UPPER FREEHOLD — Officials disagreed over whether the township should pay personnel to run the winter youth basketball program.
A resolution to employ personnel for the program passed in a 3-2 vote at the Oct. 15 Township Committee. Committeemen Bob Faber and Robert Frascella cast the dissenting votes. The basketball program is the only township youth program not run by volunteers.
According to the resolution, the program’s co-directors, Katie Bailey and Maureen Scibilia, would each receive salaries of $1,982. The two grade coordinators would receive $175 each. Senior officials would receive $20-$27 per hour. Junior officials would receive $15-$19 per hour. Scorekeepers would receive $7.25-$9.50 per hour.The resolution had been part of the consent agenda, but Frascella asked to have it pulled and voted on separately.
“I don’t think we should pay individuals to run recreational programs,” he said. “It should be done on a volunteer basis.”
Deputy Mayor Stan Moslowski Jr. said Frascella has a valid point, but that it was too late in the year for the committee to consider not paying the personnel.
Mayor Steve Alexander agreed with Moslowski and said, “At the eleventh hour, we would have to ask them to volunteer.”
Township Attorney Granville Michael Magee said the basketball personnel were scheduled to start work in 15 days. TownshipAdministrator Barbara Bascom said the township developed the program’s fee schedule based on paying the personnel.
Committeewoman Lori Horsnall Mount noted that the township has already collected this year’s fees from the program participants.
Alexander said winter basketball is the only recreation program that generates revenue for the township. He said the other sports programs cost the township. The mayor added that the Township Committee could reassess the recreation programs while developing the 2010 budget.
In August, resident Bill Byrnes brought a proposal for an independent, nonprofit volunteer basketball organization before the governing body.
At that time, Frascella said, “It’s odd that basketball is the only [sport] with paid administrators. If people are willing to do it on a volunteer basis, we should explore that. It would take the burden off the recreation office.”
At that time, Alexander said the basketball proposal should go before the township’s Recreation Committee at its September meeting. Frascella reported at the Oct. 15 meeting that the proposal “died a quick death” before the Recreation Committee.
Recreation Committee Chairman Steve Murphy said resident Joe Sensi appeared before the committee representing a group that included Byrnes and that had some “interesting ideas” concerning basketball.
The Recreation Committee tabled further discussion on the proposal, having forwarded a copy of the presentation to the Township Committee for review, according to Murphy.
“We have not received any documentation yet,” Murphy said. “It is my understanding, as of right now, that any rec basketball proposal from Bill and Joe has been withdrawn by those involved.”