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Do you take these fees?
 Walkway weddingAlan Kelley and Keri Greenstein got married at the Hagopian Walk on July 7, 2007. Future couples may pay a fee to use the Capron Park site for their wedding.
Top Headlines City proposes charging couples for Capron Park weddings
ATTLEBORO - The marriage business is booming at Capron Park and the cash-strapped city is looking for a cut.Park commissioners want to charge fees to cover costs for work involved in providing parts of the park, such as the Hagopian Walk or the Rose Garden, for weddings they say are jamming the calendar. "It's nonstop," park administrative assistant Heather Uriot said of applications to reserve parts of the park for couples tying the knot. The beauty of the Hagopian Walk and Rose Garden are undoubtedly driving part of the surging number of nuptials at Capron, but the economy could be playing a role as well, Uriot told the park commission. "Because its free and the economy's bad, I think a lot of people have been using it," she said. The move comes as the city slashes budgets and work schedules to the bone. Most departments, including the park department are short-handed. And unpaid furloughs agreed to by all city employees to avoid layoffs are expected to worsen the problem when people take their time off, Parks Superintendent Sonny Almeida said. While each application to use the park includes a notation that donations are appreciated, only one happy couple out of dozens in recent memory has come up with some cash. "No one donates," Uriot told the commission. Chairman Hans Schaefer said fees are justified for the work of park employees, and because the events are not open to the public. "They're taking public property off the books for a time," he said of the private parties. Some ceremonies are extensive and involve hard use of the area, one commissioner said. Commissioner Tony Viveiros said one couple set up about 200 chairs on the lawn for a ceremony. Almeida said he aims to float the fee plan to Mayor Kevin Dumas today. The commission did not decide on a specific amount for a fee. Both the mayor and city council would have to approve the charges.
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s-plumb wrote on Jun 27, 2009 7:40 AM:
On the other hand if you are trying to mitigate an existing drain, analyze it down to the penny, and then determine the most effective solution. "
sunfan wrote on Jun 25, 2009 4:56 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Jun 22, 2009 4:09 PM:
Step 1) Define the problem. Typically this is backed up with time, wear, etc. and translated into $.
Step 2) Develop a "Problem Statement" based upon this initial analysis. As it stands the Problem Statement is..."?" Don't have one.
Step 5)Establish a "Mission Statement" Ex. Reduce "?" by x%
Step 10) Analysis will determine the cause of the problem "?"
Step 20)The team working on the issue focuses on removing the root cause, taking into account cost and physical restraints, thereby eliminating the problem, and reaching the stated "Mission Statement" (goal).
We are still stuck in step #1. Can't get past it without some value(s).
If we want to raise pennies, just do it. If we value very this we should be proud of that belief.
On the other hand, if there is a real issue, deal with it properly. "
s-plumb wrote on Jun 22, 2009 2:59 PM:
I like to keep the last vestage of home-town living we have left in Attleboro.
Look at the picture. This is the typical wedding in the garden; small, with very little fanfare. Why are they demonized as "non-contributors"? "
DawnANewDay wrote on Jun 22, 2009 2:01 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Jun 22, 2009 1:13 PM:
Let's play common sense: Don't make a headline out of a brainstorming session. That's all this was. Where is the money going to go, and how will it off-set the funds appropriated for park maintenance? Sure it's an idea, but only an idea, not a "headline"?
The park is maintained whether someone gets married there or not.
I've taken pictures for couples while at the park with my grand daughter. In fact, she and I, dressed in just shorts and a tee shirt have been included in their photos as a simple innocent memory. It's a community thing.
I've never encountered a "mess" when these folks leave. Perhaps we should shift our thinking, and not attempt to gouge pennies out of every person who steps into town. I still believe the paper owes the couple in this picture a huge apology. "
DawnANewDay wrote on Jun 22, 2009 11:49 AM:
resources to clean up after any group use. There is trash to pick up (even when groups are told to clean up after them self's), there is grounds to be rakes and repaired if chairs or tents disturbed the area, and of course the regular on-going maintenance to areas that have heavy use. In the past, I
have drove by and seen large pop-up tents, large bouncy blow-ups for the kids to play, up to 100 chairs set up for a wedding/events and many tables with food and drink. I was even told recently that Capron Park is now listed on some wedding online sites of "great local place for a cheap wedding". I'm thrilled to see the Park used, but when a public area is put aside for private use, I believe it is appropriate to request a reasonable fee to be paid for the use. I hope the City can also offer assistance when the fee is a hardship although I believe that a donation of $75 to $150 for a wedding location is a great deal when someone looks at the alternatives. " "
s-plumb wrote on Jun 20, 2009 12:59 PM:
saywhat wrote on Jun 20, 2009 10:44 AM:
saywhat wrote on Jun 20, 2009 10:30 AM:
s-plumb wrote on Jun 19, 2009 3:43 PM:
" I agree there should be fee's. Attleboro resident's should be charged lower fee's than out of towner's!This should be put out for further discussion. Even perhaps getting this into the budget for 2010? It's time to charge out of towner's a fee to use the charm of the park... It's done at the zoo.....Wake up! " "
s-plumb wrote on Jun 19, 2009 3:42 PM:
" I am surprised to hear that the city doesn't already charge a fee to use the area for wedding ceremonies. Being recently married, most venues and country clubs charge a "ceremony fee" in addition to paying a person person cost for dinner and even a room rental fee. The city could easily make at least $500 per wedding ceremony!! Or they could just charge a smaller application fee. I believe that is what is done for the Jamestown Cliffs in RI. "
s-plumb wrote on Jun 19, 2009 3:15 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Jun 19, 2009 4:40 AM:
I understand you may have stayed at a Holiday Inn, but that's about it. "
sunnie13 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:23 PM:
Edmund.Dantes wrote on Jun 18, 2009 8:41 PM:
There would be no discussion here if the article had been about a film company renting the park for a Hollywood film shoot, but get a wedding involved and it becomes a "freedom" issue. And before anyone points out the dichotomy between a for-profit Hollywood film shoot and wedding, let me remind you that, for all of the romantic trappings of most (but not all) weddings, there is as much of a financial element to weddings (wedding planners, caterers, singers/musicians, florists, wedding gifts) as there is to a for-profit film. So let's ditch the sanctimony and just focus on the real world issues, shall we? "
downtownresident wrote on Jun 18, 2009 5:47 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Jun 18, 2009 4:01 PM:
Happy Anniversary! "
s-plumb wrote on Jun 18, 2009 3:52 PM:
susan wrote on Jun 18, 2009 3:25 PM:
We had an outing at the Park every June
No one charged us -- all 400 of us we
trampled over the lawns all day long.
