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By M. PAUL JACKSON michaelj@leader.net
Friday, March 07, 2003 Page: 3A
First nightclubs, then schools. Now, hotels and convention facilities have
joined the list of those critical of Pennsylvania’s new chaperone law.
Under the regulation passed last month, functions held at facilities with a
liquor license must include one chaperone for every five people under age 21.
Previously, the law mandated one chaperone for every 50 underage guests.
The owners of banquet facilities are worried the law will make it difficult
to find enough chaperones to hold proms at area locations such as the
Woodlands Inn & Resort, the Waterfront Professional Park and Genetti Hotel &
Convention Center.
Some proms involve 500 students, meaning a school would have to find – and
supply food for – 100 chaperones, said Kelly Horn, the Waterfront’s special
events coordinator.
“It’s not only a space issue, but it’s a cost issue,” Horn said.
“Something like that can really bury a company.”
Business owners believe the Legislature will amend the law within weeks.
The Waterfront, in Plains Township, is scheduled to hold about seven proms
this year, Horn said. No schools have canceled.
Still, “this is a growing concern,” she said.
Other event managers agreed.
Nadine Howe, general manager of the East Mountain Inn in Plains Township,
worries schools might have difficulty affording the extra chaperones and might
cancel events at the banquet facilities.
“It’s definitely a detriment to people who are sponsoring proms.”
East Mountain has only one prom scheduled this season and the participating
school has enough chaperones, Howe said.
Gus Genetti, owner of the Genetti Hotel & Convention Center in downtown
Wilkes-Barre, said legislation is expected to be introduced this month that
would change the regulation.
The hotel typically hosts up to 13 proms a year, said Genetti Manager Kal
Kazimi. No schools have canceled scheduled proms there, he said.
“There’s a lot of opposition to the law,” Genetti said. “We expect there
will be legislative action to correct this bill so that life can go on for
those that want to have a prom and be able to remember it.”
M. Paul Jackson, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7134.