Louis "Rocket" Re of Middle Island and other stunt riders were scheduled to perform a "Live Daredevil Show" April 25 at Abbess Farm on Route 25. The proceeds were going to benefit United Veterans Beacon House of Bay Shore, a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing and other services for homeless veterans.
The motorcycle show will now be held in Brockton, Mass., and another organization will likely be the beneficiary, Mr. Re said.
"Instead of showing the best of local government, it almost feels like they did everything they could to make this impossible," he said.
Councilwoman Barbara Blass said she resented the implication that town officials don't support the cause of helping veterans simply because the officials are trying to ensure safety at the show.
The stunt show was supposed to be filmed for a pilot episode of a reality television show on a cable network, and the network needed a certain amount of lead time to plan the show, Mr. Re said, explaining his move to cancel.
He declined to identify the network.
Mr. Re and another stunt rider, known as Doug Danger, were scheduled to perform a jump in which the two motorcycles cross in mid-air. Mr. Re said he holds two world records, one for riding a motorcycle through 12 walls of fire and the other for performing the longest side-by-side tandem jump, in which he and Doug Danger jumped 110 feet.
He said the jacket he was wearing at last Thursday's Town Board work session was given to him by Evil Knievel, whom he called a friend.
"This event is for the veterans who have fought and sacrificed," he told the Town Board. "I wouldn't be here doing what I do if it wasn't for the men and women who made this country free."
Mr. Re said he filed the application for the show on March 16 and as of Monday, no one from the town had contacted him.
"If my name is on the application, how come nobody has contacted me this whole time?" he asked.
The town had contacted the property owner, Marie Tooker.
Ms. Tooker sold the development rights to 90 of the 130 acres on her farm in 2005 and has held events there in the past.
Ms. Tooker, who was also present at the Town Board work session, said that no portions of the motorcycle show were to take place on the preserved land.
She also said time was running out to approve the event. "We've got people coming from all over the country, raising money for veterans," she said. "If this gets canceled, I don't think you want this on your back."
Deputy Town Attorney Ann Marie Prudenti said last Tuesday that the preserved land was an issue and that the town code enforcement agents wanted to do an inspection but were not permitted on the property.
Ms. Tooker said that's because they came with police and her employees didn't know what was going on. A second inspection took place last Wednesday after Supervisor Phil Cardinale said the Town Board would have a special meeting the next day to approve the application, if Ms. Tooker cooperated.
She did, but in the meantime deputy town attorney Dan McCormick said additional information was still needed to ensure safety at the event. He also said that the code enforcement agents and the fire marshal would need to review the information, and they wouldn't be available until this week, since Town Hall was closed Friday.
"The town needs to ensure that spectators are safe," Mr. McCormick said.
"None of this came up on Tuesday," Ms. Tooker noted. "It was just about preserved land and inspecting the field."
Mr. McCormick said the town needed a detailed written plan describing the event. Finally, on Saturday, Mr. Re sent out an e-mail saying the show was canceled.
"I had all my permits in on time, I paid the $200 application fee and I got an insurance policy paid in full. I did everything they asked," he said.
He said he was under pressure from the production company to secure the permit because they had an offer from another venue interested in the show.
"I felt like the town was just going to keep pushing this off," he said.
tgannon@timesreview.com