The Middletown common council will discuss Monday whether to approve a new field use and fee structure for the city’s athletic fields.
The new ordinance would assign organizations first, second and third priority usage, as well as implement new fee rates.
“Our old policy was quite confusing and some of the definitions were hard to understand,” Deputy General Counsel Kori Wisneski said. “We tried to make the policy more efficient and readable. It had become clear to us that this was necessary based on the renovations done at Pat Kidney Field and Palmer Field. There’s more interest in the use of our fields now that they’ve been renovated.”
Under the proposed ordinance, first priority users include the Middletown recreation and community services department, Middletown Little League, Middletown youth sports, as well as the Post 75 American Legion, Middletown Public Schools, Mercy High School, Xavier High School and Vinal Technical School.
Second priority users are defined as locally organized nonprofit groups or teams “whose membership is comprised of 60 percent or more of Middletown residents.” Third priority users are defined as other organizations comprised of less than 60 percent of city residents.
“We looked at who was using our fields, who we are providing fields for and that was how we assigned first priority,” Wisneski said.
First priority users and nonprofits will not be charged for field use, excluding teams using Palmer Field. Use of Palmer Field will cost between $100 and $150 for the Post 75 American Legion and second and third priority users. Use of all other city fields will cost second and third priority users between $75 and $125 and adult softball tournaments will cost between $250 and $375. Prices depend on the time and day of the week of the game.
The new policy would also give the common council the ability to review and set fees annually through a resolution.
Department of Public Works Director William Russo said the city recently finished making $7.5 million in upgrades to playing fields. The upgrades compelled him and Wisneski to look at the field policies and make sure they were up to date.
At a common Council meeting in March, three residents spoke against the changes. said. “We needed a new policy with better language. We shortened it up and hopefully once we adopt it everyone understands cit.”
At a common council meeting in March, three residents spoke against the changes.
Jennifer Mahr, the chair of the Westfield Residents Association, said she didn’t think the policies were fair to Middletown taxpayers.
“What we want is fairness and access for as many people as possible,” Mahr said. “We want transparency on field and facility availability and fees and responsible use of taxpayer money for facilities.”
Mahr also said the new policy gives private schools and organizations priorities on Middletown’s fields.
“As written, this policy does not apply use criteria fairly. … The groups of organizations listed as first priority users are not exclusively Middletown resident teams open to any child who wants to play. Included are private schools who draw students from all over Connecticut who do not pay taxes to pay for upkeep of the fields,” Mahr said at the meeting.
Russo said that including Mercy and Xavier high schools, as well as the Post 75 American Legion in the first priority tier was a way of sharing services and giving back to the community. The American Legion has had a presence in Middletown since the 1940s and plays at Palmer Field.
“Some of the critics have mentioned that there was some issues with me putting Mercy and Xavier on the first priority level,” Russo said. “Xavier opened up their baseball field for our youth baseball for free, they share their new track with residents and have allowed us to use their synthetic fields on occasion. … They’ve shared services with us. You’re always going to get opposition to something.”
Kathleen McWilliams can be reached at kmcwilliams@courant.com.
