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YORKTOWN, N.Y. In order to begin saving money for the possible replacement of the current artificial turf at Woodlands Legacy Fields in several years, the town board discussed the possibility of raising rates for resident and non-resident use at Tuesdays work session.
Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jennifer Fava explained to the board that the current fees to rent are $15 an hour and $30 for non-residents. The recommendation was to raise the resident rate to $45 an hour and the non-resident rate to $75 an hour.
Councilman Nick Bianco asked how many residents used the field versus non-residents, and Fava said that a majority of all people who use the field at this time are residents.
Fava explained that the current fee only covers the costs for attendants to be there by the town. Should the fees be raised, the extra portion not being used to maintain the field would be put in the separate trust to start saving for the eventual replacement of the field.
You really should be charging your fees based upon not just the present costs but the capital investment of it too, said Supervisor Michael Grace.
Council member Vishnu Patel estimated the fees still wouldnt garner enough money to replace the field by the time the field has to be replaced, but Council member David Paganelli disagreed. Patels estimate for replacement was over $1 million, and Paganellis was at least a $600,000 estimate.
Town Attorney Jeanette Koster as well as other members of the board said should the time get closer where they would need to replace the field and they see there isnt enough money, they could raise fees again. Paganelli and Grace suggested the town revisit the fees again in a year to see how much they had earned.
The county would also need to approve the fee raise, but should the town decide to adopt the new rates, they would begin in the fall because registrations for clubs are finished in the spring and summer, Fava explained.
Council member Terrence Murphy raised the question if sports clubs such as the Yorktown Athletic Club and Shrub Oak Athletic Club were okay with raising the rates, to which Fava explained that they were not just okay with the increase, but had suggested it since they want to see the town have the money to replace the field.
They were involved and talked about and kind of brought it up, that we should be saving and putting aside for this, Fava said. And again, I think if we see at the time that we are getting closer to replacing it you could increase the fees down the road.
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