Budget Raises Concerns Among Athletic Field Advocates

By Steve Bigham

A large group of local sports advocates was expected to show up at Thursday night’s Legislative Council budgetary meeting at the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. Concerned by a recommendation made by the council’s finance committee last week, the group planned to remind council members about the town’s need for additional athletic fields.

Last Wednesday, the finance committee, in an effort to trim its 2000-2001 budget, suggested that the Parks & Recreation’s request be cut by $350,000. Suddenly, plans to build two baseball fields at the Amaral property along Elm Drive have been put in doubt.

 “I’m not sure what it does. It’s a bit confusing to all of us,” noted Parks & Recreation Chairman Larry Haskel. “We’re planning on moving ahead with the Amaral property, but as things stand right now, I’m really concerned as to how we move forward.”

Mr Haskel and Parks & Recreation Director Barbara Kasbarian recently presented the department’s case to the Public Works subcommittee. “They voted unanimously in favor of keeping our budget intact. A few days later, we find out it was changed,” Mr Haskell said. “It is disturbing, but we’re going to ask for a clarification on Thursday.”

Mr Haskell said he understands the plight of the Legislative Council, which was presented a proposed budget that represented a tax rate increase of 4.4 mills. However, he said, the council needs to understand where we are.

“We must not get deterred from where we are. People are very disappointed in the inconsistency of these decisions,” Mr Haskell said.

The proposed spending for athletic fields in Newtown has been in flux in recent weeks. Last month, First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said he planned to make significant cuts to the Parks & Recreation’s operating budget request for new fields. Then, the first selectman announced that the $2 million for new fields was to be funded through debt service/borrowing. However, he held off on announcing this until after local residents protested his proposed cuts to the operating budget. Mr Rosenthal kept $550,000 in the operating budget for the development of the Amaral property. Last week, the finance committee cut $350,000 of that money out. In addition, some members questioned where the $2 million in debt service for fields came from.

The situation has frustrated Mr Haskell. He and others were looking forward to seeing the Amaral property finally developed. That project was looked at as something tangible being done by the town to address the town’s growing population.

“I think Newtown needs to see that,” Mr Haskell said.

The Parks & Recreation budget, if approved, would still represent less than two percent of the entire municipal budget.

“We have 8,500-10,000 participants in our various programs,” Mr Haskell said. “If you look what the town has contributed to recreation projects in town in the past, it’s a pretty dismal record. Fun Space at Dickinson… Zero. The Teen Center… Zero. The Treadwell Park pool… It paid $150,000 of an $850,000 project. The Orchard Hill Nature Center… Zero. The Amaral Property… Zero. The Fun Space at Treadwell now being built… Zero. I’m not fighting them just to fight them. But somewhere we have to put a stake in the ground and say this is where we must begin.”

 Many of the projects mentioned by Mr Haskell were funded by the Iroquois Land Preservation and Enhancement Program (LPEP) money, which was given to the town as part of a deal that allowed the Iroquois gas company’s pipeline to run through town.

  The Amaral property development costs are particularly high due to the large amount of wetland acreage there. The Parks & Recreation believes the area, while not suitable for ball fields, is ideal because it sits adjacent to Dickinson Park.