Since January 2012, a core group of concerned citizens resolved to do what was right for the families and the community of Middletown, joined in the heartfelt belief that saving the township pool was essential. Though we locked horns at times with the members of our town council, we walk away with a new appreciation of what goes into running a wonderful town like Middletown. We would like to thank the Mayor, Town Council and Township Administration for listening and working endless hours to preserve this historic community asset and for keeping the swim club a vibrant place of summer recreation for residents of all ages. We thank the new operators, for stepping up and taking action.
Many residents have been awakened by this situation and we hope that we may all recognize the diverse needs of our community and the importance or working together to find common ground, despite differences, to continue to work to build our fine community. Middletown belongs to all of us and we all have a role in protecting our resources, including our schools, library, our cultural center and of course the swim club, to name a few. Thank you to all residents who have spent time serving Middletown in various ways. The involvement of the residents in town matters is crucial in keeping our town alive and thriving.
The Middletown Swim and Tennis Club provides a slice of the American Pie to all. We look forward to sharing that with the new operators and welcome new members to join this season and experience another dimension of the illustrious community of Middletown. Please support your community, JOIN THE SWIM CLUB, ENJOY SUMMER FUN!
Robert Manse
SOS Committee of Middletown
3 comments:
I am glad the swim club will be open, it would have been a loss for the town. However, something just isn't right here. This deal had to have in the making for quite awhile based on the plans submitted the night of the meeting. Although the junior titans may be non profit, what about "Ice World" ? They paid a great price for this property, the town will not see any taxes from it, and this large building project is scheduled to go on it. Doesn't pass the smell test, someone is making a bundle of money with the tax exempt status of this property.
A private not-for-profit business is now going to run a business on a piece of property that the town will sell to them, so long as it is used for recreational purposes.
This business is under no obligation next year or any year thereafter to run it as a summer semi-private swim club for former swim club members. Once it is purchased it will no longer have any direct or indirect relationship with Middletown Township.
This in no way is a not for profit sale. Ice world ,Haviland Hockey consulting group and George Haviland will be the tax free beneficiaries of this inside deal.
It is not even being explopered on open market for private bid with a recreational restriction, if no bidders, remove restriction to see true market value.
The township is short sighted and caved in a vocal minority that does not best serve the interest of the township.
If the business fails then it goes back to the township as a worse mess than it currently is, sweet deal if you or I could get it!
I do not trust the validity of this not for profit.
The Y is a national organization, not a small self serving local hockey
team, managed by a private family business with strong local hockey roots
http://non-profit-organizations.findthebest.com/l/110866/Nj-Junior-Titans-Ho
ckey-Club
I would be curious to see what Haviland family members get paid to operate
this so called not for profit and how much their family hockey consulting
firm gets paid from the not for profit.
It is the Ice world and family buying it as a private entity under the halo
of a small not for profit organization without the not for profits funds to
support the purchase.
It would not be fair for a private business person to get the advantage of a
not for profit and not have to compete for the purchase. The option was not
even explored to see what private organizations would pay for the property
with a restricted use. This is an inside deal and the township is happy to
make a clean break. The town is getting the wool pulled over its eyes to
operate the swim club for one more year without any guarantees or tax
revenue.
Tony Fiore
7:05 am on Thursday, April 5, 2012
The above comment at 10:11pm couldn't be any further from the truth. What the town is getting is a first class recreational facility for the residents of Middletown at ZERO cost to the taxpayers. That's what public/private agreements are all about and why they are promoted by the state.
You said it
"public/private" agreement.
If this is a private partnership it should have been open to pubic auction not sold to a private entity with the advantages of non competitive bids only afforded to non for profit agencies, like the YMCA or Boy Scounts or JCC.
Why was the resolution Not acted on to put the property up for sale with a recreational restriction? Why did a private partnership get the tax and no bid advantages afforded to not for profit and religious groups?
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