HOPATCONG RECREATION COMMISSION

MARCH 9, 2004

The meeting of the Hopatcong Recreation Commission was opened by John Young at 8:00 p.m. with a statement that this meeting is held in accordance with the Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-1 et seq., annual notice having been forwarded to The New Jersey Herald, The Daily Record and The News-Leader and posted on the bulletin board maintained in the Municipal Building for public announcements.

ROLL CALL:

PRESENT: Dave Barnish

Janet Bunnicant

Cindy Klein

Dave Levin

Joan Reilly

Dennis Tobin

John Young

Also in attendance were Debbie Armeno, Recreation Coordinator and Laurie Spaziani, Council Liaison.

John Young led the Salute To The Flag.

MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Ralph LoBue representing Hopatcong Travel Baseball would like to know when the field permits will be issued.

John Young announced that the Commission has a proposed schedule but there has been some confusion over the last month, but some of the permits may be issued at tonight’s meeting and some questions regarding other permits will be discussed this evening. Within the next week to ten days, everything should be resolved and permits should be issued.

Kerry Baker said that his request for Nariticong Field on Sundays between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm have been rescinded with notification by Debbie Armeno.

John Young said this is one of the issues to be discussed. Kerry Baker said he sponsors teams throughout many towns and these teams are not all Hopatcong children. John said that there is a town ordinance which we must comply, that all teams using town facilities can only have three players per team from out of town with the exceptions being that you are a high school graduate, you’re grand fathered or if you are an employee of the borough or the police department. John said that this is not something that we can waive, this is an ordinance and the Commission has no choice but to comply with it.

Dennis Tobin added that the ordinance was put into place for both softball and baseball.

Kerry Baker and the Commission discussed the field space and the ordinance and what teams we have out there and how many kids we have in Hopatcong that need field space. John Young reminded Kerry that we must comply with the ordinance. Dennis Tobin said we have to provide programs for the kids in town that will give them opportunities to compete no matter what the caliber of the kids are. Our in town kids should be our main focus.

Laurie Spaziani read the guidelines of the permit requirements and appeals. Laurie read Kerry Baker how and what to do to appeal the denial of the decision of the Recreation Commission.

Joan Reilly made a motion to put the permit in travel baseball’s name at this time. Dennis Tobin seconded the motion and all were in favor.

John Young said the field walk is tentatively planned for March 13, 2004 weather permitting.

Chris Anderson from the Hopatcong Warriors is questioning funds for the lighting on Veteran’s Field.

John Young stated that the Recreation Commission does not have the authority to make capital improvements to borough facilities. The decision to put lights on Veteran’s Field was not made from the Recreation Commission, and the Commission has not accepted any funds contributing towards the lighting on Veteran’s Field.

Laurie Spaziani told Chris Anderson that the concept of putting lights on Veteran’s Field was brought to Mayor and Council by the soccer program and they offered a donation towards the lights. The soccer program did some fund raising for this purpose. The Council approved to fully light one field and half lighting another field to be used for practice. The donation went up to approximately $17,000.00 when it was decided to half light the second field. The donation was accepted from the soccer program by the Town Council and it was specifically told to the soccer program that it absolutely gave them no ownership to the field or to the lights.

Chris Anderson wanted to know when he would have the results to find out what fields they have.

John Young said the Commission needs to make some changes as to the information regarding field requests. The Fall season has not been decided on yet and John is not sure when he can give Chris a time for the field usage but it will be handled in a timely manner.

Nick Nemeth from Hopatcong Hawks Soccer drafted a letter to the Commission for a needs assessment. Nick would also like to correct the amount that was donated for the lights on Veteran’s Field. The total was $21,980.00. Joan Reilly thanked Nick Nemeth.

MEETING CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

John Young said the Commission needs a motion to continue the services of Marie Filoso as Recording Secretary. Joan Reilly made a motion to continue the services of Marie Filoso as Recording Secretary at $75.00 per meeting. Dennis Tobin seconded the motion.

ROLL CALL: Dave Barnish

Janet Bunnicant

Cindy Klein

Dave Levin

Joan Reilly

Dennis Tobin

John Young

ALL WERE IN FAVOR.

APPROVAL OF THE FEBRUARY 10, 2004 MINUTES

Joan Reilly made a motion to approve the February 10, 2004 minutes. Cindy Klein seconded the motion and all were in favor, with Dennis Tobin abstaining.

APPROVAL OF THE SPRING FIELD SCHEDULE

With resolving the changes for Nariticong Field on Sunday and the Jefferson Field time changed to 9:00 am on Saturday and 10:00 am on Sunday, John Young would like to approve the Spring Field Schedule. Joan Reilly made a motion to approve the Spring Field Schedule as amended with the time changes. Dave Levine seconded the motion and all were in favor.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Debbie Armeno is requesting that a resolution be done on the two unpaid (outstanding) payments for Summer Recreation. One being a $20.00 return check fee and another being $50.00 for a check that bounced for basketball. These fees have to be waived because the people that owe this money have moved and cannot be located.

Joan Reilly made a motion to no longer seek the restitution and draft a resolution for $70.00, the two outstanding bills for Recreation. Dennis Tobin seconded the motion and all were in favor.

John Young asked Debbie Armeno to make copies of the 2004 Budget Proposal.

Janet Bunnicant is questioning the duties and responsibilities of Art Buehrer. Joan Reilly explained what his responsibilities should be. Janet said when the Commission voted on Art’s salary and the raise that he was going to get, that she thought he did this job for over a twelve month period. Joan said he does work over a period of twelve months. Janet would like to know what his contract states and what is his job description. Janet’s concern is that she would like to know if we’re paying two people to do the same job. Debbie Armeno said Art gives her anything that has to be typed, any clerical work, all of the ordering and anything that needs to be copied. Debbie said she gave the letter of recommendation for Art’s salary from the Board Members to the Borough Administrator for his review.

Dave Levine suggested getting a copy of job descriptions the next time the Commission has to vote on this type of matter in the future.

Dennis Tobin is asking Janet Bunnicant if it would be a good suggesting on the part of the Commission to develop a job description for that person. Janet said that is absolutely right.

Debbie said $14,000.00 was requested in the budget for the Summer Recreation salaries.

Debbie said she would like to know what the decision is on the issue with the locks so she could get to work on this before the season starts.

Janet Bunnicant made a motion to change the key system to an interchangeable core with ten keys to each organization and however many keys need to go to the borough. Dennis Tobin seconded the motion and all were in favor.

John Young suggested that if we could get all the programs to cooperate, along with Debbie Armeno, to get together and facilitate registrations for each sport and if we could figure out three registration dates per sport season and we could publicize in town. We could display on all the bulletin boards in town, in school letters and newsletters.

Laurie Spaziani announced the Commission’s Capital Budget and it’s changes. Laurie also showed the Commission the plans and options for the fields.

John Young said from what he is hearing from the Board Members, no one wants to reduce the size of the fields and the engineer should do a survey of the property for drainage purposes before making a decision on spending any sizable amount of money.

ADJOURN

Joan Reilly made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 9:50 pm. Cindy Klein seconded the motion and all were in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Marie Filoso

Recording Secretary