March 16, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Recreation director resignation raises resident concerns Midland Park Borough officials told a room full of residents last week that they are exploring options to replace Recreation Director Lori Dent, who resigned unexpectedly late last month. Residents with children in the recreation programs and teenagers who volunteered or worked as counselors in training (CIT) in the town’s successful summer camp packed the regular meeting of the mayor and council to praise Dent for her work with their children and for building up the recreation programs in the 10 years she had held the position. To questions from the audience, Mayor Joseph Monahan said that the council was waiting for recommendations from the board of recreation about filling the position. He said options besides a full-time replacement might be part-time with clerical assistance or sharing a director with another community. He said the full-time salary amount was still in the recreation budget, and that no reductions had been made to the amounts for programs recommended by Dent during the budgetary process. Councilman Nick Papapietro said that it was important to continue the excellent program in place and said that if when the review process was completed it was determined that a full time position was warranted, he would be supportive. Councilwoman Nancy Peet she envisioned focusing on daytime programs for all ages and after-school mentoring in addition to sports programs. Councilman Scott Pruiksma, the recreation liaison, said the recreation board was holding an open house this week to see who would be interested in filling the position as well as the summer camp director job and how to provide continuity. “We are trying to be as proactive as we can,” Pruiksma said. He said that CIT had also been asked to reapply. “We have no confidence in the recreation board to pick our next recreation director,” said Patricia Allen of Pine Street. She and others asked that members of the public be involved in the process. Monahan agreed, and asked anyone with questions or concerns about the programs to submit them to the borough clerk for the council to address them. Several speakers asked why Dent’s issues had not been addressed prior to her resignation and asked that she be approached to return. In an email sent out following her resignation to the volunteers she had worked with during her tenure in Midland Park, Dent said that her decision “was not made suddenly, but is a result of all the changes made over the last eighteen months” in borough management. “The recent change of our administrator, and changes in how I was expected to perform my job and execute my responsibilites, have led to my decision to resign…,” she said. “You failed to investigate her work environment. Was it in our best interest? Consider getting her back. Make us proud of our town again,” said Mary Bradley of Millington Drive. Kathy Rinaldo read a letter signed by her younger sister and 13 other sixth graders, who said that the town “should have gone after her (Dent) to get her to come back.” “You got a bargain with her. More service than you paid out. She was good for my children, good for the town. Regardless of personal strife, you should put the good of the whole above personal differences,” commented Chris Carrione of Colonial Road, who commented that Dent put time and effort beyond her day-to-day routine, including coordinating programs and schedules and assisting with the sports leagues. Vincent Criscenzo of Highwood Avenue, who heads the soccer program, said his 500-player organization could not have functioned without Dent’s help. “I wonder if her efforts were recognized by the people taking her time sheets apart. She coordinated so many schedules, from tennis to the town picnic to the coach background checks for more than 100 coaches,” Criscenzo said. “I hope we didn’t miss the big picture and got hung up on petty little things which hurt our kids and our property values.” “She got volunteers; she connected with teen agers. She gave them confidence. She cannot be replaced,” said Allen. “Our community is broken. Our camp produces wonderful young adults,” said Debbie Cirino of Spruce Street in reference to the structured CIT program Dent had instituted. “She was more than a boss. She was a mentor, an inspiration, a friend. She helped us grow… She’s irreplaceable,” said former CIT Molly Simone of Vreeland Avenue. In Home PERSONAL TRAINING • Flexible Scheduling • Nutrition Guidance • Sports Specific Training • Men, Women, Children & Couples With Brad Lose 20 lbs in 10 Weeks Insured Degreed & Certified For Free Consultation call: TONE UP/LOSE FAT/ FEEL GREAT 201-925-0381 Franklin Lakes Chamber of Commerce is hosting a multi chamber event with APRIL 6, 2011 – 5:30 - 8:00 pm Wyckoff, Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, Waldwick & Midland Park ����������� 4 th ANNUAL Presenting Sponsor TO GROW DEAS I 5 K RUN AND 1 MILE WALK Proceeds to benefit Kisses 4 Kelly and the community of Waldwick Date: Location: Registration: OU Guest Speaker is G. 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