NORWAY – Police Chief Tim Richards told selectmen Thursday he will be more pro-active controlling a local pro-marijuana and rock music festival.

The occurrence is called Fuda Fest, after Aaron Fuda who sponsors the yearly summer event and is held on his property on Wiley Road.

Accompanied by two residents living in the vicinity of the festival, Richards laid out a proposal for stemming what he called a total lack of respect for the law and neighbors on Fuda’s part.

Richards said the party is never at a manageable level for police. He said the police were met by rock and bottle throwing when answering complaints about loud music and concern for what appear to be unsafe fires.

“Seven guys can’t take care of 250 people,” Richards said.

He said that parking on the road also gets out of control as party-goers ignore requests to keep enough room open so emergency vehicles can pass through in case several residents there need help.

Norway Police Sgt. Rob Federico told selectmen at a previous meeting that numerous noise and parking complaints were filed with his department during the festival held on the second weekend this July.

Richards added to that saying that there were complaints that party-goers wandered onto other people’s property often naked and most often under the influence of an intoxicant. He said people randomly urinate and defecate where they feel its suitable, usually on private property.

There was loud music after 10 p.m. that could be heard more than one-half mile away, according to complaints.

“I want to stop this for these folks,” Richards said in concern for the neighbors of Fuda.

Richards said he will meet with Fuda and determine how many parking spots will be needed for next year’s event. Then he will have officers allowing exactly that number to park and close the road.

He said he also will seek property owners’ permission to allow police to maintain the privacy of their property, which he will do with roving officers.

“I put in a call to the Attorney General’s Office to make sure all my plans are legal,” Richards said.

He said all Norway officers will be required to work overtime on that weekend to control the event and perform other duties.

“I also asked the attorney general if there was a way to make Fuda pay for the cost of having our police force out there,” Richards said.

Richards told selectmen that his department needed a new car. He said there was about $15,000 put away for a new cruiser and as soon as his books were balanced from last year he could determine if there were more funds available.

He said he would like to replace one of the cruisers, then switch that car to replace the detective’s car.

The police force currently has two marked cruisers, as well as two unmarked vehicles; one for the chief and one for the detective.

Richards also told selectmen Main Street merchants asked that parking regulations on Main Street be changed to allow four-hour parking versus two-hour parking and expand the time of parking by two hours in the evening, so parking would be set from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

jsmedley@sunjournal.com

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