Local Government TV

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

NASD's $1 MM Ball Field Draws Wrath of Nazareth Residents

From Becky Bartlett's report on last night's meeting of Nazareth Area School District: Two residents from Nazareth spoke out about the $1 million in construction at the baseball field at the Intermediate School. A Borough Councilman asked the [school] board why the district didn’t work with the borough concerning improvements to the town baseball field and read a letter he wrote to [Superintendent Dennis L.] Riker — a letter, he said, had never been answered. He accused Riker of behaving unprofessionally, pointed out that relations with previous administrations had been much friendlier and that the Intermediate School field was at risk for sink holes. (Editor’s Note: I have personally seen sinkholes in that area since the school was constructed)

Another Nazareth resident wanted to know why there wasn’t more communication between the district and the town on this issue, claiming that, in his experience, the project was likely to cost $1.8 million dollars when it was all finished. He pointed out that the town ball field was already established and the extra expense offended him as a taxpayer. Board member [Adam] McGlynn claimed the town field was too wet to use and that students had been forced to practice in the parking lot. The resident pointed out that he’d played ball as a student and practicing in the parking lot was a common.

[Board member] Kenneth Butz aggressively pushed back, saying the town wouldn’t keep circuses and car shows off the field and that insurance won’t allow kids to practice on parking lots anymore. [Board member] Linda Stubits, looking a bit appalled, expressed concern about the deterioration in community relations and asked someone to find the minutes from the last meeting between the district and the borough.

Prompted by a question about why the district hadn’t communicated with the borough, Butz admitted that, in the past, the deal for the district to play on the ballfield had been a handshake deal.

Blogger's Note: The above excerpt should tell you that Becky Bartlett's Upper Nazareth Township Meetings provides excellent and remarkably unbiased coverage of Upper Nazareth Township and Nazareth Area School District. She is also succinct, unlike me. 

5 comments:

  1. Didn't they build a pool that was too short to use for sanctioned events.

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  2. NASD and Nazareth Borough are incestuous, dysfunctional, and very poorly managed. They are perfect for each other. Surrounding communities don’t want cooperate with the mess that is Nazareth, either. That’s understandable, but a shame. A million plus dollar baseball field is outrageous. Pull together boosters and hold some frickin bake sales. We’ve all seen the sinkholes. This is outrageous.

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  3. Either I have been lied to again or our school board members are clueless. I had been told that they needed another field due to starting a middle School team and with limited daylight in the spring they need somewhere to play and practice for three teams. Also was told that the JV and middle school were going to continue using the park. As to other events using the field that board member should double check their source because I am pretty certain nothing but baseball has been on that field since it was enclosed by fencing. Yes that field does get wet at times but baseball are extremely high maintenance fields and you cannot wait until the afternoon to prepare it for a practice or game. A 10,000 dollar tarp could help alot and is much cheaper than 1 million. Giving up the park where you have a refreshment stand, real restrooms, bleachers, parking, scoreboard, water and electric plus more than 50 years of tradition is a senseless shame.

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  4. Nazareth Borough wasn’t consulted by NASD because the borough has established themselves as a corrupt, criminal element that can’t be trusted with anything.

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  5. Outrageous!I tell you!!!!

    Just because, the Nazareth Borough has two convicted criminals on Council, a senile old man who pees in public, a Civil service committee who's made up of the wife of the head of the Police committee chair, a son of yet another convicted criminal councilman. A part-time Borough manager who is paid close to $60,000.00 a year, and receives full medical benefits for him and his family, and who owns 49% of the Nazareth Army and Navy store. Oh and who's also the SOLE provider of Nazareth EMS uniforms. So that his pockets get's filled even more! So what if the council president, a few convicted felons have used used Borough money to purchase land for the Nazareth volunteer ambulance Corps (a private company), with an " interest-free loans". So what if the Nazareth ambulance corp is provided vehicle insurance through Nazareth Borough even if they're not part of Nazareth Borough. Meaning when they respond to handle for profit calls in Windgap and get into a vehicle accident it's the people of Nazareth insurance cost who's goes up NOT Windgap Borough's.

    I wounder..... does it really matter that five of the NINE council members have been on council since the 70s and 80s?

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