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Local AARP chapter asks board to waive $3,240 cafeteria fee for recurring monthly meetings
Summary
Representatives of the Pleasantville chapter of AARP asked the board to waive a $3,240 usage fee for the school cafeteria. The chapter says it has used the cafeteria for 8 to 10 years and is a nonprofit with limited funds.
Saundra (Saundra/Sandy) Thompson, speaking on behalf of the Pleasantville chapter of AARP, asked the board to waive a $3,240 fee for use of the school cafeteria. Thompson said the chapter meets once a month, September through June, from about 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and that before the pandemic the group had used the cafeteria for about eight to ten years without being billed.
"We were sent a bill for $3,240 and we've never paid anything. I sent you have a copy of our history. We're nonprofit. We don't have any money to pay this bill," Thompson said, requesting the fee be waived for the coming season.
Why it matters: community organizations using school facilities frequently request fee waivers; the decision affects district facilities revenue and community access for older adults.
Background and details: Thompson said the group returned to use the cafeteria this past year after two years of not being allowed to use school facilities during the COVID-19 period. She said the chapter meets monthly for two and a half to three hours and asked the board to consider a waiver on the basis of the chapter's nonprofit status and long history of using the facility.
Next steps: Thompson said she had provided documentation of the chapter's history; the public-comment record shows staff said someone would reach out to her following the comment. There was no recorded board vote on the waiver during the meeting.
