Parks Board Makes Final Ruling on Natatorium Rates

The Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board voted down two motions, 3-2, that were aimed at making the "w/spouse" rate more inclusive.

In a controversial move, the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board voted down two motions, 3-2, at its meeting on Thursday night to uphold the Natatorium's "w/spouse" membership rate. The motions were based on a “Memorandum of Understanding” drawn up by Cuyahoga Falls Council members Diana Colavecchio and Terry Mader and Broadman Baptist Pastors Chris McCombs and Rick Mangrum.   The memo was viewed as a compromise measure since Mader, Mangrum and McCombs had previously opposed any change to the spousal rate. The motions aimed to reword w/spouse to "w/spouse or second adult," said board chairman Tim Gorbach. The amended language would have allowed for any two adults living in the same local household to receive a discount, he said. …

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Mike Penta

1:29 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012

Chris, I actually disagree with the statement "the process...is something everyone in our community should applaud." Certainly you, Diana, and others worked very hard to find common ground and propose a workable solution. The problem is the Park Board didn't accept it.   more ›

Parks Board Rejects Change to Natatorium Rates

The Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board rejected two motions by chairman Tim Gorbach to open up the gym's "w/spouse" membership.

In a controversial move, the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board voted down two motions at its meeting on Thursday night to uphold the Natatorium's "w/spouse" membership rate. Under the Nat's existing rate structure, the w/spouse rate applies only to heterosexual couples who hold marriage licenses recognized by the Ohio Constitution. Such couples are afforded a yearly membership discount of $260 versus those who hold individual memberships. The motions called for changing w/spouse to "w/spouse or second adult," said board chairman Tim Gorbach. The amended language would have allowed for any two adults living in the same local household to receive the discount. Board members Lorrie Shannon, Dick Sebastian and Debbie Ritzinger voted …

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John McMillan

10:19 am on Saturday, June 23, 2012

Did you not read this part of the article? "Cuyahoga Falls Law Director Paul Janis and Parks and Recreation Superintendent Bill Lohan each described the current rate as "discriminatory" since other gym memberships don't carry the same kind of restrictions." They wanted to change the wording from "spouse" to "spouse or second adult." There was NO suggestion of debate on the oh-so-holy "definition …   more ›

Will It Stay or Will It Go? Parks Board Making Final Call on Future of Nat Rate Structure

Over the last several months, the Nat's rates have come under fire by those who say its "w/spouse" memberships are overly restrictive.

It's time. This Thursday, all eyes will be on the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board when it makes a final ruling on whether or not to change the Natatorium's controversial rate structure. Chairman Tim Gorbach arrived at the next and final step following a report by Parks and Recreation Superintendent Bill Lohan and an address by Falls City Councilwoman Diana Colavecchio that were each delivered publicly at April’s parks board meeting. Lohan based his report on a late-March, closed-door work session he had with Colavecchio, council members Terry Mader and Carrie Snyder, Cuyahoga Falls Law Director Paul Janis and others. Lohan concluded the board could: To absorb the losses, Colavecchio proposed the city reallocate a portion of the …

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Parks and Rec Board Prepares for Final Call on Natatorium Rate Structure, Gay Rights Issue

The issue over whether or not to redefine the gym's spouse memberships will be resolved next month.

The end is near. In May, the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board will face arguably its biggest decision in decades when it makes a final ruling on whether or not to change the Natatorium's rate structure. Chairman Tim Gorbach arrived at the next and final step following a report by Parks and Recreation Superintendent Bill Lohan and a public address by Falls City Councilwoman Diana Colavecchio during Thursday’s monthly parks board meeting at the Natatorium. Lohan based his report on a late-March, closed-door work session he had with Colavecchio, council members Terry Mader and Carrie Snyder, Cuyahoga Falls Law Director Paul Janis and others. Here’s the breakdown: To absorb the losses, Colavecchio proposed the city reallocate a …

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Pastor Chris

12:03 am on Monday, April 16, 2012

Jan, final thought. I agree this should not be polarizing. I did not ask this to come upon our city. But it did. I never imposed my values upon another, I have simply stood for the existing values of our community as expressed in the State Constitution, as well as expressing God's way for marriage as being best for society and civilization. That is not polarizing, those opposing marriage from a …   more ›

Falls Parks and Recreation Board Taking Second Look at Natatorium Rate Structure

The Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board will consider the issue, for the second time, this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Natatorium.

This week could mark the last chapter in the long and winding Natatorium controversy as the Parks and Recreation Board will take another look at whether or not to alter the gym’s rate structure.   “I intend to make this a discussion item at the meeting and will open it back up and see what the will of the park board is,” said board chairman Tim Gorbach.  At its last meeting on March 8, the parks board voted 3-2 against a motion raised by Gorbach, which would have ultimately created a head of household rate structure. Under that structure, rates would rise or fall depending on the number of people who reside in any given Cuyahoga Falls residence. The head of household would eliminate what some call a discriminatory discount plan, otherwise …

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Letter to the Editor: City Leaders, Community Should Oppose Natatorium Gay Marriage Issue

The following speech was delivered during the public comments section of the March 8 Parks and Recreation Board meeting by Pastor Chris McCombs. Now, McCombs offers it to the City Council and Falls community for further consideration.

Editor's note: The following was submitted by Chris McCombs, the Pastor of Broadman Baptist Church in Cuyahoga Falls.  REASONS TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE SOCIAL INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE: This is not personal, but about principle. This is more about what we stand for, than what we stand against. No one is attempting to take away another person’s rights or freedoms. No one is telling another person how they can live or not live. No one is denying anyone access to patron any establishment in our community. The social institution of marriage in civilization and in our society has always been understood to be one man and one woman. Marriage is for the purposes of procreation, establishing family and perpetuating community. I am asking this …

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Pastor Chris

8:48 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012

Morgana...thanks for writing. Your use of Scripture is misguided and so is your view of history. In the same letter in Romans that you quote and use as part of your argument Paul writes in Romans 1 about how important the Gospel is, how we are all accountable for our actions before God, calls out particular sins...including the sin of sexual immorality. Additionally, in Romans Paul talks about …   more ›

Letter to the Editor: One Way Out of the Natatorium Issue

Cuyahoga Falls Patch reader offers rationale on why she feels the City Council should restructure the Nat's rate policies.

  Editor's note: This letter was submitted by former Cuyahoga Falls resident and Patch contributor Kate Bigam. As a former city employee and an advocate for equal rights, I am disappointed in the Parks and Recreation Board’s decision not to update the Natatorium’s membership rates to encompass all kinds of families. As Patch reported yesterday, Board Chairman Tim Gorbach proposed a motion that would have extended the current couples rate to same-sex couples in legally recognized civil unions, domestic partnerships, or marriages performed out of state. Unfortunately, the board rejected this proposal in a 3-2 vote, disappointing those of us who’d hoped to see the Nat’s policies better reflect the kind of open & welcoming place we expect our …

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Shane May

10:38 pm on Sunday, April 1, 2012

Because I was born and raised within that town and have lived there my entire life until I found a home with my HUSBAND two streets over from city lines.   more ›

Parks Board Rejects Natatorium Membership Rate Changes

A motion raised by Parks and Recreation Board Chair Tim Gorbach to alter the rates failed by a 3-2 vote.

On Thursday night, the Cuyahoga Falls Parks and Recreation Board voted 3-2 against a motion raised by chairman Tim Gorbach to change the Natatorium's 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 …

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Natatorium Issue: City Not Required to Offer Same-Sex Discount Memberships

Law Director Paul Janis says the City's Parks and Recreation Board has the authority to make its own ruling on the matter.