x
Breaking News
More () »

New Britain seeks repayment for overdue utility bill from former Rock Cats management

NEW BRITAIN–The city of New Britain is going after the former New Britain Rock Cats to repay an outstanding utility bill left behind when the team made th...
Rock Cats

NEW BRITAIN–The city of New Britain is going after the former New Britain Rock Cats to repay an outstanding utility bill left behind when the team made the move to Hartford to become the Yard Goats.

Mayor Erin Stewart said on Wednesday that the city is seeking repayment from the former Rock Cats for $149,317 in bills left from the team’s lease at the stadium. So far, the city has footed the bill, which means taxpayers have loaned the money, but Mayor Stewart wants the city repaid.

“While the team and its owners have relocated from the city, they are not off the hook for these overdue bills,” Stewart said. “Under the lease agreement between New Britain and the Rock Cats, the team is responsible for paying the electric and utilities that they used while tenants at New Britain Stadium.”

A letter asking for repayment was sent to General Manager Tim Restall from the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.

The outstanding bills cover utilities used between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2015. They include:

  • $80,582.62 to Eversource
  • $47,907.37 to TransCanada
  • $8,635.85 to Connecticut Natural Gas
  • $12,245.37 for water and sewer bills

This is not something unusual, and should have been expected, Stewart said.

“Every year, per the team with the Rock Cats – now the Yard Goats – what we would do was we would pay their utility bills for them throughout the year. And at the end of the year, we would compile them into a big lump sum and present that to them to pay. So they didn’t not know that this was coming. They were certainly expecting it,” Stewart said. But now, things are changing. “They are not committed to the city anymore, and therefore the city is not committed to working out that type of plan with them.”

The city has paid the utility companies, but wants the team to reimburse the funds.

“I will not sit silent and have taxpayers foot the bill for these utilities,” Stewart said. “I continue to be troubled by the ownership’s continuing disrespect for the agreement they had with the city. We have held up our end of the lease and acted with professionalism throughout our relationship with them. Now it’s time to respond accordingly.”

Stewart told FOX 61 just how much of an impact the debt has on the city.

“$150,000 is two teachers in our school district. So that’s a lot for us,” she explained.

The statement from New Britain’s mayor’s office said that the city had to go after the team in 2014 for not paying $164,569 in property taxes owed to Berlin, but that debt has been paid.

Before You Leave, Check This Out