PBAA Board Set to Fight for Field Rights

The Plum Borough Athletic Association plans to seek an injunction in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court in an effort to maintain a lease for ballfields with Plum Borough.

Officers for the PBAA were notified in a letter dated Sept. 15—sent by borough solicitor Bruce Dice—that to eight ballfields along Ross Hollow Road. The letter cited several permit violations.

The athletic association, which leased the fields for $1 a year, has until Oct. 15 to remove all of its property from the ballfields.

On Thursday night, about 75 people showed support for the PBAA during a meeting at the ballfields' main concession stand, and they're prepared to fight for field rights.

Paul Dern, a former Plum councilman and the PBAA's liaison with the borough, said he's had some communication with borough officials. He said he hopes the two entities can come to an agreement.

"We're going to try to get something set up," he said. "I don't know if it's too late for us to all sit down, but I'm going to try.

"I don't know what's going to happen, but hopefully we can keep things moving forward in the right direction."

Some people in attendance said it would be beneficial to have a meeting with PBAA and borough officials because there's a lot of contradicting information going around.

"People are confused," one man said.

Those in attendance said they are concerned that borough council will take over the organization and the cost to play in the association will go up. They also are concerned that the cost to maintain the fields and the association will fall on the taxpayers.

Councilman Mike Doyle has said that while there has been some consideration to hire a parks director to oversee all sports organizations, it's only an option right now. He also has said council has no intention to take over the association.

Some of PBAA's violations noted in the letter are the construction of two sheds on two separate occasions, a batter's cage and a paved walking trail without borough permission or proper permits. The reconstruction of one of the baseball field dugouts without permission also was included.
   
Jim McGrath, secretary of the PBAA board, said he didn't know it was necessary to obtain a permit for reconstructing something that already was there.

He said the PBAA board met with borough officials last October to discuss provisions for a new permit, and violations never were mentioned during that meeting.

Attorney Rolf Patberg will be working with the PBAA on the matter, McGrath said.

PBAA board member Rich Donatelli said everyone was "blindsided" by the whole issue. He said it's a personal agenda against some board members of the PBAA.

"I'll be the first to say not everyone here gets along, but we have to stick together," he said. "The parents and the kids are the backbone of this association."

More than 1,000 children play baseball and softball with the athletic association. The fall ball season is ending in October, and the next season resumes in the spring.

Ryan Auth said if the final decision isn't in favor of the PBAA, his children won't play ball in Plum.

Several others echoed his sentiments.

"If we don't all stay together, we're not going to play ball here," Auth said.

PBAA officers are trying to rally support to attend the Oct. 10 Plum Council meeting at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held in council chambers at the .