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Benefit run in park on village fast track
(by Sue Reid - October 15, 2008)
Benefit run in park on village fast track
By SUE REID
A request from the Chagrin Falls Boosters to use South Russell Village Park for a benefit run on Thanksgiving Day generated debate Monday by South Russell Village Council.
Discussion centered on the need for additional police officers to help with traffic and the overtime that South Russell would pay.
A motion to allow Mayor Matthew E. Brett to hear a proposal from the boosters and, if appropriate, enter into an agreement with the organization, passed by a vote of 4-1. Voting in favor were Councilmen John Binder, William Koons, James Flaiz and Mark Porter. Opposing it was Councilwoman Mary Beth Wolfe.
"I support the boosters, but I would like to see a plan before I approve anything," Mrs. Wolfe said. "I think it's a little irresponsible for us to say yes to something when we don't know what it is," she said.
"I'm all about them doing what they can to raise money, but I would like to see a plan beforehand. Plus, on a holiday typically dedicated to families, I'm cognizant to ask the employees to work and then have the village be responsible for paying the overtime to those officers."
The village officers assigned would receive overtime pay, because it's a holiday, Mrs. Wolfe said. "That's an expense to the village."
Mr. Brett said that, from his conversation with boosters planning the event, it's an issue of timing. "If they were going to put this together, they need to advertise it and get it going," he said. "If this would be successful, they needed to get the word out." He said that waiting for council's next meeting at the end of the month "could jeopardize" their efforts.
"I think it's good to support it," Mr. Brett said of the Chagrin Falls Boosters run.
Village Solicitor David Ondrey recommended that, as is usual practice, the outside organization would sign an indemnification clause with South Russell, so the village would not be held liable in the event of any issues.
"If this is an ongoing, annual thing, we should put a process in place," Mr. Brett said. He noted that the village did not charge the Federated Church and "absorbed the cost" of officers working at past runs.
Mr. Brett said the motion is consistent with what the village has done in the past with regards to the Federated Church run, which went through South Russell.
"The bigger piece to this is to potentially have to close down a portion of Bell Road for a short time rather than the use of the park," Mr. Brett said.
Preliminary discussion centered on the idea of beginning a "turkey trot" or "fun run" at Gurney Elementary School on Bell Road and go through the village's park and back up to the school, he said. As an alternative, he offered to run the entire event within the park, he said.
Additional parking would be offered in Alderwood and Country Estates, he said. He said about 200 people were projected to participate.
Mr. Koons said that, depending upon weather conditions, running through the park could pose safety issues. "It could be a mess," he said of possible mud or snow.
Mr. Binder said it appears that procedural issues would fall upon the village's parks committee.
Mr. Brett said it's more of a village-based issue in that it involves the closure of a road and extra patrol officers.
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