Speedway pays $86k and that's it (NHX)

By Matthew Spolar

Concord Monitor

LOUDON — In response to a $156,300 bill from Loudon officials for police and fire protection at June's NASCAR race, New Hampshire Motor Speedway has sent back a check for $86,000 with a letter requesting a meeting with the selectmen, lawyers on both sides confirmed yesterday.

"We would like to have a conversation with them," said Tom Donovan, the Manchester attorney representing the speedway. "I'm sure that Loudon is going to ask us for more money and we're going to explain again why we think the amount we paid was the appropriate amount. And I'm sure there will be some give-and-take."

In the months leading up to June's race, Loudon police Chief Bob Fiske and speedway officials went back and forth on the size of his police bill. Track owner Bruton Smith accused Fiske of gouging his business. The selectmen backed Fiske, citing state law in arguing that the police chief should have the final say on what cost is necessary to ensure public safety.

Fiske said he could not dip below the manpower he had for last year's September race, when the bill paid by the track was about $133,500.The speedway's limit on what it would pay for a combination of police and fire coverage surrounding the June 27 race fluctuated between $65,000 and $75,000.

On June 22, the Tuesday before race weekend, the speedway gave Loudon a final offer of $86,000 - $65,000 for the police and $21,000 for fire coverage. The offer was based on an alternative public safety plan devised by Mark Furlone, the speedway's security director and a former 29-year state police veteran.

On June 30, Fiske presented the speedway with a $121,700 bill for covering the track Thursday through Sunday. The Loudon Fire Department's bill came in at $34,600.

The speedway had 30 days to pay the bills, said Jean Lee, the town office manager.

Last Wednesday, Donovan said an $86,000 check was hand-delivered to Bart Mayer, the town's attorney. Until Donovan meets with the selectmen, which won't happen this week, he does not expect a second check to make up the roughly $70,000 difference between the two sides.

"We feel we paid the amount we indicated was appropriate," Donovan said.

Roger Maxfield, chairman of the Loudon selectmen, said he was first told yesterday by a reporter of the speedway's check coming in under the amount sought by the town.

"We've said all along we would not use town funds, taxpayers' funds, to pay the bill," Maxfield said.

If the speedway does not provide the rest of the money, Maxfield said, "I dislike what we may have to do."

Both Mayer and Donovan said they were optimistic a sit-down would resolve the dispute.

"Rather than being in an adversarial position, we're going to try to work together," Mayer said. "I don't think it's productive to trade barbs or enter into a voluble argument when we have the opportunity to sit down as adults."

While Mayer and Donovan tried to placate any concerns about a rift over the speedway's check, barbs were traded yesterday between Jerry Gappens, the speedway's executive vice president, and Loudon Selectman Steven Ives.

Gappens, who could not be reached for comment for this story, appeared on The Morning Buzz radio show on WGIR-FM to discuss speculation that the monetary dispute with the town may cause Smith to move one of Loudon's two annual NASCAR races to one of his other tracks.

While on the topic, Gappens complained about a perceived snub by the Loudon selectmen on race weekend. Gappens said all three selectmen were invited to Smith's suite during the race to talk to the track owner about the importance of the NASCAR races in Loudon.

"None of them showed up," Gappens said. Along with the public dispute with Fiske, he said, "that doesn't send a great message, either."

Ives said yesterday that he received the invitation two days before the race and the RSVP date had already passed. He said he suspected speedway officials didn't want to invite the selectmen but changed their minds.

"It was kind of a last-minute, slap-in-the-face kind of invitation," he said.

Ives said "it's getting tiresome listening to (Gappens) blast everybody."

His opinion of Gappens and Smith has deteriorated, he said.

"I don't have much respect for either one of them right now," he said.