During a chaotic Township Committee meeting Monday, which included one committee member abruptly departing while announcing his resignation, a decision to eliminate the position of Knowlton’s recreation director was punted into next year.
The committee was poised to vote on adoption of an ordinance that would have eliminated the position of part-time recreation director and create the role of part-time event planner to oversee and expand recreation programs in the township.
Objections voiced by several residents and Mayor Fran Van Horn, along with Committee Member Mike Bates, derailed the proposal for now.
In addition to the changes with the recreation director job, the plan being considered calls for the creation of an additional Department of Public Works Dept. position to handle tasks related to maintenance and infrastructure needs.
Van Horn said he opposed the measure, saying he thought the cost of hiring another DPW worker at a full-time salary did not make sense.
“And if we have to, how do you present this?” Van Horn asked. “We’re going to pay him $75 to $80,000, and that’s exactly what it’s going to be. And we’re going to get rid of a person who does the same thing for $15,000.”
Other opponents of the change, many of whom are involved with the independent Knowlton Athletic Association, said they are satisfied with the current arrangement.
Heather Reynolds, vice president of the KAA, expressed concerns about the organization’s relationship with the township if the change is made, particularly regarding Tunnel Field, where most of the recreation and athletic programs are held.
“We’re concerned about other people who are interested in using the facility,” Reynolds said. “Can we get booted out?”
Megan Davis, treasurer of the KAA, agreed about the existing arrangement and concerns about Tunnel Field.
“I am here to lobby for keeping the position of recreation director,” Davis said. “We have somebody in that position who has been loyal to us for 12 years. Tunnel Field, again, is at the heart of our kids, our families who gather there.”
A principal concern of the KAA in removing the recreation director in favor of a DPW employee, is that during previous experiences, the DPW “Dropped the ball,” said KAA president Nicole Dabkowski, and did not follow through as promised on recreation-related tasks.
“Nothing was set up for soccer,” she added. “They didn’t come set up the benches.”
Bates said the problem is that too many objectives directed by the committee do not come to fruition.
“Do you know how many things get approved here and don’t get followed through with? It’s disgusting. It’s disgusting,” Bates said.
While voicing his opposition, the usually amiable Bates grew uncharacteristically angry to the point that he stood up and shouted.
“I can’t keep my mouth shut anymore. Everybody, it has been a pleasure representing you. I can no longer sit here and even pretend for a minute that what goes on here is right,” Bates said. “I’m voting no on the director spot, just up for the record. Here are my keys.”
While Monday’s committee meeting would have been his last as he lost his re-election bid in November, his term officially ends on Dec. 31. It was unclear if his verbal resignation qualified as a formal end to his term.
Contacted afterward, Bates said, “I regret losing my composure on Monday evening but stand by what I said. In the future I strongly encourage people to go to meetings and ask questions.”
A vote on the matter was tabled. By the next regular committee, Bates and Van Horn, who did not run for re-election, will have left the governing body. Ryan Lembeck and former committee member and mayor Adele Starrs who will be sworn in at the committee’s reorganization Jan. 6 will inherit the issue.
Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
- Joe Phalon, Contributing Writerhttps://ridgeviewecho.com/author/joe-phalon-contributing-writer/
