Community Voices: Fiscal Prudence or Administrative Bloat? Questioning the New Recreation Ordinance

Joe Idanza is a Resident of Berkeley Heights

It should be quite interesting to hear the reasoning behind dissolving the Volunteer Recreation Commission that has served the Berkeley Heights community since May 1, 1957 so well.

As per the proposed ordinance, two additional individual positions would be created

1) Recreation Administrator

and

2) Director of Recreation programming.

Both would report to the Township Administrator – for a township that is looking to be cost effective, it does not make fiscal sense.

The precedent that is being used from the Bd of Recreation Comm’rs v Rutherford, 166 NJ Super 476 (App. Div. 1979 – people in Berkeley Heights should be aware that the first lawsuit filed was in favor of the Commission – where the Judge ruled that the Rutherford Council was being arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable.

I look forward to a lively exchange of facts, opinions and comments at the town council meeting. I urge all to attend to hear and participate.

Submitted directly by the author; content reflects their own views