be $52,000. The band is well worth the money, and anticipation is already building, May said.

"They put on a great live show," said May, who has seen the band twice. "And we've already received calls from people locally [inquiring] about the concert and Facebook messages from students expressing excitement."