Midland Park May 19, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 About 30 Midland Park residents, most of them coaches in the local recreational sports programs, attended last week’s meeting of the mayor and council to find out how the recreation code of conduct is being applied. A similar, larger group had attended the board of recreation meeting earlier in the month posing similar questions. The mayor and council members listened to the speakers but did not respond to any of the dozen questions posed. Borough Attorney Robert Regan said that because the individual involved has legal counsel, he had advised the governing body “not to engage in any discussion.” At issue is the suspension and subsequent reinstatement of a softball association board member and coach in the recreation program allegedly for repeated violations of the athletic code of conduct. According to sources who did not want to be identified, the infractions were related to verbal abuse and did not occur against his team members or their parents but rather against the coaches, team members or parents of the teams on which his children were playing. Before assuming coaching positions, all volunteers sign the code of conduct, pledging to engage in good sportsmanship. “There is a total lack of communication. We don’t know what went wrong,” said Mike Fuliani of Pine Street. “We don’t know when it will happen to us, when we will get a certified letter saying we have been suspended,” he added. “Who asked the attorney to get involved,” asked Joe Furlong of Hillside Avenue. “Something went wrong and Residents question code of conduct enforcement you guys are hiding behing legalize. It’s a very scary process.” Mayor Joseph Monahan responded that the governing body had not been involved and had not directed its attorney to become involved. He directed attendees to go back to the board of recreation and address their questions about the process to that group. The board is a volunteer body appointed by the mayor with the consent of the council. Ed Bell of Irving Street said that in previous years such a controversy would not have reached the town council nor the board of recreation. “It would have been handled within the association. All of the sudden no one goes to the association; they jump over to the board of rec and the council. Tell the people to go to the association,” Bell said. Several members of the audience referred to problems last year which led to a number of softball association officers being asked to resign their positions and being suspended from coaching any sport for a year. “What about the others that were asked to step down? Will they be reinstated? If we have a code of conduct and it’s not enforced, what good is it? We can put this to rest if the code of conduct is enforced,’ said Chris Kontos of Payne Avenue. “It’s a decision for the board of recreation,” the mayor said. The 2009 code reads, in part: “It is therefore essential for parents, coaches and offi- cials to encourage youth athletes to embrace the values of good sportsmanship. Moreover, adults involved in youth sports events should be models of good sportsmanship and should lead by example by demonstrating fairness, respect and self control. “I therefore pledge to be responsible for my words and actions while attending, coaching, officiating or participating in a youth sports event and shall conform my behavior to the following code of conduct: “I will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct with any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee; … “I will not engage in verbal or physical threats or abuse aimed at any coach, parent, player, participant, official or any other attendee,” and other similar promises. ne rting 5 th St a Boy Scout Troop 157 will hold its annual All American Scout Café on Friday, May 28, at the Midland Park Fire House, 45 Witte Drive from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Meatball subs, sausage and pepper subs, hotdogs, and old fashioned apple pie will be some of the menu selections. Tickets are $5for a meal, which includes a choice of subs, Annual All American Scout Café set Ju ��������������������� hotdogs, dessert, and a drink. Items may also be purchased separately, and takeout orders are welcome. A special discount will be given to honor all veterans for the Memorial Day weekend. In the event of rain, seating will be set up inside the firehouse. ������������������������������������������ ��������������������������� ���������������������������� ��������� ������ �������� ��������������� ����������������������������� presents... Presents 2ND ANNUAL SPRING GALA PERFORMANCE Saturday, June 5th, 1:00 PM & 7:00 PM 5-19-10 At Berrie Center for the Arts, Ramapo College. Rosario’sFarmer’sMarket2x4 2col x 4” Joan/Ester... from Nancy REVISED1 Janine ���������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������