New Hartford’s Rules

We are a close-knit community with a government elected from its citizens.  We have rules and regulations.  Those rules and regulations are set up via process determined in Town Laws.  Those determine who sets the rules for the Town’s Recreational Assets.  The Ordinances (there are 3) concerning Recreation Commission responsibilities are posted here:  Recreation Commission Ordinance

The document clearly rests the authority to establish rules with the Recreation Department.  The Commission is appointed by the Board of Selectmen, who are elected by the people of New Hartford.  Nowhere in the referenced document does it say that if you don’t like the rules, you can write your own, run out grab 36 signatures and attempt a coup d’eta.

I realize that the Friends of Brodie Park South tried very hard to change the rules to exclude young athletes from using Town Recreational Land to practice their skills.  They are a minority.  They don’t get to determine by themselves what the rules are.

Unfortunately, they’re not done trying, and the latest attempt is in effect a coup d’eta.  It’s really the only way they can get their way.  And they will, if you don’t show up to vote at the Town Meeting at Antolini School on July 11 at 7:00 pm.

These are the rules, developed by the Committee appointed by the Board of Selectmen to work with the Recreation Commission to resolve differences between the groups.  These are the rules in force now.    They replace the 1987 park rules that were obsolete and/or illegal.  These are the rules that the Friends want thrown out and replaced by theirs.  New Hartford Recreation_ Department Rules & Regulations

If every group who disagreed with the outcome of legal process for developing rules wrote their own, grabbed signatures and called a Town Meeting to change them, New Hartford would remain in a constant state of chaos.

Please vote down the chaos.