Havre de Grace council OKs wedding and reception near lighthouse

July 23--A divided Havre de Grace City Council approved an unusual request earlier this week for a wedding reception near the Concord Point Lighthouse.

Mayor Wayne Dougherty cast the deciding vote after the six-member council was split Monday over a request for the Baker-Preble wedding ceremony and reception on Sept. 21.

He also cast the deciding vote on an amendment requiring the couple to donate $500 to the Lighthouse instead of $250, as the couple originally agreed to do.

While the lighthouse is regularly a spot for wedding ceremonies, this request was for a spot south of the structure and would feature a tent for 50 people. Councilmen John Correri, David Glenn and Bill Martin voted to approve the request. Councilmen Randy Craig, Fred Cullum and Steve Gamatoria voted against it, prompting the mayor's tie-breaking vote.

The couple originally planned to marry at a state park, but was forced to cancel and are running out of time for the wedding.

"Forty years ago, I wed a very beautiful lady, and had I had the opportunity to have it down by the water... because 40 years ago, I don't think you would have wanted to have it by the water, I would have done it," Dougherty said after casting his vote to break the 3-3 tie.

"Hopefully they will name their first child 'Havre de Grace,'" he added jokingly.

Other council members questioned setting a precedent for similar exceptions and undercutting area landmarks that try to market themselves for weddings. Martin suggested raising the donation amount from $250 to $500.

Couples are normally asked to donate $250 to the lighthouse for ceremonies or events held there, according to the building's website.

Martin noted he is "all for getting married at the lighthouse," as he did so himself, but was hesitant to set a precedent where everyone can have a waterfront wedding, with a reception, which would otherwise cost thousands of dollars.

"It's public land to tax-paying citizens," Martin said about the lighthouse property.

Gamatoria said he was against the whole idea.

"I just cannot support it at any dollar value," he said citing the Maritime Museum and other spaces that are available for weddings.

"We are really allowing someone to come in and capitalize on parkland," he said.

Dougherty added couples are usually told that the lighthouse and Tydings Park areas are first-come, first-served, but they are not allowed to cordon off any areas.

"This was a little bit out there because they want a tent reception," he said, adding he made sure there would be no alcohol.

Martin agreed with Gamatoria that the city would be undercutting other locations, such as the Vandiver Inn, that serve as wedding venues.

"It's one thing just to use a public park. It's another thing to capitalize on it," he said, but stipulated: "I know the lighthouse could desperately use the money."

Cullum also disapproved, saying the couple should provide liability insurance in case someone gets injured.

He said he is fine with a ceremony, but he could not support a reception on the property.

Craig, who voted against the entire request, said he thinks the city needs a specific policy on such requests and should develop guidelines to encourage weddings in the city.

"I think weddings are becoming more and more popular. We try to promote Havre de Grace as a wedding destination," he said, before adding: "I think if there's anything that is consistent about special events in Havre de Grace, it is that they are inconsistent."

"I think in the long run, what the city needs to do is develop and implement ... a detailed policy on how to encourage weddings at some of our better locations for the benefit of tourism [and other departments]," he said.

"I think this time, we are not quite ready yet and I think the discussion here shows that," he said.

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