Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • May 2, 2012 Franklin Lakes New ordinances affect recreation fees, peddling, signs by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council has introduced new ordinances to amend the fees for recreation programs, change the times that soliciting and peddling are permitted, and to clarify the regulation of illuminated signs. Certain recreation fees would be raised to keep programs self-sustaining and to cover the increased cost of safety equipment, which was unexpected according to Councilman Joseph Kelly, a member of the Recreation and Parks Committee. Some baseball and softball fees would be raised due to the increase in the cost of equipment and uniforms and the ongoing maintenance of the fields. Soccer fees would be raised to match the fees charged in other local communities and to cover the increased league costs for the increase in the number of children registering to play soccer in both the boys’ and girls’ programs. In addition, the ordinance indicates that the new fees would help the recreation department keep up with uniform and equipment demands and the cost of professional trainers who are now part of the borough’s program. The boys’ and girls’ lacrosse fees would be raised to cover the increased cost of training sessions, equipment, and field issues. The travel basketball fees would be raised to cover the increased cost of gym rentals and travel league fees. The proposed increases include adult basketball, from $100 to $120; recreation and travel basketball, from $115 to $130; baseball and softball, from $65 to $70 for K clinic; from $65 to $70 for first and second grades; from $75 to $80 for third and fourth grades. The fee for fifth to ninth grade baseball and softball will remain at $95. The fee for travel baseball and softball would rise from $115 to $125; boys’ lacrosse third to eighth grades would rise from $95 to $115; and girls’ lacrosse fees for third to eighth grades would rise from $85 to $100. The soccer fee for K clinic would rise from $45 to $50; from $55 to $60 for first and second grades; from $70 to $80 for third to eighth grades; and from $75 to $85 for grades 9 to 12. The peddling and soliciting ordinance would change the times that canvassing, peddling, and soliciting are permitted to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. Individuals would have to carry a permit with them all times. Currently, hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturdays, with no permitted time on Sundays. Franklin Lakes Borough Attorney Richard Lustgarten explained that the courts have found that solicitations must be allowed after dark, and they cannot be restricted. “That makes it difficult, but this change strikes a balance between the rights of the solicitors and public safety and it is a reasonable accommodation to provide access to Franklin Lakes,” Lustgarten said. Certain canvassers and solicitors will be exempt from the permit requirements, although all canvassers and solicitors must comply with the time limits set forth in this ordinance and the requirements of the borough’s “Do Not Knock Registry,” which permits residents to place their address on a list of addresses where canvassing, peddling, soliciting, itinerant vending, door-to-door sales, and any door-to-door commercial activities, are not permitted. Those exempt from the permit requirement are those engaged in the delivery of goods, wares, merchandise, or other articles in the regular course of business to the premises of persons ordering or entitled to receive the same; all agents acting on behalf of political, religious, charitable, and nonprofit organizations; any public utility (or its employees) which is subject to regulation by the State Board of Public Utilities Commission; the agent of any governmental units while in the discharge of its duties or obligations, although such persons must display the identification badge or card issued by their employer; and minor residents of the borough, under 18 years of age, who engage in solicitation for and distribution of newspapers and magazines. The borough’s illuminated sign ordinance would amend the borough code on signs to clarify that a maximum total of two signs are permitted in residential districts. Illuminated signs will not be permitted in residential districts except on houses of worship and educational facilities, but those signs must conform to the lighting and illumination standards of the borough. No LED signs, flashing or static, would be permitted. In addition, houses of worship and educational facilities would be permitted one sign to advertise their use. That sign could not exceed eight square feet in area. All three ordinances will be considered for adoption at the May 15 council meeting. For more than four decades, John Rosica, 76, of Franklin Lakes has been creating doodle art. Recently, his doodles were enlarged and presented framed and numbered. During the month of May, his his drawings will be exhibited in the main hall at Chilton Hospital, 97 West Parkway in Pompton Plains. Experts say doodling appears to allow a person’s subconscious to work and the brain to concentrate. Doodling is one of the ways of delving into the subconscious to bring out creative expressions and solutions in our everyday life. Often the doodles turn out so beautiful that doodling has become designated as an art form. Art marks the third career for Rosica. Beginning in the late 1950s, he began a 20-year career as an executive in the record industry. Over the years, he was an executive at RCA, Paramount, and A&M Records in New York and Los Angeles. He then launches his second career as founder of Rosica Public Relations. He was inducted into the Public Relations Hall of Fame in 2008. Resident exhibits ‘doodle art’ at hospital John Rosica