Bath village trustees recently warned any effort to raise funds and upgrade a Fairview Drive park must be carried out under their supervision.
The drive, spearheaded by local resident Rich Wagner, planned to fix up the park’s playground, located near the former home of Trieste Clayton and her son, Xavier Michael.
Clayton, and her 3-month-old son died June 20, allegedly at the hands of the baby’s father, Bryan Ashline. Ashline is awaiting trial after a grand jury indicted him on two counts each of first- and second-degree murder.
Wagner and other residents believed upgrading the park would be a positive aftermath to the tragedy.
However, the village board said Monday there is no support for Wagner’s claim to trustees and local newspapers Clayton told friends the park should be upgraded.
Wagner has repeatedly publicly stated the park is not a memorial to the slain pair, and is not associated with Clayton’s family.
Wagner said in July he had contacted an architectural firm and expected to raise the firm’s $40,000 estimate for the park upgrade through concerts and community donations.
Village officials also voiced concern Wagner has not been working on the project with the village board’s park liaison, Trustee Jeanne Glass.
“(Wagner) has been reminded several times that he is not an employee or agent of the village and that he can not unilaterally make decisions or commitments regarding municipally-owned property or affairs,” said village Mayor Donna Simonson, in a prepared statement.
Simonson said fundraisers have resulted in $338.83 being turned over to the village Clerk’s office. The funds have been earmarked for the Fairview Drive Playground, she said,
The village’s John Southard Youth Recreation Committee has the responsibility of overseeing youth recreation activities and making recommendations to the village board, according to Simonson.
“This is the only organization recognized by the village of Bath with the responsibility of overseeing the Fairview Drive Playground Project,” she said.
Wagner was unavailable for comment.
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Bath village trustees recently warned any effort to raise funds and upgrade a Fairview Drive park must be carried out under their supervision.
The drive, spearheaded by local resident Rich Wagner, planned to fix up the park’s playground, located near the former home of Trieste Clayton and her son, Xavier Michael.
Clayton, and her 3-month-old son died June 20, allegedly at the hands of the baby’s father, Bryan Ashline. Ashline is awaiting trial after a grand jury indicted him on two counts each of first- and second-degree murder.
Wagner and other residents believed upgrading the park would be a positive aftermath to the tragedy.
However, the village board said Monday there is no support for Wagner’s claim to trustees and local newspapers Clayton told friends the park should be upgraded.
Wagner has repeatedly publicly stated the park is not a memorial to the slain pair, and is not associated with Clayton’s family.
Wagner said in July he had contacted an architectural firm and expected to raise the firm’s $40,000 estimate for the park upgrade through concerts and community donations.
Village officials also voiced concern Wagner has not been working on the project with the village board’s park liaison, Trustee Jeanne Glass.
“(Wagner) has been reminded several times that he is not an employee or agent of the village and that he can not unilaterally make decisions or commitments regarding municipally-owned property or affairs,” said village Mayor Donna Simonson, in a prepared statement.
Simonson said fundraisers have resulted in $338.83 being turned over to the village Clerk’s office. The funds have been earmarked for the Fairview Drive Playground, she said,
The village’s John Southard Youth Recreation Committee has the responsibility of overseeing youth recreation activities and making recommendations to the village board, according to Simonson.
“This is the only organization recognized by the village of Bath with the responsibility of overseeing the Fairview Drive Playground Project,” she said.
Wagner was unavailable for comment.
