This photo, which is from the Chautauqua Lake Pops’ Facebook page, shows one of their summer concerts.

MAYVILLE — Even though the owner of the Chautauqua Lake Pops has made it clear the entertainment venue will not be returning to the village this summer, that hasn’t stopped Mayville residents and officials from talking about it and spreading blame.

During the recent Mayville Village Board meeting, resident Sandra Wagner asked Trustee Rick Syper why he was unhappy with the Pops and asked him what ideas he has to replace it.

“Let me interrupt you. Where did you get this idea that Rick Syper was clearly unhappy with the Pops?” Syper asked, referring to himself in the third person.

He insisted he had nothing against the venue. “Let me state it very clearly, Rick Syper is not unhappy. … What is wrong with the Pops is the lack of leadership and management working together to fix the problems that were coming up with the community,” he said.

Syper, who recently announced he was running for mayor, said he believes their departure is a loss for the village. “It’s a shame that the Pops is not in Mayville. … I think the Pops should be there,” he said.

Even though Syper said at the meeting April 5 he was not against the Pops, owner Don Dalpra hasn’t felt that way.

Syper was in the majority last year saying that Dalpra needed to pay the village $4,000 even though there were no performances in 2020. When Dalpra did send a check, he included a letter alleging that Syper was one of those who “actively attempted to make the Pops’ efforts a failure.”

During the April 5 village board meeting Syper, Mayor Ken Shearer and Trustee Ben Webb began talking over one another, arguing over the Pops, residents’ complaints and whether the community wanted the Pops to stay or not.

“The leadership failed,” stated Syper.

“Specifically how?” asked Webb.

“You didn’t listen to the problems. You wouldn’t sit down and talk about the problems. You just wanted to sit here in a public meeting and go round and round and round and round,” replied Syper. “We never voted on anything.”

“We can talk about and vote about anything you want. You’ve had plenty of opportunity,” said Shearer, adding that one night Syper stormed out of the meeting when they were talking about the best options for the Pops.

“There was no decisions that was going to be made that night,” Syper replied.

The heated discussion continued until eventually a resident in the audience changed topics.

The day after the April 5 village board meeting attorney Daryl Brautigam sent an email to this newspaper on behalf of his clients who filed suit over excessive noise levels.

In Brautigam’s letter, he outlined why his clients felt Dalpra had violated multiple laws and shouldn’t be permitted to return. The letter also called on officials to move on.

“Mr. Dalpra has indicated the Chautauqua Pops is leaving Mayville. The Village of Mayville should, in our view, be focusing on the future. We understand the village is currently completing a Lakeside Economic Development Plan that promises to suggest exciting projects which will enhance what has always drawn so many to visit and live in Mayville, and my clients look forward to contributing in any way they can to this renewed vision, as well as enjoying all that the area has to offer,” Brautigam wrote.

He represents Thomas and Marina Arko, New York Lake House, LLC, William Kinney, and Sharon Smead.