WARREN Leagues ask city to lease parks to them for ball

The city maintains there is no money to open parks.
By AMANDA C. DAVIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- Representatives of area baseball leagues have asked the city to lease them a few parks so they can revive youth recreation for the summer.
Council members Dan Polivka, D-at-large, and Virginia Bufano, D-1st, said they plan to sponsor legislation that would allow Burbank and possibly another city park to be leased to baseball organizations this summer.
Mayor Hank Angelo said allowing noncity personnel to maintain parks would violate union contracts because some city personnel are still laid off.
Budget shortfall: Parks closed in January 2000 when layoffs were issued and other cuts were made to head off a budget shortfall.
Vince Flask, president of Burbank Baseball League, said officials, by not opening the parks, are "playing a major league game with little leaguer's dreams."
A standing-room-only crowd applauded as Flask implored city officials to keep looking for ways to open a few of the city's more than 20 parks.
Angelo said the city's streets department has 26 employees, noting there is no money available for park openings.
The problem, he said, is that the city cannot afford to reassign two workers to maintain parks, which would cost between $50,000 and $60,000 for the summer season.
Roberta Butler, representing players in the Burbank League, said it's unfortunate that Warren players will have to sign up for leagues in other cities.
"I don't see this community doing anything for our children," she added.
Police and fire: Angelo said he feels bad that parks will remain closed but officials need to concentrate on finding money to bolster the understaffed police and fire departments.
He said there are two firefighters and one police officer working, both of whose salaries are not accounted for in this year's budget.
The city will have to come up with that money and figure out what to do about waning income taxes from the recently bankrupted CSC Ltd. in Champion, Angelo said.
Local Atty. Gilbert Rucker spoke on behalf of his three children who play sports in Warren parks.
He said children have been "displaced and outcast by their own city parks."
He asked the city to consider the future of area children.
Gary Fonce, who is running in May for an at-large council seat, suggested the city take over operations of the city-owned Avalon South Golf Course and use revenues from that to help establish a parks board that would oversee parks.
The suggestion is similar to one also proposed by Tristan Hand, who is seeking the 4th Ward council seat in May.
Angelo said the city is seeking appraisals of the municipal golf course in case the city decides to sell it.