Residents of East Butler and surrounding neighborhoods came out Tuesday night to get an update on negotiations of the use of the ballfields.
The East Butler Baseball Association and the East Butler Borough Council failed to come to an agreement earlier this summer that left gates locked for fields causing outrage on social media.
Negotiations of a contract began earlier this summer, but shortly after an offer from the lawyer representing EBBA, the gates were locked. Councilwoman Traci Williams said that once lawyers were involved the lockout was imminent.
The East Butler Borough Council also cited concerns that the baseball association has not provided the borough with insurance information, coaches clearances, or receipts for some purchases.
During the negotiations, a counteroffer from EBBA called for control of the fields for 100 years, control of all current and future revenue, and control of all scheduling, which led to the lockout on August 7.
Also at stake is $30,000 over five years from sponsorships surrounding outfield signs. EBBA is a nonprofit so Juan Gonzalez, President of East Butler Baseball, cannot profit from the sponsors. According EBBA officials, that money goes towards field maintenance, uniforms, equipment, and more. EBBA contends that if Borough Council were to gain access to those funds they can be reinvested into any borough park.
For Gonzalez, the advertisers put their trust in EBBA not the Borough Council.
“I think the biggest thing is the council being able to take our advertising money. The [advertisers] put their trust in the East Butler Baseball Association. Every check is signed to baseball,” Gonzalez said.
Also, at the Tuesday special meeting Borough Council said they would not comment on the lockout directly to media outlets. But during public comment it was revealed negotiations were scheduled for earlier this summer but never happened. Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel made an attempt to schedule a meeting between Drew Mooney, a coach with EBBA and Councilwoman Traci Williams but ultimately Williams delayed the meeting, waiting to discuss the matter with council before meeting with EBBA.
There is currently no active negotiated schedule but both parties are open to negotiations. The EBBA Fall season started on the road after the lockout.
