Rec Center vandalism causes concern

By Derek Liebig

A group of residents expressed concerns about recent vandalism at the Rec Center playground at last Wednesday’s town board meeting.

Christina Sumner said she has seen damage to a fence, door and one of the swings over the last several weeks.

“There’s been a lot of vandalism at the park recently,” she told board members.

According to Supervisor Richard “Geezer” Gordon, there have several criminal acts at Recreation Center in recent weeks.

He said one person broke into the Recreation Center, tampering with the door in the process, a section of the softball fence was burned, two swings were damaged and two new basketball nets were also destroyed.

Town board member and Whitehall Police Sergeant Richard LaChapelle said the person who broke into the building has been caught and they are aware of the person who broke one of the swings.

Those in attendance would like to see those responsible right their wrong. Many thought the people who did it should be made to pay for their damages.

It was unclear if that would happen, but LaChapelle said the swings would be replaced and that access to the playground would be prohibited after hours.

Sumner also expressed displeasure with the condition of the picnic tables, saying they were in poor condition.

LaChapelle said he would look into whether the town owned some additional tables that could replace the ones at the park.

He also promised to sit down with Sumner and Recreation director Daniel Welch and discuss what else could be done, as well as the possibility of grants that could be pursued for the park.

In other news, Louis Pratt told the board he has received complaints from residents who claim water from the Troy Shirt Factory has been washing into their yards.

He said the water has been tested and found to be clean.

The board also passed a motion for Pratt to put in plastic and fill at the site when crews have the time to do so.

The project was capped at a $1,000.

The board also approved an agreement between the highway department and Washington County to mow several county roads located in Whitehall.

The highway department will receive a total of $6,619 in exchange for the mowing.