With the future ownership of Christman Field still up in the air, Franklin Township Athletic Association leaders have made it clear how they hope to see the situation shake out.

“We want to continue our relationship with Franklin Township in the manner it has existed since 1979,” said Mike Birnbaum, FTAA Little League president on Thursday. “We have an awesome working relationship with them, and in our opinion, it is what’s best for the kids.”

The township currently leases the four fields from Lehighton Area School District for $1 per year and, in turn, allows Franklin Township Athletic Association to use them.

Christman Field, however, is located on the same parcel of land as Franklin Elementary School, which the district is currently looking to sell.

Last month, five Lehighton school board members approved an intent to subdivide the portion of the property where the fields are located and transfer that land to Franklin Township. In turn, the municipality could continue allowing the association to use the fields.

Two Lehighton school board members nixed that subdivision intent, while two others abstained from the vote, including David Bradley, who said he believes FTAA should buy the property outright.

At the April school board meeting, Bradley said he didn’t feel “FTAA was given the proper information,” but instead were “emotionally pawned into coming here all worked up against myself.”

Birnbaum said in an effort to hear Bradley out, he invited him along with fellow school board member Gail Maholick to a league board meeting.

“His plan is to raise money to buy the fields and take the mortgage out through the school district,” Birnbaum said. “Then in five years flip the fields and sell them and buy more fields. He wants us to buy 20 acres of flat farmland and start to run this as a business. We are a sports organization, not a business. Nobody here is looking for a second business. We’re here to give the kids the opportunity to be active and learn the game of baseball and softball.”

Fundraiser started

A GoFundMe fundraiser was started on April 28 with a $55,000 goal with money “to be given to the school district at settlement only if the FTAA chooses to buy the Christman Field property.”

The profile of the person or group who started the fundraiser is listed as “Accounting Firm.” In the description for the fundraiser, it states “the fields is the only guaranteed method to ensure our children will have these fields, and an opportunity for our athletic association to thrive and prosper. The children deserve a permanent location, one without a revert clause or use restrictions.”

The fundraiser was started, Birnbaum said, much to the surprise of FTAA leadership.

“We were not aware that was being started,” Birnbaum said. “We were not consulted in any way.”

If the FTAA does not purchase Christman Field, the GoFundMe page states, “money will be returned to the donor of record, with anonymous donations going to the FTAA.”

As of Monday, the effort had raised $2,360. Bradley and “The Pompa Family” contributed $1,000 each. Eight other individuals have donated.

Six votes needed for transfer

FTAA’s research showed that just two of 17 Little League organizations in District 18 own the field they play on, Birnbaum said.

“We looked down in Lehigh and Northampton counties as well, and there is a similar model there,” he added. “Little League isn’t meant to be a business. We’ve been able to keep our costs down. We’re not charging $400 a player. We charge $40 plus a fundraiser.”

Franklin Township mows the grass at Christman Field, while the athletic association pays the electric to run the concession stand and the lights for the fields. The league also pays for the fertilizer and the lime.

“The township helps us out on some projects because they have the equipment and ability to do that,” Birnbaum said. “It’s been a great relationship and we’re not looking for that to end.”

Though five school board members voted on their intent to subdivide the four fields, which the association uses for T-ball, coach pitch, softball and Babe Ruth games, future ownership is still in doubt.

William Schwab, attorney for both the school district and Franklin Township, said “until there is an exact description of what land is being transferred, it is only an intent to transfer.”

“Legally it gives the township equitable right to seek a subdivision, but does not guarantee it anything,” he said. “The vote taken (by the school board) was subject to a satisfactory subdivision plan approved/acceptable to the district. Once the exact metes and bounds are known from a subdivision map, the transfer needs a two-thirds majority vote from the board.”

A two-thirds vote means six school board members would need to approve the action for the transfer to take place.

A large contingent of Franklin association coaches, players and parents showed up to Lehighton’s last school board meeting, and the league is expecting another large turnout on Monday.

“I encourage people to come to the May 21 board meeting to show support for the kids,” Birnbaum said. “I know a lot of people have different ideas here as far as leasing or purchasing the fields, but in the end this is for the kids, and we feel we have something that works already.”