June 19, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Midland Park The recreation coordinator position in Midland Park will become full time as of July 1. The current part-time coordinator, Kathleen LaMonte, was appointed to the 37 1/2 –hour a week post last week. “I’m thrilled to have a full-time director who puts her heart and soul into the job. She knows the children, and they are comfortable with her,” said Borough Administrator Addie Hanna. LaMonte assumed the part-time position two years ago at a salary of $25,000 with no benefits. The new salary for the 12-month post will be $40,000 with benefits, Hanna said. There will be no over- LaMonte will handle recreation department full time time/compensatory time, and the schedule will be flexible to accommodate seasonal programming changes. Board of Recreation President Robert Sansone said the board recommended the time increase because too much time was required to do supervisory duties and paper work, not leaving LaMonte enough time to devote to programming. “Kathy has done an unbelievable job as a part-time person, but we needed a fulltime position to increase the activities we can present to residents,” Sansone said. “We can make more happen for children and adults as well,” he added. Among the duties of the expanded position will be to expand the recreational camp program, including extended care and involvement with Waldwick; revitalize the winter and summer theater arts and other programs, particularly during daytime hours; and greater community outreach, already being done with the high school’s athletic director. The coordinator is responsible for all the recreation programs, the summer camp, and special events, such as Midland Park Day in September, Halloween parade and costume contest, the holiday tree lighting, Easter egg hunt and Olympic Day. She also administers the scheduling of borough recreation facilities and the board of education fields and courts in conjunction with the MPHS athletic director. To get the funds for the expanded position, the board of recreation made cuts in other areas of its budget, Pruiksma said. The summer recreation core staff will be reduced by one, for a savings of $2,500. The after-school barn attendant time will also be reduced, since LaMonte will be on duty during those hours. Additionally, he said, summer camp surplus will be applied to the position as well. A 19-year Midland Park resident, LaMonte had been involved in various aspects of the town’s recreation programs prior to becoming its head in 2011. She covered the after-school hours at the DePhillips center daily and worked as an evening substitute there. She also served on the Midland Park Baseball Association Board of Directors for three years, ran the snack bar, and volunteered in the sports programs in which her children, 17-yearold Joey and 15-year-old Leanne, participated. Prior to retiring to raise a family, she was a medical transcriber.