Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Center Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council sets $800 cap for nonprofit community-center bookings, removes separate liquor permit carve-out
Summary
Bethel Park council adopted a temporary policy allowing registered borough nonprofits to book the community center for fundraisers for a fee not to exceed $800; councilmembers voted to remove language excluding liquor-license fees so the $800 cap covers alcohol permits for qualifying events.
The Bethel Park Municipal Council on July 13 adopted a temporary policy allowing registered Bethel Park nonprofits to book the community center for fundraising events for a fee not to exceed $800 for reservations made by Aug. 1, 2026.
Councilmember Garris introduced the policy language. Councilmember Jenkins moved to amend the motion to remove the sentence that would have excluded liquor-license fees from the $800 cap so that the single $800 fee would cover associated liquor permits; the amendment passed 9–0 on roll call. The amended motion then passed 9–0.
During public comment, Sandy Dimas urged caution, saying the $800 figure could still leave groups with out-of-pocket costs. Dimas noted that at a March event she paid $546 for three rooms, stage, kitchen, three alcohol permits and two hours overtime, and warned that the earlier draft language would have required groups to pay additional liquor-permit fees. "If this motion passes, then we're gonna have to pay $950," Dimas said, describing how separate liquor fees would increase overall cost if not included in the cap.
The council did not record additional administrative detail on how the $800 cap will be applied across room types or overtime charges; staff follow-up to clarify fee implementation and any reporting requirements was not specified at the meeting.
