Fairies & Fallacies: How Parkside’s Fantasy Walk Almost Didn’t Happen

Despite the heat, the Fairy Walk at the Parkside Woodlot was a fun, family friendly event and I enjoyed seeing the kids wearing their costumes, spotting fairies and gnomes hiding along the path, and enjoying some quickly melting Big Var’s water ice. Many Parkside residents don’t know this event almost didn’t happen. 

Background: 

Hoping to provide a free event for the Parkside kids who have missed out on a considerable amount of fun and socializing during the past year as the pandemic persisted, a small group of Parkside Dems contributed their own time and money to make this event happen (Shout out to Judy & Matt Saunders and Lisa Cocchiarale). Eleven days prior to the event, Judy Saunders contacted Rec Committee Chair Perry Sweigert to submit a permit application to use the Woodlot. After Councilman Sweigert gave the application to the borough secretary, he was contacted by Council President Shirley Purcival notifying him that no permit was needed, just liability insurance. Judy immediately contacted her insurance rep to secure the requested $1 million in liability insurance for the event, but was notified by Shirley two days later that she also had a form that Judy needed to fill out. This Facilities Use Agreement stated a $150 non-refundable rental fee as well as a $100 refundable deposit was required as well. 

Per Parkside Code Chapter 126, the Woodlot is designated a park for which a $15 permit fee for any gathering of five or more people is required, to be submitted at least 10 days prior to the event. It goes on to designate the Chairman of the Rec Committee or a person designated by the Rec Committee to issue the permit application at least six days prior to the event. 

Council Meeting: 

This issue begins at 19:00 of Part 3

Continues in Part 4

I emailed President Purcival asking her why this $15 permit fee was not applicable, and if she could point me to the right place in the ordinances where it required liability insurance and the other $250 in fees. Her explanation to me, which she reiterated during June’s council meeting, was that upon review of the Borough’s current insurance coverage, it was recommended to her that the borough require insurance for use of borough property as well, and that she had passed that recommendation on to the solicitor to prepare updated ordinances. 

1.         Why did President Purcival insert herself into the park permit approval process if the ordinances clearly state it is the responsibility of the Rec Committee Chair? Her response to me was that the ordinance identifies the Council President as an approver, but that is incorrect. 

2.            Where did the $250 in additional fees come from if they aren’t required by Parkside’s code, and the review of the ordinances that she recommended had not been completed, nor were they even written yet?

3.            Why did President Purcival find it necessary to circumvent the rest of council and impose her own rules outside of the ordinances for a free children’s event for the community? Given the cuts to the Parks & Rec budget for 2021 and the widespread cancellation of events over the last year due to the pandemic, my expectation is that the Council President would want to encourage free community events sponsored by community residents, not create barriers. 

4.            If President Purcival has been on council for decades, why doesn’t she know the ordinances? If she could not recall them at the moment, she should have said so instead of stating false information as fact. Much of the information she provided seemingly pertains to public use of the elementary school field, designated as a recreation center by the borough ordinance. 

5.            Although President Purcival agreed to waive the fee just before the council meeting, she threatened to pull the permit several times during public comment when questioned about her authority to impose her own fees. Instead of apologizing for her blatant abuse of power, President Purcival found it necessary to threaten cancellation of the event because I wasn’t acting grateful enough that she waived fees she had no right to impose in the first place.

6.            President Purcival and the solicitor cite Chapter 77 of the ordinances as providing authority to amend the fee schedule, but this clearly states a resolution passed by the council is required, and this was not done. After pointing this out, President Purcival again threatens to pull the permit. 

7.            It was repeatedly stated that the Woodlot is a hazard to public safety and requires significant investment to clear damaged and dying trees. Why has no money been allocated in Parkside’s budget to maintain this property? Borough engineer Lisa Catania states in the council meeting that unique events like the Fairy Walk will boost interest in grant applications she submits to secure funding for the Woodlot, so why is President Purcival going to such lengths to discourage public use of the Woodlot? 

8.            How do the other members of council feel about President Purcival creating and enforcing her own rules without a resolution? Councilman Sidlow was quickly silenced when he agreed with me. Councilman Long found questioning of her actions tarnished the event (I disagree, it was a great event) but apparently has no qualms with President Purcival’s actions. 

Council should be encouraging residents to organize community events to bring Parkside together, not actively working to make it harder. Would President Purcival have behaved the same way if a group of Parkside Republicans had organized this event? I can tell you that I would have, because no government official has the right to make up and enforce their own rules and I’m not going to let that slide, no matter what their political affiliation is. 

I know I’m not the only one who is tired of partisan bickering and bullying, and that is why I decided to run for borough council. I am committed to making this council work for the people of Parkside, regardless of the political party on their voter registration. The voters of Parkside have the opportunity this November to make a real difference and elect new leadership. We can put an end to the fighting and go back to being neighbors instead of political opponents. Vote for our future. Together. 

Other Municipal Ordinances

Brookhaven https://ecode360.com/36810166

15 or more people - $25 refundable deposit

Upland - No park permits are required. 

 Eddystone - https://ecode360.com/12351095

4 or more people - charges may be levied, determined by Recreation Board and approved by Council

 Ridley Park borough - https://ecode360.com/11596625

Permit fees & liability insurance amounts determined by Recreation Board

Middletown Township - https://ecode360.com/13258971

25 or more requires permit

Folcroft Borough - 25 or more requires permit

Media - https://mediaborough.com/community/community-center-parlor-room-rental

Renting community center or parlor room requires only $100K in insurance