SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The borough council expressed concerns at its Wednesday meeting about the latest steps by The Island Committee.
Mayor Mike Devlin, who is also on the Island Committee, told the council about the latest effort by the approximate 20-member group to do a study on the suitability of locations on The Island off Fritz Reed Avenue for an amphitheater.
“The study is quite extensive,” he said, adding the group has the funds to for the study but not enough to construct the amphitheater.
The committee wants the approval of the council on the locations and agreeing to an amphitheater before spending the $16,000 on a study, which will survey the area, conduct a hydrologic and hydraulic evaluation and other information.
Council member Kurt Montz, who is on the recreation board, had lots of questions.
“The rec board has a lot of concern. Is the amphitheater even the right choice?” Montz said.
He questioned who would do the maintenance on the property, if it would even be a big enough venue for a big-name act to attend and who would be responsible for the amphitheater.
“The rec board is by no means against building the amphitheater,” he said.
Devlin said the committee would continue to raise funds for the upkeep of the amphitheater once constructed.
Montz said if the recreation department were to have the responsibility it would be an added stress on them.
Council President Marlin Berger Jr. asked B.J. Folk, recreation manager, if adding the amphitheater would increase the workload for the recreation department.
“Any time you add an amenity, it is going to require more maintenance,” Folk said.
Montz said he was not comfortable making a decision on the suitability of the location for an amphitheater. He said the unknowns associated with the structure, not the cost, are the issue.
“It’s the future that costs the borough,” he said.
Berger agreed.
“It seems we have too many unanswered questions here,” Berger said.
A property committee meeting will be held 5 p.m. April 14 at the neighborhood center, 340 Haven St., before and Island Committee meeting to discuss the questions raised at the council meeting. People from the recreation board, and a couple from The Island Committee will attend the meeting.
B.J. Evans, chairman of the Island Committee, said Friday it is not the intention to abolish the Island Committee once the amphitheater is built. He said they will continue to raise money.
“The Island Committee has always contributed to the maintenance of everything on The Island,” Evans said.