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SYRACUSE - All they said they want is a resolution.
Tuesday, attorney Robert Smith, representing the Rotary Club, said the club wants the council to approve a resolution regarding the operation of the Scout Cabin at Crosson Mill Park. He said the Rotarians operated the cabin for the last 50 years.
The cabin is deteriorating and the club has looked at other options. They considered joining the community center but believe they are unable to effectively pay for the costs. He said the park board told them they couldn't build a new cabin at the park and that the park board is going to take over the operations of the cabin.
"We kind of feel we had the rug pulled out from under us," Smith said.
Smith said the Rotary Club wants to continue to lease the cabin for a year with the possibility of extending the lease for another year if they're not out by the end of the first year. He said he understands there is a concern about the safety of the building.
Council president Bill Cutter said he read the correspondence between the park board and the Rotary Club. There is no written lease with the Rotary Club on the cabin, Cutter said, but no one on the council wants the Scouts thrown out. He said in 1989, the council relinquished the control of the parks to the park board so the Rotary Club needs to work out their problems with the park board.
"There's not much this town council can do for you, as I see it," said Cutter. He said the Scouts can use the cabin "as long as it's useable."
The park board, councilwoman Barbara Carwile said, was supposed to meet and make a decision on whether or not the Scouts could build a new cabin. "I've not heard anything," she said.
A decision was scheduled to be made at three separate times, park board president Bill Wight said, but each time it was delayed. The first time, the board didn't have a quorum. The second time, the Scouts asked for a delay. At last month's meeting, Wight said, they talked about it and took a vote, but were concerned about the condition of the cabin. A residential inspector thought there were real problems with the cabin. An engineering firm was then hired to look at the cabin further and their final report is due soon.
The park board took over management of the cabin, Wight said, to better help the organizations using it. He said they encourage the Scouts and seniors to continue to use it unless the engineer says it's not useable. He said if the cabin isn't useable, the park board is looking for other places for the Scouts and seniors to meet.
Cutter emphasized that as long as it's useable, the Scouts can use it. Also, he said, the Scout woods are not under the jurisdiction of the park board. If the Rotary Club wants to build there, they should buy that property. Smith said they are now working on acquiring the property with their foundation.
"Try to find a way to get together (with the park board)," said Cutter to Smith.
