Parks Board Rejects Natatorium Membership Rate Changes

On Thursday night, the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board voted 3-2 against a motion raised by chairman Tim Gorbach to change the membership rates that apply to married couples.

If the motion had passed, the current "w/spouse" rate would have changed to the "w/partner" rate, which would have opened the memberships up to "two persons that are legally married, or are domestic partners, or are in a civil union as recognized by any U.S. jurisdiciton," said Gorbach. 

According to the Natatorium's current rate structure, the w/spouse rate applies to couples who have been legally married under the State of Ohio constitution. Such couples are afforded a yearly membership discount of $255 versus those who hold individual memberships. 

Despite tonight's decision, Cuyahoga Falls Ward 5 City Councilwoman Diana Colavecchio said during the public comment portion of the meeting that the council will soon decide whether or not to go with the parks board decision or to "usurp" its authority and redraw the fitness center's rate structure.  

Board members Lorrie Shannon, Dick Sebastian and Debbie Ritzinger voted against Gorbach's motion; board member Bill Santos voted for it. 

The issue of whether or not to change the rate structure was raised by when he and his husband, Coty May, were recently told by Natatorium staff that they were not eligible for the w/spouse discount because their marriage wasn't recognized in Ohio. 

What do you think of the decision? Did the Parks and Recreation Board make the right choice?