Echo Lake owner charged with health law violations
COVENTRY – The owner of the Coventry campground which stayed in operation despite being closed down by county health officials is now facing personal charges related to the offense.
Ahmad Shaheed, 57, appeared in the Town of Coventry court Wednesday to face charges of willful violation of public health laws in relation to his continued operation of the campground. The charges were filed on July 15 by Chenango County’s Director of Public Health, Marcas Flindt, just days after Shaheed hosted the 3rd Annual Orb Festival, a four-day outdoor music event, at the facility.
According to Flindt’s complaint, which was read during the hearing, Echo Lake had been officially closed by the health department on May 22. Furthermore, notice had been served on two other occasions, on June 15 and 22, that they needed to cease operation immediately because of the closure. These notifications were ignored, however, and the campground remained open.
Shaheed did not have an attorney present, although he was advised by Town Justice Russell Lerwick that he was entitled to representation. The business owner did not enter a plea on the charges, but he did make a statement to the court.
“I did talk to them and I did comply with what they told me,” he said, referring to officials from the county health department.
He had brought in water for the event, he explained, and purchased the purification and chlorination systems he needed to meet the requirements, although he later admitted that the equipment had not yet been installed.
“It takes time to put it in,” he said.
It had not been possible to cancel the OrbFest, he reported. “This event was already planned. We had people coming from all over the world.”
Shaheed also said that he has another festival planned at Echo Lake in August, for which he had also applied for a mass gathering permit.
“You can’t have any other mass gatherings or anything else happen until this matter is taken care of,” said Lerwick, who later cautioned Shaheed that a warrant would be issued for his arrest if he was found in further violation.
The business owner, who was released on his own recognizance, said he planned to consult an attorney and contact the assistant district attorney assigned to the case, Bob Larkin, before Aug. 5 when he will next appear before Lerwick.
According to section 12-b of the New York State Public Health Law, Shaheed could face up to a year’s imprisonment and or a $2,000 fine as a result of the misdemeanor charge.
“The litigation is proceeding,” Flindt said in a phone interview yesterday. “We’re still actively pursuing this issue.” He declined to comment further on the pending litigation.
Ahmad Shaheed, 57, appeared in the Town of Coventry court Wednesday to face charges of willful violation of public health laws in relation to his continued operation of the campground. The charges were filed on July 15 by Chenango County’s Director of Public Health, Marcas Flindt, just days after Shaheed hosted the 3rd Annual Orb Festival, a four-day outdoor music event, at the facility.
According to Flindt’s complaint, which was read during the hearing, Echo Lake had been officially closed by the health department on May 22. Furthermore, notice had been served on two other occasions, on June 15 and 22, that they needed to cease operation immediately because of the closure. These notifications were ignored, however, and the campground remained open.
Shaheed did not have an attorney present, although he was advised by Town Justice Russell Lerwick that he was entitled to representation. The business owner did not enter a plea on the charges, but he did make a statement to the court.
“I did talk to them and I did comply with what they told me,” he said, referring to officials from the county health department.
He had brought in water for the event, he explained, and purchased the purification and chlorination systems he needed to meet the requirements, although he later admitted that the equipment had not yet been installed.
“It takes time to put it in,” he said.
It had not been possible to cancel the OrbFest, he reported. “This event was already planned. We had people coming from all over the world.”
Shaheed also said that he has another festival planned at Echo Lake in August, for which he had also applied for a mass gathering permit.
“You can’t have any other mass gatherings or anything else happen until this matter is taken care of,” said Lerwick, who later cautioned Shaheed that a warrant would be issued for his arrest if he was found in further violation.
The business owner, who was released on his own recognizance, said he planned to consult an attorney and contact the assistant district attorney assigned to the case, Bob Larkin, before Aug. 5 when he will next appear before Lerwick.
According to section 12-b of the New York State Public Health Law, Shaheed could face up to a year’s imprisonment and or a $2,000 fine as a result of the misdemeanor charge.
“The litigation is proceeding,” Flindt said in a phone interview yesterday. “We’re still actively pursuing this issue.” He declined to comment further on the pending litigation.
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