Lowell parks board approves $200 custodial overtime rate, tightens tournament permitting and enforcement

Lowell — The City of Lowell Board of Parks on Wednesday approved raising the custodial overtime charge to $200 per four-hour block and moved to require board-issued permits for all sports tournaments on city fields, voting to impose penalties for groups that fail to obtain required permits. Board members and parks staff debated how to apply a separate $200 trash fee for tournaments and how to split custodial or dumpster costs when multiple groups use the same complex. The board approved the overtime-rate change and a motion to require tournament permits; it also directed staff to continue working on fair fee allocation and credits on a case-by-case basis. The board’s action follows repeated complaints about overflowing dumpsters and late-night trash after multiday tournaments in heavily populated neighborhoods. Board member Peter (surname not specified in the transcript) described neighborhood complaints about garbage and rodents after weekend events and said organizers should either manage trash themselves or pay the city to collect it. Parks staff reported that some fields already have contractor-serviced dumpsters but that dumpsters are sometimes left unlocked and misused by nonparticipants. Parks staff said custodians are often required to work before and after events, turning a four-hour booked window into six paid hours because of setup and cleanup. The board voted to raise the custodial overtime charge to reflect those costs, and members said they expect to apply the new rate starting in January. The board also approved a requirement that all tournaments using City of Lowell fields obtain permits from the Board of Parks. The motion included a penalty framework: groups found hosting unpermitted tournaments could be assessed fees equal to the permit rate they would have been charged and face permit suspensions for up to one year. The board asked staff to prepare clearer written guidance and a list of known tournament organizers so enforcement can be targeted. Little Youth Baseball and Softball representative Matt Alash told the board he supports the change. “100% on board. I think it’s the right idea and the right way to go,” he said, adding that bona fide nonprofit qualifying events such as regional or state advancement tournaments should have a clear pathway for permits and fee waivers. Board members said they will continue to handle trash-fee waivers and custodial credits individually at permit time, and directed recreation staff to come back to the board next month with a draft policy that clarifies when organizers must provide dumpsters, how costs will be split among simultaneous users, and how previously paid fees will be credited. The board’s votes were taken by voice; the transcript records motions and “Aye” responses but no roll-call tally in the minutes. Background: Parks staff said lighting at some facilities is controlled remotely and that electricians are no longer required to be on site for every evening tournament. That service model factored into the board’s assessment of staff time and contractor costs. The board’s action affects tournaments and large multi-team events scheduled at city-owned complexes including LeBlanc, Shed, McPherson and others. Staff will notify permit applicants of new charges and return to the board with implementation language next month.