To the Editor:

There are a lot of great things happening on the youth baseball teams around town, but it is time to bring to light some of the decisions and actions by the program’s board of directors for the sake of transparency for the many of hundreds of families who participate in the town baseball program.

I’ve been attending league meetings regularly since our family moved to Newtown over six years ago. I am a member in good standing, and have served as a coach, assistant coach or just an extra set of hands to ensure our town’s kids learn the ins and outs of the beautiful game that is baseball. I have always been one to ask questions when something is not otherwise clear to me, especially when there are decisions being made that affect the kids and families who are passionate about the sport. The forum for doing this is attending the monthly meeting, typically the first Tuesday of every month.

At our most recent meeting, I suggested that the league evaluate its policy of allowing league leadership to serve as umpires over high-stakes games in games involving our most competitive teams (i.e. the travel teams). This suggestion was not made because I am questioning or attacking any one person’s ability to serve impartially, but instead from the perspective of ensuring our league upholds proper sportsmanship, fair play, and transparency of all the participants — especially those of the opposing teams.

Having been around the game my entire life, I am near certain that an opposing coach would have an interest in knowing if the umpire behind the plate for a championship game was or is a core four board member of the program playing in a championship game. It’s simply a conflict of interest that should be disclosed, discussed, and resolved prior to the contest commencing.

There are lots of great things happening in our baseball program in town and much to be proud of like the wonderful volunteers who show up every day and week to offer our kids a great baseball experience. I’d like to note, however, that the behavior of some members of the leadership is appalling to me.

I call on our Parks and Recreation Department to begin to actively get involved in how the town baseball league is operated, and how its members and participants are treated to ensure that the program serves all kids fairly, with the utmost transparency, and in compliance with the town’s charter on field use because, in my opinion, I have witnessed numerous examples where it is not.

David Stott

Newtown