Rodolico Vows Jazzercise Resolution

Jazzercise was the main item on the agenda when Ledyard Mayor John Rodolico met with the Permanent Commission for Senior Citizens Wednesday for the first time in his new capacity as the town’s chief executive.

The mayor at first listened and reserved comment as members took turns weighing in on the controversial exercise program, which has been meeting at the Senior Center for nearly two years under the direction of instructor Lisa Mazzaro.

The commission’s anti-Jazzercise sentiment appeared to be unanimous.

“I think we all know we’re not happy with the fact that Jazzercise is here,” said commission Chairman George Dieter. “It’s always been our policy never to allow anyone to come in to make money.”

Dieter said center policy restricts the use of the facility for commercial purposes. “This is a business, big business,” he said. “We’ve never had anything like this before.”

The Jazzercise program has an agreement with the town Parks and Recreation Department for use of the Senior Center, not unlike other programs at the center. But unlike other programs, which typically run for 10 weeks, Jazzercise is ongoing.

“Jazzercise has the biggest impact,” said one commission member. “It meets five days a week, 52 weeks a year, whereas other programs are seasonal and short-term.

“And,” he added, “This is the only program that requires people to pay sales tax.”

Members said the Jazzercise program returns 15 percent of its proceeds to Parks and Recreation, out of which the center receives 5 percent.

But Dieter said that doesn’t cover the wear and tear on the building. One member said the center was obliged to purchase a maintenance contract for the partition doors that must be opened and closed daily to accommodate Jazzerzise.

The Senior Center does allow a hair dresser to come to its facility, providing services as a discounted rate, members said. But they noted that every senior center has a beautician or a barber shop.

“This commission has determined that Jazzercise should not be here,” said Tony Scarpa. “But we’ve been stymied. We have every legal right to tell her to get out this very moment, and yet we can’t.”

Although the commission tried to cancel Jazzercise classes at the center last March, the program was given a temporary reprieve while the town researched the issue. In September, former Mayor Fred B. Allyn Jr. said the program could continue to meet at the Senior Center – a decision that was subsequently rejected by the commission.

Rodolico, when he spoke, said he has heard more discussion about Jazzercise than any other issue he could remember. “Over the past year this has been discussed to death,” he said.

The mayor said he has had conversations about Jazzercise with everyone from Senior Center personnal to the Attorney General’s office. He said he was planning to meet with Mazzaro Wednesday afternoon, and would review any relevant policies and resolutions.

“And then we will make a decision,” he said, vowing to reach a resolution “within a couple of weeks.”

He acknowledge that mistakes were made, and that the matter should have been resolved long ago. He said his ultimate decision would be fair and equitable, and also consistent.

“This decision could affect everyone,” Rodolico said. “But my hope – rather, my expectation – is that once a decision is made, we’ll all get behind it and move forward. We want this put to rest.”