WEST MILFORD The Highlands Music Festival planned for September 14, 15 and 16 is the design of Al Hutchins Productions and Air Dome Events LLC. These organizers and the council will be working against the clock to try and satisfy all concerns including a state permit application and reach a final agreement while the performers are still available to appear. Al Hutchins appeared before the council on Wednesday night and presented what he hopes will be the beginning of a lasting relationship with West Milford. “Air Dome’s prime interest is to turn this event into a success where they can establish an event year after year after year,” said Hutchins. “Whether you continue to have us [Al Hutchins Productions] participate or not, it will establish that kind of an annual event.” Success is part of his business, according to Hutchins, who reported achievements in southern New Jersey with similar productions. Hutchins said, “I’ve worked with some townships over the last several years and took their event from a 300 or 400 people gathering to last year [when] we drew 17,000 people.” The lands of the former Jungle Habitat would be the stage for the event but not as an outdoor concert. Entirely contained air domes would be used to prevent any adverse weather spoiling the performances. Included in Hutchins’ proposal is a list of possible entertainers who will appear at the festival. This includes the Atlanta Rhythm Section and the Georgia Satellites. Councilman Phil Weisbecker advised Hutchins that previous events of this type had been tried before in West Milford and not succeeded. Weisbecker also had questions regarding Hutchins’ claims that local businesses would benefit from this festival, the likely success of the event and the number and standard of security personnel that would be provided by the organizers. Weisbecker concluded, “I’d like to see this be a success, I really would, but it’s fair to tell you the things that have happened in the past.” Hutchins hopes to make available approximately 3000 tickets with tiered pricing at an estimated $25 - $30 for each day of the event. Hutchins appeared before the council following his displeasure with an article which appeared in last week’s West Milford Messenger. “It [the article] was grossly inaccurate,” said Hutchins. A few days after the article appeared Don Davidson, general manager of Air Domes LLC, issued a lengthy e-mail to council members in which one part read, “ due to the tone and atmosphere set by this newspaper article, we hereby withdraw any proposal we have discussed for consideration by the Township of West Milford.” Hutchins said, “The purpose of withdrawing the proposal was not that we were washing our hands of it. It was, lets get organized, find out what the council wants, what all interested parties need and then put the proposal back together so that no one’s left out and we can start to plan what we feel will be one of north Jersey’s premier events.” Councilman Bob Nolan addressed the e-mail with Hutchins. “I didn’t like the tone of the letter we got from Don Davidson,” said Nolan. “It sounded to me like you guys were picking up your ball and your bat and going home and now here you are a couple of days after this. Do you want to do this or don’t you?” Hutchins responded, “It [the article] didn’t cast us in a good light.” Councilman Nolan replied, “I don’t think it’s the newspaper’s responsibility to cast you in a good light.” “My reputation in this business is stellar,” said Hutchins. “I understand that the reporter only had what he had to go by in order to write the story. I can accept that.” The council agreed to set up a committee to work with Hutchins to negotiate and discuss all the details needed to reach an agreement. Hutchins did, however, warn the council, “We are in the eleventh hour.”