Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 14, 2013 Franklin Lakes Borough amends recreation code of conduct by Frank J. McMahon The Franklin Lakes Council has adopted an ordinance that amends the recreation and parks section of the bor- ough code relating to repeated violations of the code of conduct. The ordinance amends paragraph D of Section 107-4 of the code of conduct entitled “repeat violations” to state that “any person suspended from recreation activities for a vio- lation of any code of conduct provision for a period of one game or more shall be permanently banned for any second code of conduct violation.” Previously, this section did not provide for a permanent ban from recreation activities for a second violation of any code of conduct provision. The new ordinance also requires that all directors and coaches must attend and become certified through the Rut- gers University Athletic Safety Program. When the ordinance was introduced in June, Mayor Frank Bivona explained that the previous ordinance was not clear enough. This ordinance makes it clear that a second event will ban a violator permanently. Councilman Joseph Kelly explained further that there were a number of inci- dents last season, and a stronger ordinance was needed. Earlier this year, the council adopted an ordinance that amended and supplemented certain provisions of the bor- ough code pertaining to the recreation code of conduct and the processes for enforcing the code of conduct. Provisions on bullying, harassment, and aggressive physical conduct were also added. That ordinance listed certain types of conduct as pro- hibited and a violation of the code. They include fights, scuffles, aggressive verbal arguments and threats; initiat- ing a fight or scuffle, aggressive verbal argument, or any type of physical altercation or abuse or threats of abuse, toward any participant, parent, guest, spectator, coach, or official. That ordinance also prohibited interfering with recre- ation activities, entering a field of play, court or rink during any youth sporting event for the purpose of physically of verbally abusing or confronting coaches; using obscene or profane language or making obscene gestures or racial, ethnic, or sexual slurs, or throwing objects onto a field of play, court, or rink. In addition, that ordinance specifically prohibits bullying, harassment, or other forms of aggres- sive behavior and aggressive physical contact with partici- pants. Under that ordinance, allegations or claims of violations of the code of conduct can be presented to the recreation and parks director or the Code of Conduct Committee to initiate an investigation of conduct that may constitute a violation of the code. Based on the severity of the viola- tion, an individual can be suspended for a period of time to be determined by the director or the Code of Conduct Committee, or permanently banned from participating in recreation programs. All appeals of any ban or suspension must be made to the recreation and parks department’s Code of Conduct Committee and a final appeal can be made to the Final Appeal Committee, which consists of the borough admin- istrator, a member of the borough council who has been designated Recreation Committee liaison, and the chair of the Recreation and Parks Committee. The appeal commit- tee will establish the procedures to review the matter and will be authorized to make a determination regarding the appropriateness of the penalty. Welcome Back Meeting scheduled Mary Ann West, coordinator of Valley Home Care’s Butterflies Program, will be the guest speaker at the Frank- lin Lakes Branch of the Valley Hospital Auxiliary’s Wel- come Back Meeting on Monday, Sept. 9 at 10:30 a.m. The group meets at the Franklin Lakes Public Library located at 470 DeKorte Drive. The Butterflies program serves infants and children who have been diagnosed with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses. The program provides comprehensive home care services that focus on comfort and relief of suffering for the child and support for their parents, siblings, and extended family members. Members who bring a potential new member or friend to the meeting will be eligible to win a prize. Anyone who joins the auxiliary that day will receive an auxiliary cook- book and will also have an opportunity to win a prize. The meeting is open to the community. The Valley Hospital Auxiliary’s pledge is to raise $1.5 million for expansion of the hospital’s breast surgery pro- gram at the Luckow Pavilion, which will include a dedi- cated mammography suite and ultrasound suite; and to support Valley Home Care’s Butterflies program, a pallia- tive care and hospice program for children. For more information or to become a member, contact Eileen Leone at (201) 848-9330, Paddlelady@aol.com or June Linz at (201) 396-9711, Junel1369@live.com.