‘Teeth’ added to park board pacts

COLUMBUS -- To increase compliance of contract stipulations and enhance transparency of operations, the Columbus Park Board was presented with draft agreements for various organizations Tuesday.

Following inconsistent fulfillment of responsibilities contractually required by sports organizations, the park board requested new agreements be constructed to include “teeth” to either ensure compliance or revoke park privileges for organizations that don’t comply.

Although the new contracts are very similar to those currently in effect, some major revisions include submission of a complete, detailed financial report, a list of annual project proposals, a list of the current board members and at least one contact person for the group and presentation of a certificate of $1 million in liability insurance by March 1.

The contracts also state if those provisions are not fulfilled, the respective organization will not have the city’s permission to use the facility. The contracts do not automatically renew each year, requiring annual authorization by both the city and organization.

After reviewing the contracts, Tom Hunt, board chairman, requested the contracts be amended to make sure the written financial reports be submitted by either the chairperson or a designated board member by the month determined by the park board.

Mark Kudron, property superintendent for the city, said the finalized agreements will be presented to the board in January and, following the board’s approval, they will be distributed to the organizations for approval.

Kudron said the expectation is for the agreements to be signed and returned to the city in time for the City Council to approve the contracts by its first meeting in March.

Hunt said the park board is not trying to create hurdles for these organizations, which primarily consist of volunteers, but to increase awareness that the contracts exist and to develop a positive working relationship between the park board, the city and these sports groups.

“We want better communication,” he said.