Brunswick to vote on proposed change to youth baseball organization

BRUNSWICK, Ohio (WJW) – Brunswick City Council is mulling over a potential organization change for the city’s youth baseball, softball and tee-ball programs after nearly two years of back-and-forth issues with Brunswick Youth Sports (BYS).

BYS is a volunteer-led organization that’s overseen baseball operations since 1967 and just wrapped up another year of organized contests. But over the last two years, the leadership has been challenged legally by the city of Brunswick because it did not have the proper certifications to operate as a 501c3 nonprofit organization.

“Brunswick Sports has not been a 501c3 for many, many years, despite at times holding themselves out as one,” council president and vice mayor Nick Hanek said.

Hanek said the city ran an investigation into the finances of BYS and its operation to ensure it has been operating properly and with required certifications after concerns were raised by citizens.

Hanek said BYS was not found to be in violation for misappropriation of funds but failed to meet requirements to get their certification in order.

“Brunswick Youth Sports set some dates, they made some promises that they said they would get their 501c3 by July of 2024,” Hanek said. “They would put in for it immediately and that they would do timely financial reporting before the end of the year of 2023. Neither of these things happened.”

BYS sent out a letter to residents and parents in their program asking for support from the community in future city council meetings because it is on the brink of being pushed out.

“BYS needs your support; City Council needs to hear from YOU!!” the letter reads.

BYS said it was in a 25-year lease with exclusive rights to operate at city-owned fields.

“This lease was agreed upon by the Current City Manager, several current members of City Council and Brunswick Youth Sports with the intent to ensure kids always have a place to play baseball,” the letter reads.

BYS said over the last two years it has been slandered as criminals, eventually leading to the city manager attempting to cite BYS for defaulting the lease. BYS said those items were not requirements of the lease nor were they required when the lease was signed in 2015.

BYS feels it has been treated unfairly during this process and was not given a chance to defend itself. Leaders from the organization said they have been taking the high road through the entire back and forth and have been trying to meet the requirements.

“BYS is still awaiting the approval of our 501c3 certificate by the IRS, but has sent in the appropriate tax documents for the 2022-2023 season,” the letter reads. “These 990 tax forms have been accepted and processed by the IRS, and we are working with our CPA to file the proper forms for back returns. The IRS has not been able to provide information to us on how far back we will need to file, and we expect this information to be provided once the 501c3 certificate and determination letter has been received.”

BYS said the typical time to resolve 501c3 applications is 180 days.

“We were told by the IRS in Feb. 2024 we needed to reapply, so at that point the 7/1/24 deadline was already outside of that,” BYS Treasurer Chris Gaglione said. “At no time were promises made we would have the certificate by 7/1, because no one can control the length of time the IRS spends on it. This was brought to the attention of the law director, city manager and parks and rec director.”

Hanek said with BYS unable to meet the requirements by the deadline, the city opened a request for proposal, with two organizations applying to operate: BYS and Brunswick Youth Baseball and Softball Association (BYBSA).

“City administrations recommended to council that we go with a different organization to help to manage rec and travel, softball and baseball in Brunswick in the coming years,” Hanek said.

On Sept. 23, city council read the proposed change for a second time, allowing feedback from residents. There will be one more reading, then a vote on Oct. 14.

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