Benton should support Fairfield PAL

I am a member of the board of directors of the Fairfield Police Athletic League. Fairfield PAL was incorporated in 1957 for the benefit of children and families in the towns of Fairfield, Benton, Clinton and Albion. It is a nonprofit corporation funded by the member towns, registration fees and donations from various fundraisers. Recreational leagues in football, baseball, softball, field hockey, soccer, cheerleading and basketball are run annually, and PAL normally has a summer recreation program as well; in the last year, due to the pandemic, some of the sports and activities have been curtailed or canceled. PAL coaches are traditionally parents of the children participating, and the games are meant to provide fun and exercise for all the children involved.

PAL seeks funding from member towns to pay for maintenance and improvement of the fields upon which the kids play, to pay for the stipends of the directors of each sport, and for a handful of dedicated employees that run the summer recreational program. No child is ever prevented from participating because of an inability to pay the sports small registration fee.

At the Benton Town Meeting, voting by secret ballot this year is from 1-6 p.m. on March 27 and will include Articles 15 and 16 to raise and appropriate funding for PAL. Article 15 is for $14,000 and covers Benton’s share of PAL funding for 2021. Article 16 is for $14,000 and covers Benton’s share of PAL funding for 2020.

Since there was no town meeting for Benton in 2020, PAL operated without Benton’s funding but still provided services to Benton’s children, as it always has with the exception of limitations due to the pandemic.

I am writing to ask Benton voters to continue Benton’s unwavering support of PAL and vote in support of both Articles 15 and 16. This vote is important and signifies Benton’s commitments to its families and children’s healthy development and wellbeing.

Jonathan G. Rogers

Benton