OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The Conservation Commission will no longer oversee The Ballpark, and the town will review a proposed ordinance that would create a new Ballpark Commission.

The Town Council voted Tuesday 4-1, with Councilor Robin Dayton casting the opposing vote, to cease the oversight of The Ballpark by the Conservation Commission. This includes the entire 49.6-acre parcel that encompasses the stadium and parking lot.

The council voted, unanimously, to hold a public hearing on March 2 to discuss a proposed town ordinance that would create a Town Council-appointed Ballpark Commission.

“It’s time for a formal business structure to take over and run The Ballpark,” said Town Councilor Michael Tousignant.

Renovations of The Ballpark began almost two years ago with a group of volunteers.

Last year, the group was put under the auspices of the Conservation Commission, because the commission is a body that can receive donations.

Andrea Berlin, chairwoman of the conservation commission, said the commission wanted to help The Ballpark group get the stadium in order. Now that things are in place, the commission wants to bow out and let the stadium and parking lot be overseen by a new ballpark group, said Berlin.

“We don’t want to be in the facilities management business,” she said.

Berlin said that the commission had hoped that land near the stadium could be used for other projects, such as a garden, and the commission could continue the workshop sessions that were held in 2006 to discuss the remaining land.

Councilor Robin Dayton expressed concern that taking away the current organizational structure would put a halt to the visions of change on the property by volunteers, who had expressed possibilities of a community garden or a community center.

“This is your land. It’s our land. This is public land. This isn’t something that the council can just take away from you,” said Dayton.

“Why would a Ballpark structure to run the facility have to control the rest of the acreage?” asked Dayton.

Tousignant said that people could still pursue ideas like walking trails or community garden.

“The only thing that’s happening here is a change of command,” said Councilor Michael Tousignant.

The new commission would have to seek Council approval before pursuing anything, he said. The Town Council is the controlling body, for The Ballpark property, said Council Chairwoman Sharri MacDonald.

 MacDonald said there was no “us and them” when it came to The Ballpark.

“This is everybody’s land,” she said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.