[Amended 3-26-2018 by Ord. No. 010-2018]
Permits for special events in parks shall be obtained by application to the Board of Park Commissioners in accordance with the following procedures:
A. A person seeking issuance of a permit hereunder shall file an application with the Board of Park Commissioners stating:
(1) The name and address of the applicant.
(2) The name and address of the person, persons, corporation or association sponsoring the activity, if any.
(3) The day and hours for which the permit is desired.
(4) The park or portion thereof for which such permit is desired.
(5) Any other information which the Board of Park Commissioners shall find reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should be issued hereunder.
B. Standards for issuance of a use permit by the Board of Park Commissioners shall include the following findings:
(1) That the proposed activity or use of the park will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public employment of the park.
(2) That the proposed activity and use will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park.
(3) That the proposed activity and use will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of public health, welfare, safety and recreation.
(4) That the proposed activity or uses that are reasonably anticipated will not include violence, crime or disorderly conduct.
(5) That the proposed activity will not entail extraordinary or burdensome expense or police operation by the town.
(6) That the facilities desired have not been reserved for other use at the date and hour requested in the application.
C. Use of Facility. Applications for park(s) and recreation area(s) use are issued in priority order by category in which the organization or event is placed. A Category I user/event has priority over Category II, III and IV user/event, etc. Permits must be available for review at time of field use. Department of Parks and Recreation will make every reasonable effort to treat all organizations, teams, and individuals using Town facilities in a fair and equitable manner. All parties must comply with federal and state anti-discrimination laws. Permits for park(s) and recreation area(s) use are issued by priority as listed below and according to policies contained herein. Park(s) and recreation area(s) use permits should be carried by the permittee at all times, during scheduled use of the park(s) and recreation area(s) and must be presented upon request. These permits are nontransferable and may not be passed on to other user groups. All field users must adhere to their designated activity, times, locations and dates of assigned use. Authorized permits will only be distributed after all required documentation has been submitted. All organized sports activity must have an authorized permit for use of Town athletic fields.
D. Use categories:
(1) Category I permit/use: Hammonton Town programs and events. Any Hammonton Town-sanctioned program and/or special event.
(2) Category II permit/use: recognized and sponsored Hammonton Town youth sports organizations.
(a) Hammonton Town Little League Baseball Association.
(b) Hammonton Town Bulldogs Basketball Association.
(c) Hammonton Town Wrestling Association.
(d) Hammonton Town Youth/Adult Baseball and Softball Associations.
(e) Hammonton Town HYSA Soccer Association.
(f) Hammonton Town Men's Softball Association.
(g) Hammonton Hawks Football and Cheerleading Association.
(h) Other Hammonton Town Youth Organization approved at a formal meeting by Hammonton Park Commission.
(3) Category III permit/use: Hammonton Town School District. Programs, events, and/or activities officially sanctioned, coordinated and sponsored by the Hammonton School District.
(4) Category IV permit/use: Hammonton Town nonprofit organizations/Hammonton Town church groups/Hammonton Town Boy and Girl Scout groups. St. Josephs Elementary, Middle and High School. Nonprofit organizations, entities, individuals or groups for the purpose of providing recreational services primarily to Hammonton Town residents must show proof of nonprofit certification. Organization address of record is a Hammonton Town address. Team rosters must show 75% or higher Hammonton Town residents.
(5) Category V permit/use: Non-Town nonprofit organizations. Nonprofit organizations, entities, individuals or groups for the purpose of providing recreational services, must show proof of nonprofit certification. For all teams with fewer than 75% Hammonton Town residents.
(6) Category VI permit/use: independent organizations. Organizations, entities, individuals or groups for the purpose of providing recreational services who do not operate as a commercial enterprise or business and can't provide verifiable proof of operating on a nonprofit basis as defined herein.
(7) Category VII permit/use: Commercial. Organizations, entities, individuals or groups for the purpose of providing recreational services that are operated as a for-profit commercial enterprise.
E. To qualify as a nonprofit organization in Category IV or V above, the organization must be registered as a not-for-profit corporation with the State of New Jersey. Nonprofit organizations are those organizations that have evidence of Federal 501(c) filing and state nonprofit status.
F. Priority is given within a particular sport's designated "season." In-season sports have equal status to each other; out of season sports have equal status to each other.
G. In the event of special cases or circumstances (such as decisions on "last-minute" completed applications with no time to go through the process described above), the Director of Parks and Recreation will use their best discretion for park(s) and recreation area(s) use, and have the support of the Quality of Life Committee of Hammonton Town Council.
H. Appeal. Within five days after the receipt of an application, the Board of Park Commissioners shall apprise an applicant in writing of its reasons for refusing a permit, and any aggrieved person shall have the right to appeal to the Town Council by serving written notice thereof on the Town Clerk/Administrator within five days of said refusal. A copy of said notice shall also be served on the Board of Park Commissioners within the same time, and said Board of Park Commissioners shall immediately forward the application and the reasons for its refusal to the Town Council, which shall consider the application under the standards set forth under Subsection B hereof and shall sustain or overrule the Park Commission's decision within 10 days from the receipt of the appeal by the Town Clerk/Administrator. The decision of the Town Council shall be final.
I. A permittee shall be bound by all park rules and regulations and all applicable ordinances fully as though the same were inserted in said permits.
J. The person or persons to whom a permit is issued shall be liable for all loss, damage or injury sustained by any person whatever by reason of the negligence of the person or persons to whom such permit shall have been issued. The Board of Park Commissioners shall have the right to require any permittee to submit evidence of liability insurance covering injuries to members of the general public arising out of such permitted activities in such amounts as may from time to time be determined by the Commission prior to the commencement of any activity or issuance of any permit.
K. Revocation. The Board of Park Commissioners shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon a finding of violation of any rule or ordinance or upon good cause shown.