I believe our TAX DOLLARS cover the
maintenance of the Park -- Tell the Park Commissioners to take a hike
Attleboro Residents should be allowed full use of the park The land was donated for this very reason
Do any of you remember 4th of July in
Attleboro about 40 years ago. Games were played all afternoon followed by
a firework display Did you charge??
No No we did not, not even to people who
were non residents Think about the
maintenace back then when seven or eight
thousand people were in that park on the same day. Times were tougher then
than they are now but no one was charged
not even to swim in the old pool at the
park. How much do we have to give up
in the name of a budget. Let the average resident sit down with that budget and a red pen we'll find plenty of extra cash. "
susan wrote on Jun 18, 2009 3:16 PM:
Who knows maybe the benefactor had only weddings in mind
What's next setting up shop at the 95 ramps and charging fees for all RI vehicles??? Be glad people are still getting married!!!!!! "
chiman1111 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 2:55 PM:
You wouldnt "need" to count. A certificate could be obtained by going to City Hall and you could have a generalized number to go by. exa-2/10 guests x amount $ 11/20, 20/40 etc. Its not that difficult to make happen. No need for big brother to step in and count heads. But to apply at City Hall with a gen. count could work "
s-plumb wrote on Jun 18, 2009 2:52 PM:
Were you there when the plot of land was dedicated? Did you even know Jack?Slow news day I guess. "
kevin h. wrote on Jun 18, 2009 2:29 PM:
Edmund.Dantes wrote on Jun 18, 2009 2:08 PM:
A wedding is use of facilities above and beyond standard uses, many times with a far larger and more concentrated body of people than the aforementioned Frisbee game. Since it's usually held in a "pretty" location of the park rather than a playing field, it intensifies the use of that area of the park, potentially requiring extra care and maintenance. That's why I don't see a fee such as this being out of bounds. "
Edmund.Dantes wrote on Jun 18, 2009 1:53 PM:
common sense coordinator wrote on Jun 18, 2009 1:40 PM:
s-plumb wrote on Jun 18, 2009 1:00 PM:
If we use the sidewalks to walk on, will there be a fee for this now? Wake up! Young couples have used the rose garden for wedding pictures for as long as I've been around. There should be a donation, for a ceremony, but a mandated fee is ridiculous. "
terry bosh wrote on Jun 18, 2009 12:44 PM:
usafvet wrote on Jun 18, 2009 12:42 PM:
mmarcia wrote on Jun 18, 2009 11:54 AM:
realist: So you create pathways for people, and tell them to clean up after themselves. Rice is bio-degradable, and so is some confetti.
bridalwishes: wear and tear on the grounds should be reimbursed, but it's easy to ignore a bill after the fact, especially if the couple lives out of Attleboro.
chiman1111: good answer! Make the fee based on the number in attendance. But then you'd need someone from the City there to count...
hardhearted: I've gotta ask... Was he like Elvis? ;-) "
s-plumb wrote on Jun 18, 2009 11:51 AM:
hardhearted wrote on Jun 18, 2009 11:23 AM:
chiman1111 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 11:09 AM:
bridalwishes wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:58 AM:
realist wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:48 AM:
snooker wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:36 AM:
Edmund.Dantes wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:32 AM:
mmarcia wrote on Jun 18, 2009 10:06 AM:
baldone66 wrote on Jun 18, 2009 9:40 AM:
s-plumb wrote on Jun 18, 2009 8:18 AM:
I have no way of knowing where this story resides in the pay-for version, but it certainly isn't "Headline News".
To the couple: Nice picture, and congratulations :) "
kevin h. wrote on Jun 18, 2009 7:47 AM:
harry hindsight wrote on Jun 18, 2009 7:21 AM: