Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990 TAG: 9003081337
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MADELYN ROSENBERG NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The discussion was continued after hearing officer Michael Oglesby learned that the contract between the town, which owns Calfee Park, and the Braves, who lease the park for three months each year, had expired.
"To hear the application now, while the town is, in effect, the owner, and before an agreement is signed, I think is premature," Oglesby said.
He said a hearing could be rescheduled after a lease is signed. "It could be, depending on what happens, that there won't be a need to come back for a further hearing."
Town Council members made it clear Tuesday night that they would oppose the sale of beer at the ballpark when they voted unanimously against the concept. "That certainly will be taken into consideration as we negotiate the new contract," Town Manager Don Holycross said.
Holycross said he could not speculate on terms of the new contract. Town and club officials are expected to begin negotiations on a new lease in the next 10 days.
Kyle Scharhag, general manager for the Braves, said Wednesday that he would not withdraw his application because "the new contract may not be negotiated with a stipulation that no alcohol be sold in the ball-park. If that is the case, we would have to go through this whole process again."
He said he was not aware until about two months ago that the lease agreement, which expired Sept. 1, had not been renewed.
"I'd contacted the ABC board in the first part of December, so it was already in the works," he said.
Holycross said Town Council values having the minor-league ball club in Pulaski. "We want to keep them here and we'll be working with them, but on this particular point, we disagree," he said.
by CNB