Chapter 12.24 – PUBLIC PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND SIMILAR CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES
24.010 – Restriction on use of parks, playgrounds and other developed city-owned property.
No public park, stadium, playground or other developed city-owned property shall be used for the exhibition of traveling carnivals or like productions, except the practice field at the Veterans Memorial Stadium may be used for a carnival to benefit Lawrence Veterans Memorial Stadium, Inc., with the proceeds to be used to pay for stadium renovations; nor shall any person or fraternal organization or society be permitted to use any public park, stadium, playground or other developed city-owned property to conduct any amusement or entertainment thereon at which games of chance or gambling in any form shall be a part of such amusement or entertainment; nor shall games of chance or gambling be permitted in or upon any public park, stadium, playground or other developed city-owned property under any form or pretext whatsoever.
24.020 – Use of properties for purpose of civic or public nature.
The director of the department of public works of the city may, at his or her discretion, permit the use of any public park, playground or other developed city-owned property by persons, fraternal organizations and societies of the city for any legitimate purpose of a civic or public nature, including the conduct of athletic exhibitions or games, theatrical exhibitions and productions, and other amusement or entertainment purposes upon such terms and conditions as he or she may impose with the advice and consent of the city council, subject, however, to the exclusions contained in section 12.24.010.
For decades, the Campagnone Common has been the site for all kinds of celebrations, all of them with the blessing of city officials and the City Council. It was a week ago that we found out that it has been a violation of the City Charter, as you can see in Chapter 12.24 – PUBLIC PARKS, PLAYGROUNDS AND SIMILAR CITY-OWNED PROPERTIES.
That rule was later softened by an ordinance from the City Council 12.24.020 – Use of properties for purpose of civic or public nature which allows for certain uses of the parks at the discretion of the Department of Public Works director and “subject, however, to the exclusions contained in section 12.24.010.”
This is the confusing part because the original prohibitions (games of chance or gambling in any form shall be a part of such amusement or entertainment…) remain in place. So, what is it?
City Council has approved the activities of Hispanic Week through the years, including the amusement portion, but it was only brought to our attention when it was decided to hold it at the O’Connell Park in South Lawrence.
Please take the time to read these City Charter Chapters and notice that it has been suggested that this is a “travelling carnival” which Hispanic Week is not as intended by Section 12.24.010. This is more akin to the explanation given on the Ordinance 12.24.020 being a “fraternal organizations and societies of the city for any legitimate purpose of a civic or public nature. Hispanic Week celebrates the Hispanic heritage and culture.
I am unapologetic about insisting in doing things by the City Charter and that rules should be equal for everybody. I am glad District F Councilor Marc Laplante brought it to light to educate us all but, why now? Because it pertains to his district?
This controversy has created animosity on both sides of the river but we must remember that O’Connell Park is not exclusively for the use of South Lawrence residents. They believe that they should have been told that a three-day festival would be held in their neighborhood but this is one time that conditions required a rapid change of location since the repairs on the Campagnone Common have not been completed.
Had the North Common been ready, we never would have learned that these celebrations are in violation of the City Charter. How convenient to embrace the law to suit their purpose! The South Lawrence residents and their councilor should come to terms that this is a united city for the benefit of all – even if a few distract us from achieving it.
Rather than explaining the situation to appease his constituents asking them to be more conciliatory, Councilor Laplante arouses them to the point of suggesting suing the City Council. He alleges that the Open Meeting Law was violated when the site for such event was changed at the April 7 Ordinance Committee Meeting because it did not give the opportunity to area residents to express their views on the matter. True, but it is not the first time similar changes have been made and then brought before the full council for approval without hesitation. It was DPW’s suggestion to choose another park given the unfinished nature of the Campagnone Common.
Council President Modesto Maldonado said appearing on CrossOver last Saturday, that the purpose of the department signatures is not a requirement but protocol to make sure that everyone knows what they are doing and make suggestions in case of necessary changes. The system worked the way it is supposed to work!
One concern for area residents is the parking situation. The Council President explained that members of Hispanic Week visited the area businesses and received total agreement for the use of their parking facilities thus creating 580 spaces available for visitors.
Let’s hope that Campagnone Common will be ready for the June festivities. I would suggest to the organizers to go before the council at their next meeting requesting the approval of the O’Connell Park as a substitute location in the event that it is not completed.
Am I boycotting the mayor?
We pride ourselves in being available to publicize any community events free of charge but it is getting tiresome being asked why we don’t announce many of the activities sponsored by the mayor’s office.
In the past 3 or 4 days, I have received via third parties, flyers about events taking place this weekend – things that should have been included in our April 22nd edition.
I have spoken to Mayor Rivera twice about Wendy Luzon and her neglect communicating community-related news or events initiated by his office. He promised he would talk to her to no avail.
I know where she’s coming from. When she was appointed to that position I said that it was appalling that he replaced a very qualified person to grant a political favor with someone who is a long way from being competent. Time proved me right: The Community Development Department had to make changes to adapt to her ignorance of the job distributing her duties among others and today she is just a “gofer” for the mayor’s office.
She doesn’t have to like me or Rumbo but she has to do her job when it comes to sending out emails to community contacts.
A message to Mayor Rivera: Rumbo always responds to your calls.
Councilors received tablets
Finally, the Lawrence City Council is moving into the 21st Century!
Back in 2010, right after Council President Modesto Maldonado was elected councilor, he proposed using funding from the Information Technology Department to purchase tablets for all councilors.
Soon after taking over the new council, everything became a turmoil which resulted in the administrators of that department quitting unexpectedly, several employees getting fired, the FBI getting involved in a long investigation which ended up with the director Bryan Cahoon going to jail. Needless to say that everything came to a halt and no money could be freely spent from that department.
He explained at that time that it could save an enormous amount of trees with all the photocopying that goes on in preparation for each council meeting and also plenty of work for Lillian Michaud who has to copy and collate them.
Most important is the ability to connect from the council chambers to any city department to clarify a problem, look for a document or research any issue, saving time and providing accuracy.
