BROCKPORT, NY. – Tempers flared at a recent village board meeting as Brockport Community Rowing (BCR) members, village residents and Brockport officials continue to express their concerns regarding ownership rights to the boathouse. The prolonged dispute has lingered in the community since the boathouse opened in June, leaving its future with BCR uncertain.

Village resident John Keiser advocated for BCR during public comment. Keiser urged the board to favor BCR in the agreement, explaining the rowing clubs’ successful season and emphasizing the organizations efforts.

“Brockport community rowing consists of volunteers who have worked tirelessly for about ten years, only to face obstacle after obstacle from this board. I worry their experience will deter other civic-minded individuals from volunteering their time and energies for causes that truly benefit this community. The board should advocate such efforts, not squelch them,” Keiser said.

Keiser was not the only person with an opinion on the boathouse. Village Resident Carol Hannan expressed her disdain for the project.

“Boaters act like the boathouse is theirs. Businesses like 180 South Ave., who should have no absolute right to do what they want, just do whatever. We need this board to make changes. For some people that is very difficult, but please, remember, you promised change. We are counting on you to deal with the grant choices, the South Avenue business, and the boathouse,” Hannan said.

The agreement battle comes after newly elected Mayor Ben Reed terminated the original five-year contract with Brockport Community Rowing (BCR) for the boathouse in July – just under a month after the boathouse ribbon-cutting ceremony. BCR was issued a 45-day notice to vacate the building and ordered to stop all work on the boathouse by August 25, 2025.

Reed said the purpose behind terminating the original agreement was to ensure boathouse access to the whole community.

“We want to be able to open up the opportunity for use of the boathouse to other entities, and over the next 45 days I think we plan to work together to come up with something that works well for everybody, including the village itself,” Reed said at the July 7 village board meeting.

Mayor Reed could not be reached for comment.

BCR President Marleen Cain says the previous contract allowed boathouse access to everyone under BCR oversight and management.

“All of our activities are open to the public. We wouldn’t limit other people, but who besides rowing is going to want to be in here,” Cain said.

Championed by former Mayor Margay Blackman, the Brockport boathouse project was presented as a community-driven investment meant to bring attraction to Brockport and the Erie Canal.

In 2017, SUNY Brockport agreed to lease land at Commissary Park to the village for future rowing development. That land was officially transferred to the village in 2023 for construction of the boathouse. Blackman explains the boathouse was funded through state grants, donations, and volunteer labor, not taxpayer money.

The political shift that followed the recent village election brought new scrutiny to the project. At the first meeting of the new administration on July 7, the Better Brockport Coalition, led by Mayor Reed, passed the motion to terminate the boathouse agreement and issue a 45-day notice to vacate.

Former Mayor Blackman, now serving on the BCR board, called the decision political retribution for her involvement in the project.

“I was excommunicated from the board because Joanne (Trustee Bocach) accused me of having a conflict of interest and that I shouldn’t be voting on anything having to do with the rowing club because I was a member of the rowing club,” said Blackman.

Trustee Joanne Bocach declined comment until she confers with her attorney.

Despite uncertainty, BCR continued its programming through the summer, hosting “Learn to Row” classes in August and maintaining operations at the boathouse. Since August, the organization has recruited 119 new members.

With the fall season now over, the rowing club is doubtful that an agreement can be reached to preserve the boathouse’s mission while maintaining BCR management.

The extension of BCR’s original contract with the boathouse is set to expire on December 31, 2025. A new contract that would severely restrict the rowing club’s access to the facility was proposed on October 27, a move that Blackman believes is unfair.

“It is the most vindictive, mean-spirited permit around,” Blackman said.

According to Cain, The BCR Board has had issues with the Village to find a solution to the contract.

“Its not my decision, its the whole boards decision. But from talking with everybody, I don’t think we are going to sign it. We were told it was a take it or leave it situation,” Cain said.

For now, negotiations between the village board and Brockport Community Rowing are at a standstill. BCR members remain uncertain about their future with the boathouse, and who will ultimately control the canal’s newest landmark remains unclear.