HYAA appeals to Holmdel to help reduce $6K deficit Group also wants Cross Farms soccer fields restriped

Staff Writer

By cindy tietjen

HYAA appeals to Holmdel to help reduce $6K deficit
Group also wants
Cross Farms soccer
fields restriped

HOLMDEL — Members of the Holmdel Youth Activities Association (HYAA) are hoping the township will help pay down a $6,009 debt.

According to Treasurer John Graziano, HYAA was formed more than 30 years ago in 1970 when Holmdel was too small to have its own recreation department.

Graziano, who has been treasurer for the past five years, said that the nonprofit group is normally self-sufficient.

"This is the first time in over a decade that we have had to ask for the township’s assistance," said Graziano.

Township officials said they are ready to work with HYAA and plan to meet soon with representatives of various township organizations, including the Board of Education.

HYAA uses courts and fields that are owned by the school board or the township, and pays a user fee to the school board for the use of indoor basketball courts and also for soccer fields at Holmdel Village School.

Mayor Gary Aumiller did express some concern as to whether the township can provide funding for a private organization.

"While I feel that HYAA is a very fine organization, if you give to one private organization, you might have to give to all of them," said Aumiller.

"I feel that it is in the best interest of the children who are involved in HYAA to give them the money," said Committeeman Terence Wall, who was involved in HYAA as a child. "To give a modest payment to liquidate this debt is entirely reasonable."

Currently, HYAA provides recreational programs for 1,200 youths. The league offers soccer, basketball, softball and baseball programs for children ranging in age from 5 to 18.

"The reason we are asking for help is so we can afford to run the programs," said Graziano.

In the past, HYAA has paid $75,000 for lights and another $40,000 to build two outdoor basketball courts at Phillips Park, which accounts for the depleted budget.

According to Aumiller, there will be a meeting this month in which all aspects of the HYAA request will be discussed.

"We are definitely planning to work with them," said Aumiller.

According to Graziano, the group’s financial trouble is not related to its former president, John C. Natale, who last year admitted to authorities that he had bilked investors out of nearly $40 million while managing funds at Cambridge Partners in Red Bank.

John Scagnelli became the president of HYAA after Natale left.

According to Graziano, the organization is also asking the township for help with other problems.

"The striping on the soccer fields at Cross Farms is not up to regulation," said Graziano. "Therefore, while we can use those fields for practice, we cannot use them in actual games."

Graziano said that they would need the township to restripe the fields.

"This is not an us versus them issue," said Wall. "We should work together so we don’t have to worry about which kids will get shirts and which won’t because HYAA doesn’t have the money."

"A one-time infusion of cash to keep them on their feet is not that much to ask," he said.