Medina Journal-Register — ALBION — The village government isn’t willing to let a cultural opportunity float on by, but funding for a planned canalside concert will need to come from non-municipal sources.

The Albion Village Board committed last week to having the American Wind Symphony Orchestra play a free concert at the village’s canal park on the second weekend in June.

Village Codes Enforcement Officer Ron Vendetti, who is leading the fundraising effort for the concert, said the orchestra’s professional musicians will spend three days in the area, working with young musicians.

The orchestra is performing at sites along the Erie Canal this summer on a boat equipped with a stage. The Albion concert would be the only one planned for Orleans County on the tour, with the $20,000 cost for the performance covered through business sponsorships.

The village is organizing the concert, but the village’s financial commitment is limited to the costs of providing logistical assistance. That’s similar to village support for events like the annual Albion Strawberry Festival.

The village board balked at a proposal from the Town of Albion that would have each municipality contribute $5,000 towards the costs of bringing in the touring youth orchestra.

”We didn’t anticipate (funding) coming from them,” Village Mayor Dean Theodorakos said.

Town Councilman Jake Olles had proposed the town contributing $10,000 towards the costs of the concerts from a parks and recreation fund.

Olles said the town’s sponsorship would have created further fundraising opportunities surrounding the concert. The proceeds from those events could support efforts like the renovation of Bullard Park or the construction of a quarryman’s memorial.

”This is an investment in the town and the village,” said Olles, who noted that the concert would provide another marquee event for Albion just a week after the Strawberry Festival. “It would get people here for two weekends in a row.”

Town Supervisor Dennis Stirk questioned if the funding mechanism proposed by Olles was legal, an issue that postponed any action by the town.

Village Codes Enforcement Office Ron Vendetti said he was contacted the next day with the revised proposal for a 50/50 split for the funding.