SWANSEA — Town Administrator Mitchell F. Ruscitti wishes to clarify the Town’s efforts to support the Bristol County Toys for Tots campaign and provide information regarding its proposed use of the Nike Site Road facility.
The Town of Swansea strongly supports Toys for Tots and the important work its volunteers perform for children and families. The Town has not canceled the toy drive or sought to prevent it from operating.
Instead, the Town has repeatedly worked to ensure Toys for Tots can continue operating safely and successfully.
The Town has allowed the Toys for Tots program to use a Town-owned facility on Nike Site Road, at no cost, to organize its annual holiday drive each fall and winter. However, the Town has faced repeated issues with the Swansea Independent Baseball League’s (SIBL) use of the property. These issues have included vandalism, unauthorized access and use of the property, locks being cut or replaced, and Town employees being prevented from entering Town facilities.
Therefore, the Town has asked Bristol County Toys for Tots to sign the facility-use agreement, consistent with other nonprofits and community groups. This administrative requirement allows the Town to schedule use of the property, control access, and ensure activities are conducted safely.
The Town remains ready to provide access to the Nike Site once Toys for Tots completes the facility-use agreement. It has also offered an alternate location, the Council on Aging building on Ocean Grove Avenue, due to accessibility and security concerns at the Nike Site.
“The Town supports the incredible work done by Toys for Tots and wants its campaign to succeed,” Town Administrator Ruscitti said. “We have offered the organization continued use of the site through the Town’s standard process, and we have offered another Town facility as an alternative. We are ready to move forward. The suggestion that the Town is placing this toy drive in jeopardy is simply not accurate.”
Toys for Tots has requested that the Town amend its facility-use agreement to include language concerning the separate dispute with SIBL. However, completing an agreement to use Town property does not require Toys for Tots to endorse the Town’s position or become involved in that dispute.
The Town welcomes the appropriate use of the Nike Site by community organizations. However, it will not surrender control of public property to a private organization or allow any group to decide independently who may access and use Town facilities.
The Town remains willing to discuss the available space or proceed with authorized use of the Nike Site.
“The Town has provided a clear path forward, and our door remains open,” Town Administrator Ruscitti said. “We will continue supporting the mission of Toys for Tots while also meeting our responsibility to manage Town property fairly and safely. Those two goals are not in conflict.”
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