City considers new Scouts cabin

By John W. Goodwin Jr.

The mayor said the Scout cabin is old and insufficient.

GIRARD — City leaders are mulling over the proposed gift from a resident for a new building for Boy Scouts of America activities here.

Mayor James Melfi, during a Monday meeting, announced to council that an attorney from the city has expressed an interest in making “a sizeable donation” to the city with the expressed purpose of building the Scouts a new building in Liberty Park.

The Boy Scouts now have a building in Liberty Park, but Melfi said that building has been there for decades and needs to be replaced.

“Obviously, the Boy Scout cabin is pretty old and insufficient,” said Melfi. “He wants to make a donation toward a new cabin in Liberty Park.”

Councilman Michael Costarella said the Boy Scouts do take a break from activities during some summer months, allowing the city to get going on building the new facility with little interruption to Scout activities.

“As slow as government works, we should start acting on this now to make something happen before next summer,” he said.

Melfi said the donor did not specify exactly how much of a donation would be made, but said the city would likely have to contribute financially to any new facility placed in the park.

Costarella told council the Boy Scout project might be a good use of the funds being collected from a gas well recently placed in Liberty Park.

The well is in the final stages of being drilled. The city will receive royalties from allowing the operation on city property.

Council approved the drilling several years ago.

Council on Monday gave first reading to an ordinance that would direct all proceeds derived from the well in the park to a separate line item in the recreation fund, to be used for maintenance and improvements in the park.

The ordinance will need two more readings before council before it is taken to a vote.

jgoodwin@vindy.com