Burke revisits party rules
By James Cullum
Burke residents have had enough. The fighting matches in parking lots, the screaming at residents and public urination. Some say the parties and noise have been too long unsupervised, and many feel that the five community centers need stricter rules and the means of enforcing them.It costs more than $35,000 a year to run one of the Burke Centre community centers. Income last year from facility rentals was almost $160,000.
There have been no substantive changes in the rules and regulations for the community centers since 1986, when the rules were first adopted.
Alcohol has always been permitted in the centers as has music, but since Burke Centre does not employ a security guard, it has fallen to residents to police situations when they get too rowdy.
“When you drive home and you can feel the vibrations of the bass, that's loud,” said Ponds resident Kathy Schaurre.
Since the rules and regulations have gone so long unchecked, the board of trustees voted last week to create a task force to revamp community center policies for the 21st century.
The deadline for the recommendations of the task force to the board of trustees is June 30, just in time for the reopening of the Woods Community Center, the biggest of all the centers.
The reopening makes residents like John Brennan nervous.
Brennan lives an estimated 40 yards from the Woods Community Center and gathered 72 signatures in two days from neighbors who have liked the silence since the center was closed for repairs two years ago.
“When teenagers sneak in with alcohol late at night, we hear everything,” Brennan said at the monthly board of trustees meeting.
“I have to go to the caterers in three weeks. I promise you the noise will not happen,” said a nervous Linda Horn, who plans to get married on Oct. 4 in the Woods Community Center.
Horn was assured at the meeting that whatever decisions the board comes to regarding noise pollution, her wedding will be grandfathered in and she will be able to celebrate as planned.
“Maybe it's time there is a paid person to monitor parties,” said Burke Centre Executive Director Patrick Gloyd.
Also to be revisited will be the hours when alcohol can be served. The cutoff point is currently 1 a.m.