It’s not spring if there isn’t another controversy about the use of field at Hamilton Avenue School for the St. Roch’s Church Feast.
The dates the church seeks use of the field and parking deck for the 2024 feast are Aug 21-24, which leaves only Sunday, Aug 25 for any necessary clean up. The first day for teachers is Monday, Aug 26.
“I didn’t expect this tonight because they did call us, and we said, ‘Absolutely not, you would be clearing out stuff a day before all of our staff are back, and if you look back over the last two years we’ve still had cleanup to do.” – Dr. Toni Jones, Greenwich Schools Superintendent, at April 25, 2024 BOE meeting
Last year the event was held earlier, running Aug 9 to 12.
The four night long event has a century long tradition, but was interrupted for 17 years during which the school was rebuilt.
A 2009 letter from then Greenwich Schools superintendent Betty Sternberg said the geothermal system precluded the use of the field for any other use than standard school PE and playground use.
During many of the years the feast didn’t have access to the school grounds the feast was held on church property, including an undeveloped parcel they own across Hamilton Avenue at the corner of Stone Ave. In 2017, for example, that field accommodated the Scrambler ride and Giant Slide.
The Scrambler set up on the lawn at the corner of Stone Ave and Hamilton Ave in 2017 St Roch Feast
In 2022 Parks & Rec declined to issue a permit for the feast to use the school’s field for the amusements and carnival rides. At the time, the director of Parks & Rec, who maintains the town’s fields, also cautioned against it because the field had recently been renovated at a cost of about $460,000 and grass was still getting established.
His decision was appealed to the Board of Education who were split down party lines, with Republican members in favor. Ultimately, the BOE voted to approve the church’s use of the field, with four Republicans voted in favor, two Democrats voted against and two abstaining, a de facto approval.
After the 2022 event, there was extensive damage to the field, a small oil spill, and damage to the basketball court where rest room facilities had been located.
Organizers did a lot of work to repair the field. The oil spill was remediated.
Then, in 2023, board member Karen Kowalski presented a motion to approve use of the school field, parking deck and garage.
The proposed dates were August 9-12, with access beginning Aug 5.
There was lengthy discussion about possible conditions of approval, including protecting the refurbished basketball court and the issue of alcohol on school grounds.
Meeting materials included a letter from the church pastor Carl McIntosh saying they would contract with a security company, Dark Horse Protection, to enforce internal protocol “and the Board of Education’s policy that no alcohol be allowed on school property.”
A motion from Karen Kowalki to approve the field use passed 7-0 with Christina Downey abstaining.
Then came the feast, memorable for the alcohol sold on Church property that was carried across the roadway to school property.
Subsequently, the town risk manager wrote to GFP:
“Alcohol is not allowed on school property and was not permitted by my office, Parks and Rec or the BOE who issued permits and insurance requirements.”
“Perhaps a discussion needs to be had with St. Roch’s next year before their event to reorganize things to ensure no alcohol is served or consumed on school property. If the situation is not improved, then the Town may decide to not allow alcohol to be served at the event at all.”
April 25, 2024 BOE meeting
The BOE argued extensively at their April 25 meeting about the dates requested by the church for use of the school field, parking deck and garage.
BOE Chair Karen Kowalski noted that in August 2025 the school grounds will not be available for use given the garage is slated for repairs.
What’s different in 2024?
The requested dates are at the end of August rather than the middle of the month.
Karen Kowalski and Karen Hirsh had a lengthy exchange about the proposed dates.
Kowalski noted the dates of the feast were inaccurate in the submitted meeting materials, and the request was for use actually Aug 21-25, a week later than typically requested.
Vice chair Karen Hirsh said those dates had already been deemed too close to the start of the school year, and that the dates on the paperwork said Aug 7-10.
At that point schools superintendent Dr. Toni Jones piped in.
