Wendell approves fee waivers for Chamber banquet and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ community events

The Wendell Town Board voted to grant facility-fee waivers for two upcoming community events at the Wendell Community Center: the Wendell Chamber of Commerce banquet and the Dancing with the Stars fundraiser organized by the Belarusian ministry at Wakefield Central Baptist Church.

Staff said the Wendell Chamber banquet is scheduled for Jan. 23, with venue use from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and an expected attendance of about 140 people. Alcohol will be served; staff said that requires one police officer and one Parks and Recreation staff member. Staff listed non-waivable staffing fees of $715 and said the waived fees in the staff estimate total about $2,700. The Parks and Recreation Commission had voted in favor of the waiver at its December meeting. The board approved the waiver by voice vote.

For Dancing with the Stars (scheduled Feb. 22), staff said the event is open to the public with an expected attendance of about 500. No alcohol will be served, but the event size requires one police officer and two Parks and Recreation staff. Staff described non-waivable staffing, dumpster and cleanup fees in the packet (staff cited a non-waivable total of about $650) and noted that the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended the waiver. The board approved that waiver by voice vote as well.

Staff said required officer and staff costs remain payable; the fee waivers apply to the facility rental fees as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission. Event organizers were present for questions about logistics.