The Township Municipal Building Meeting Hall shall be under
the general control and supervision of the Township Manager of the
Township of Middletown, subject to the terms and provisions of this
chapter and other rules and regulations which may be enacted by the
Board of Supervisors.
The Municipal Building meeting rooms are hereby made available
to the community and its organizations as hereinafter defined subject
to the provisions of this chapter and existing lease agreements. For
the purpose of setting forth the restrictions and limitations under
which use of the meeting rooms is granted, organizations wishing to
use such facilities are hereby divided into four classes or types.
A.
Type "A" shall be any organization which is a duly constituted
agency of the Township of Middletown performing official Township
governmental functions, including the Board of Supervisors and all
subsidiary advisory bodies. Type "A" shall include volunteer emergency
services groups serving Middletown Township; volunteer athletic organizations
serving the youth of Middletown Township; any authority, agency or
organization in which the Township has membership appointed by the
Board of Supervisors; and any association of employees of the Township
of Middletown. Type "A" shall not include official governmental agencies
of the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the county
or any school district.
B.
Type "B" shall be any organization, club, association or group
of Township residents constituting at least 10% of said organization's
total membership or with at least 10 members who are Township residents,
and whose purposes are of a civic, educational, political, social,
cultural, recreational, charitable or religious nature.
C.
Type "C" shall be any organization which is a duly constituted
agency or school district performing official governmental functions
of the United States, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the County
of Bucks or any of the political subdivisions or jurisdictions in
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
D.
Type "D" shall be any organization of a commercial or profit-making
nature or any other organization not specifically referenced in classes
or types "A," "B" and "C" hereinabove. Meeting rooms shall not be
used or reserved by any organization of Type "D," which type or class
shall also include any individual or group seeking to use such facilities
for private purposes, such as weddings, receptions, parties, etc.
E.
Refusal power. The Township Manager is hereby granted the authority
to refuse the use of the Township meeting rooms to any lessee when,
in his opinion, such use would not be to the best interest of the
public. The Township Manager or his authorized representative is granted
the authority to forbid entrance to or to eject any objectionable
or disorderly persons. Each lease for the use of meeting rooms shall
contain a clause whereby the lessee waives any claim for damages against
the Township, the Board of Supervisors, and Township employees and
representatives for any such action.
Organizations of Type "A" shall not be charged a lease fee.
Organizations of Types "B" and "C" shall pay a lease fee for use of
the meeting rooms in accordance with the applicable Township of Middletown
Fee Schedule as may be set by resolution of the Board of Supervisors
from time to time. Although included in the Type "C" class of organizations, elected representatives of federal, state and county political subdivisions conducting town meetings and/or informational meetings to benefit the general public shall not be required to pay any lease fee. No extra fee shall be charged to organizations conducting meetings at which the organization charges an admission fee, but all such organizations shall comply with the Township's Entertainment Tax Ordinance (Chapter
448, Article
III).
All organizations (hereinafter "lessee") leasing the meeting
rooms shall be responsible for the conduct of their members, guests
and spectators and for the compliance of the latter with the following
rules and regulations:
A.
All persons attending a meeting of any organization other than
those constituting official agencies of the Township of Middletown
performing official Township governmental functions shall remain in
the meeting rooms, vestibule, or lavatory areas.
B.
No person shall cause damage to any of the property of the Township
within or without the meeting rooms. Damages shall result in charges
based upon time and materials required to return the building or grounds
to their proper condition.
C.
No person shall possess, carry, sell, distribute or consume
any intoxicating beverage or controlled substance as defined in the
Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Title 18 Pa.C.S.A.
D.
Gambling and/or other conduct detrimental to the public interest
is not permitted in or on any Township building and/or grounds.
E.
Any lessee serving refreshments shall completely clean up and
remove all debris and refuse caused by the serving of such refreshments.
Kitchen facilities are not available for use.
F.
Buildings, grounds and equipment shall be left in clean and
orderly condition. Failure to do so will result in charges based upon
time and materials required to return same to its proper condition.
G.
Smoking shall not be permitted in the meeting rooms or other
areas of the building. Smoking is permitted outside the building,
but no cigarette or cigar butts shall be permitted to fall upon the
ground, parking areas or walkways, and all smokers shall utilize the
trash receptacles provided.
H.
The custodian's services shall be reimbursed directly by
the Township, and no gratuities shall be offered or paid to him by
any lessee.
I.
No lessee shall bring into the rooms from the outside any equipment,
decorations, props, signs or similar material except under the express
conditions and arrangements made for such purpose with the Township
Manager as to the extent, time, location and manner of use of such
materials. The use of electrical extension cords is prohibited.
J.
Any lessee who shall violate or fail to comply with any of these
regulations may have its lease terminated without notice by the Township
Manager.
K.
Types "B" and "C" groups shall vacate the premises by 12:00
midnight.