By Shannon McKenna
Round Table reporter

The drama department received a storage bin used for holding the wood crowding the hallway and the stage in April. Recently, students and adults expressed anger concerning the bin.

According to an article on gazette.net, the containers must be removed from school property by June 30 because they are “unattractive” to the eye, and storage bins have been banned on private property since 2004 when the ordinance was passed.

“Storage containers are prohibited in the Town of Middletown, and no person who owns, leases, occupies or has charge of any premises or property, in whole or in part, shall place, keep or maintain a storage container on the premises or property,” states the ordinance.

Apparently the containers were purchased by the school without consulting Middletown’s Board of Commissioners, or the town’s planning commission. The school has to pay a fine of $100 per day per container.  There are three on school property, which means the school potentially accumulates $2,100 per week in fines if the bins remain. If the containers are not removed from by June 30, the town will reinforce the fines and by April 15 they will total $23,100.

The storage bins were a good way to clear out the hallway and stage area, and were budget friendly. At least seven other high schools in the county use similar containers but Middletown is the lone school facing problems with the bins. Principle Jay Berno is working on finding a suitable solution.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/05062010/middnew161435_32547.php