Selectmen Discuss Naming Rights Policy For Properties, Facilities

GREENWICH, CT — Over the years, Greenwich has undertaken public/private partnerships to help projects come to fruition, but a naming rights policy for such projects never existed.

The idea for a policy resurfaced following the recent donation of $5 million from the Steve and Alexandra Cohen Foundation for the construction of a new civic center in Old Greenwich, which will now be named the Cohen Eastern Greenwich Civic Center.

On Thursday, the Board of Selectmen got its first look at a draft policy that would establish criteria and procedures for the granting of naming rights for town-owned properties and facilities. No action was taken, and the board will revisit the policy in several weeks to allow time for public feedback.

"Establishing a naming rights policy has been a long-discussed topic of conversation in Greenwich," said Daniel Carlsen, a senior management analyst for the town, who presented the policy to the board during Thursday's Selectmen meeting.

"There's been a history of community-driven individuals and organizations providing charitable donations to the town, and often the topic of recognizing the name of the donor has been brought up, but it's really never been formalized," he added.

The policy would apply to town-owned property and buildings, excluding Greenwich Library and Board of Education.

Buildings, including interior components such as gymnasiums and meeting rooms, would be eligible for naming rights, along with real property like open spaces, parks, playgrounds and recreation facilities such as tennis and pickleball courts, Carlsen said.

The policy would also allow for honorary street names.

Proposals for naming rights would be submitted to the Office of the First Selectman. After an administrative review of the request, the proposal would be presented to the Board of Selectmen for review and consideration. Proposals for naming rights must be presented at two regularly scheduled Board of Selectmen meetings to allow for public input and feedback, according to the policy.

Any gift or contribution associated with a request for naming rights must be approved by the Representative Town Meeting upon approval from the Board of Selectmen.

Carlsen said naming rights proposals will be evaluated in consideration with the needs and preferences of the community.

There are two types of naming rights, Carlsen explained: naming rights for gifts and contributions, and naming rights in recognition.

"Naming Rights in the form of gifts and contributions may be granted in consideration of the Named Party providing a significant funding contribution, sponsorship, or other commercial transaction from a private entity wherein the Town receives a monetary gain in exchange for the naming of a Town facility," the policy stated. "Naming Rights for gifts and contributions may be granted in the form of a cash gift, sponsorships, grants, provisions to buy equipment, materials, land, or services."

The town would consult with professional valuation services to determine a fair and equitable valuation of the naming rights.

Naming Rights in Recognition may be granted in recognition of an individual, group, or organization that has provided a significant contribution to the town, according to the policy.

Any naming rights approved by the Board of Selectmen should be established through a written agreement.

Officially named municipal buildings and facilities are eligible to be renamed after 15-years, the policy said, unless otherwise stipulated in an agreement between the named party and the town.

Agreements can be terminated in cases where there's a default on payment, or the named party causes adverse impacts on the town or affects public trust.

First Selectman Fred Camillo, a strong supporter of public/private partnerships, said "it makes sense" to have an established policy to provide clarity.

He said the proposed policy takes into account every possibility that could arise with naming rights.

"I think this would certainly limit debates for future public/private partnerships to the merits of those particular naming opportunities and not have to get sidetracked about a policy," Camillo said. "This is very much needed."

Selectwoman Lauren Rabin agreed, calling the proposed policy "airtight."

"I think it's very thorough," she said.

Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan also said the policy is needed, but she wondered if there should be a threshold for a gift.

"It's a big deal to have something named after someone in Greenwich. We have precedent. We have Binney Park, we have Bruce Park; those gifts, though, were given in their entirety from the honoree," she said. "Do we want to set a threshold for a gift to result in the naming honor?"

Camillo said he was hesitant about setting a threshold.

"You may request 'X' from somebody, and they may come back with 'Y,'" he said. "And 'Y' Is still pretty good. I don't know if putting something in writing, a hard percentage, may scare off people."

Camillo noted that having flexibility would allow the town to enter into more public/private partnerships, "and certainly give taxpayers a break for some of these buildings that otherwise are going to have to flow completely 100 percent on the backs of the taxpayers, which in many cases it has," he added.

The Board of Selectmen is expected to discuss the policy further at their next scheduled meeting on April 14.