Staff Writer
CHINA -- In one corner is the town government, which says it has severed ties with the China Eagles youth football program and seized its equipment because the group isn't legal and faces concerns about a missing donation and improper behavior by coaches.
In the other corner are football coaches and directors, who say they're in the process of incorporating the group legally, but deny the other allegations and say the town has gone too far.
Replica Coach Handbags In the middle are the football players and cheerleaders, who, as of right now, no longer have access to their equipment or use of town fields. Town officials have locked the equipment in a recreational storage building.
"I think the kids are going to suffer; it's a shame," said Matt Morrison, who coaches 7th- and 8th-grade football players in the program. "Somewhere in between here and there, everybody lost the focus; it's for the kids."
The China Select Board thinks the program "is a worthy one," but changes are needed, said Town Manager Dan L'Heureux.
"Over time the select board had residents express concerns about the stewardship of the program and now the select board is performing some due diligence to make certain the program has the possibility/opportunity to flourish under proper guidelines and supervision," L'Heureux said in an e-mail.
"The town has contributed substantially to the program over the last few years, including the construction of an addition to the recreation garage so the program would not be so cramped and to accommodate the increased participation."
'Serious concerns'
Concerns over the program, which was formed seven years ago, appear to have reached an apex late last month. The program serves about 130 children in kindergarten through high school.
The high school-aged China Eagles in November won the Greater New England Youth Football League championship.
In a letter sent Dec. 28, 2009, to Andy Burgess, president of the program's board of directors, Select Board Chairwoman Irene Belanger said board members had "serious concerns with the China Eagles Football & Cheerleading organization." Belanger says the town has donated money to the group and allowed it to use town fields for practice and games.
pandora beads Among the concerns Belanger raised:
* The organization is no longer incorporated as a nonprofit as it once was. "The town is sensitive to the perception that it may be supporting an organization that is not what it represents itself to be."
* Reports that a coach told two players to "rough up" a fellow teammate and that coaches had smoked cigarettes on school property near players. Also, reports of swearing and fighting in the concession stand in front of children.
* A local business donated $1,000 toward a new electronic scoreboard, but the money "disappeared." That apparently happened because "the account in which the money was deposited was attached by the Internal Revenue Service due to a debt," the letter states.
Citing those concerns, the select board "has decided to withdraw support for the China Eagles" and "will no longer donate money to the organization and will not allow the organization to use its fields or buildings." Belanger says the town's position is that "the equipment purchased with funds donated or raised by the organization is held in trust for the partici
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