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Danbury Whalers ask fans to show their support in battle with city

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An ongoing battle between city officials and the Danbury Whalers over a near $100,000 debt for police and fire protection is heating up.

The team has asked its thousands of fans to attend the City Council meeting next Tuesday and where their colors to show their “dedication and passionate” support of the Danbury Whalers, according to a statement released Thursday.

The council will be expected to discuss the recent recommendations of an ad-hoc committee that suggested the team be required to pay for the police and fire services at least five days before each game. The city is also asking the team to sit down with their lawyers to find a resolution to the remainder of the outstanding debt.

The team stopped paying for the police and fire protection services around November, 2012 on the advice of their attorneys. Team officials have said that the city has no authority to order the protection services and have offered to provide their own security instead.

City officials, however, say the debt is valid and both the police and fire chiefs have the right under state law to order the protection services.

Team president Alan Friedman has said that the team may not be able to continue operating in the city if forced to pay the money.

The City Council meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at City Hall, which is located on Deer Hill Avenue.

 

Here is the statement released this afternoon by the team.

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

BE THERE IN GREEN 

 

Thank you for all of your dedication and passionate support of the Danbury Whalers Hockey team.

 

This upcoming Tuesday night, February 4th at 7 PM at the Danbury City Hall, the City of Danbury has put on the agenda an item which will greatly impact the Whalers ability to operate and survive in the City of Danbury.

 

We need your support and help.

 

The item on the agenda is an invoice for $410,000 the City of Danbury bills our organization for Police and Fire Marshall presence at our home games.

 

The Danbury Whalers have proposed a payment of $180,000.  To date the Danbury Whalers have paid the City of Danbury $41,000.

 

We have asked Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, Chief of Police, Al Baker, and Fire Marshall, Geoff Herold to come to a mutual agreement which will maintain safety and security in the arena at a reasonable and fair rate.

 

They have refused to review and discuss this matter, and continue to use inaccurate and outdated information in determining their position.

 

The City of Danbury has also claimed they possess signed documents and agreements on this matter, yet when asked to provide, they cannot.

 

In addition, this decision is being selectively applied to the Danbury Whalers, which can be documented.

 

Our goal is to arrive at a compromise that works for all parties involved.

 

Since the launching of our franchise on December 29, 2009, our mission has been to provide the community with affordable fun family entertainment.  Our model has been to enrich the community and add to the overall quality of life in Northern Fairfield County.

 

In our 3.5 half seasons, we have played over 100 professional hockey games at the Danbury Ice Arena:

 

  • We have attracted over 165,000 fans to the Downtown Danbury District.
  • We have done over 150 fundraising programs raising over $175,000 for those groups
  • We have had a 21 million dollar economic impact on the local community
  • Our players have made hundreds of appearances throughout the Danbury community with our “Never Give Up” program sending a positive message to the area children

 

We are asking our fans who enjoy watching the Danbury Whalers play please attend this meeting and show your support for our organization.  

 

It is crucial to show the City of Danbury that there is support for the Danbury Whalers and interest in maintaining professional hockey in Danbury.

 

We also encourage fans to show their support in emailing the following individuals:

 

The message should be, “We want the Danbury Whalers to stay in Danbury, please work with them to resolve this matter.  Don’t take our team away”

 

The following Elected City of Danbury Officials are:

 

Danbury Mayor, Mark Bougton – M.Boughton@danbury-ct.gov

 

President, City Council – J.Cavo@danbury-ct.gov

Marina Loyola - m.loyola@danbury-ct.gov

Andrew Wetmore - a.wetmore@danbury-ct.gov

Benjamin Chianese - b.chianese@danbury-ct.gov

Christopher Arconti - c.arconti@danbury-ct.gov

Colleen Stanley - c.stanley@danbury-ct.gov

Duane Perkins - d.perkins@danbury-ct.gov

Elmer Palma - e.palma@danbury-ct.gov

Fred Visconti - f.visconti@danbury-ct.gov

Gregg Seabury - g.seabury@danbury-ct.gov

Irving Fox - i.fox@danbury-ct.gov

Jack Knapp - j.knapp@danbury-ct.gov

Joe Scozzafava - j.scozzafava@danbury-ct.gov

John Priola - j.priola@danbury-ct.gov

Mike Haddad - m.haddad@danbury-ct.gov

Paul Rotello - p.rotello@danbury-ct.gov

Peter Nero - p.nero@danbury-ct.gov

Phil Curran - p.curran@danbury-ct.gov

Tom Saadi - t.saadi@danbury-ct.gov

Vinny DiGilio - v.digilio@danbury-ct.gov

Warren Levy - w.levy@danbury-ct.gov

 

To email to all parties, use this cut and paste

 

 

M.Boughton@danbury-ct.govJ.Cavo@danbury-ct.govm.loyola@danbury-ct.gov,a.wetmore@danbury-ct.govb.chianese@danbury-ct.govc.arconti@danbury-ct.govc.stanley@danbury-ct.govd.perkins@danbury-ct.gove.palma@danbury-ct.gov,f.visconti@danbury-ct.govg.seabury@danbury-ct.govi.fox@danbury-ct.gov,

j.knapp@danbury-ct.govj.scozzafava@danbury-ct.govj.priola@danbury-ct.govm.haddad@danbury-ct.govp.rotello@danbury-ct.govp.nero@danbury-ct.gov,  p.curran@danbury-ct.gov,t.saadi@danbury-ct.govv.digilio@danbury-ct.govw.levy@danbury-ct.govhsorcher@thedanburywhalers.com,

afriedman@thedanburywhalers.com

 

 

 

The Danbury City Hall is located at 155 Deer Hill Avenue in Danbury.

Danbury Whalers

1 Independence Way, Danbury, CT  06810  973-713-7547

www.TheDanburyWhalers.com

2012-13 Federal Hockey League Champions

 

 


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