A proposal made at a recent Mars Borough Council meeting to compensate businesses when the borough closes streets for events seems to misunderstand the purpose of community events.

On Monday, Feb. 19, borough council member Brad Price proposed a “Business Impact Fund,” arguing the borough should compensate business owners who lose money when streets are closed for events.

“Closing streets in a commercial business district is no trivial matter,” said Price, who owns Mars Brew House coffee shop. “Business owners can be adversely impacted by local government action through the loss of parking, impaired or diminished pedestrian access to their property, and from reduced vehicle traffic flows.”

Price also proposed that every council member who voted for a street closure would have $100 deducted from their borough paycheck and added to the impact fund. Council members and the mayor have a salary of $1,800 per year.

Price’s inspiration was the filming of “Sprung” in September 2021. When production company Picrow closed streets to shoot scenes for the series, they paid business owners thousands of dollars for the inconvenience.

It’s not clear, however, why Price thinks closing down a street to film a show, which prevents anyone from accessing the area, is the same as closing streets to hold events, which draw large crowds of potential customers to the area.

Other council members seemed skeptical of the proposal.

“If we’re targeting, attacking and stopping events in town, we’re just killing town,” council member Alan Boburczak said. “These are things that bring life to the town. That's part of why I like living here.”

We imagine he’s not alone in that. Community events also bring more people into town, and their spending benefits at least some businesses.

Mars sees large crowds for its events. Those events bring a sense of excitement and of community, and they give people a chance to get to know the town better — including finding businesses they might patronize.

Price is correct: Government must be responsible and consider the impact on businesses when closing streets or changing parking regulations. That is a discussion worth having. But his proposal misses the purpose and benefit of community events.

— JK