“I didn’t expect this tonight because they did call us, and we said, ‘Absolutely not, you would be clearing out stuff a day before all of our staff are back, and if you look back over the last two years we’ve still had cleanup to do,” Jones said.
“We had to bring in a truck to clean up oil the year before last. The parking lot will be full of teachers and underneath (garage) will be full of teachers,” Jones said. “It’s really not fair for our staff to expect to have things ready and clean for our staff to show up on Monday.”
Further, she said, “We have a lot of transitional activities. We have children and parents who will be enrolling, especially in this particular school”
“The other thing about this carnival is it does take the parking lot and the actual field itself. It is not like North Mianus where the field is double or triple the size,” Jones said. “I think it is unfair to staff to do it the day before all of our teachers report, in a very compact building that will definitely have families coming in to enroll.”
“My understanding is it would be all cleaned up on Sunday, in time for teachers to show up Monday morning,” Kowalski said.
Temporary HVAC set up outside Hamilton Avenue School. Apirl 28, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
She said Western Middle School was making do with construction vehicles on their grounds, and Hamilton Ave was already making do having “the beast” for temporary HVAC parked on the side of the building.
Hirsh said the paperwork submitted to the town had the earlier set of dates, and that in February the feast representatives were told that the later set of dates was too close to the start of school.
“Why can’t we do it a week earlier,” Kathleen Stowe asked.
Ms Kowalski said her understanding was that it was an issue with the availability of the vendor.
Hirsh said initially there was a proposal to use the field after school started and they were asked to come back with a different date.
Kowalski insisted the cleanup would be completed on Sunday, and did not understand the difference between St Roch’s feast at Hamilton Ave and the two other schools with carnivals on school grounds.
“I’m really struggling with the exception to that,” Kowalski said.
“For some of these children this is the only festival or carnival they get to go to,” Wendy Vizzo Walsh said.
Ms Hirsh repeated what BOE staff had said at the February meeting, which was that the feast committee was asked to propose different dates.
Laura Kostin said she was not comfortable with the proposed dates despite her family being “die hard attendees.”
“Those dates are problematic,” she said. “I’d be supportive of them finding another date.”
“I think we should send this to the RTM to vote on,” Kostin said.
“I will withdraw the motion,” Kowalski said.
The following morning, during the First Selectman’s Friday “Ask the First” radio show on WGCH 1490 AM Paul Cappiali called in and pointed fingers at Democrats.
“For the third year in a row, all the Democrats vehemently opposed the church’s request to have the carnival. Last night’s discussion was on a particular date. It seems to all have been generated by Ms Hirsh who seems to have single-handedly decided the church could not have the carnival on the dates they had chosen.”
“When did this carnival become an anti Democratic party talking point?” Cappiali asked.
Camillo spoke fondly of the feast and the church, and said, “Unfortunately some people beyond the BOE have made this political. I’ve seen some of the usual characters going on social media because they have nothing better to do.”
“This is an area of town where – these children don’t get to go to the Hamptons every weekend, and don’t fly to Vermont to go skiing,” Cappiali said. “This is for the children. The church opens up the carnival four hours early for the students of Hamilton Ave School, and invites all the different children-based charities in town to come and enjoy the event for free.”
“Last year the church made very little money on the feast itself because of the things they do for the community,” he added. “This is a community event. The PTA at Hamilton Avenue can’t afford to put on an event like North Mianus or Cos Cob and relies on the church to do this.”
Cappiali confirmed the requested dates were Wednesday, Aug 21 through Saturday, Aug 24.
The first day for teachers is Monday, Aug 26.
Cappiali said all the rides would be immediately removed at the close of the feast.
“The potential for there to be some sweeping up of pizza fritte plates on Monday morning when the teachers arrive is all of a sudden a major issue,” Cappiali said.
Camillo said he would set up a group email about the question on dates for the event.
“Maybe emailing the full BOE and superintendent would be helpful,” Camillo said. “They could see the facts and see clearly it’s not during the school year.”
Stay tuned.