The Pohatcong Recreation Association held a meeting on Thursday February 8, 2001 with 24 people present, including Dale Cells, President; Rich Etter, Vice President; and Karen Clasen Secretary. The January minutes were read and approved.

                                        TREASURER’S REPORT   

 

A report was given. Please attend a public recreation meeting for this information.

 

 

                                                SPORTS

 

CHEERING: Jeannie Vail reported the season is over. The revised cheering rules will be e-mailed to Dale Cells for review. Sign ups for football cheering will be held in April.

 

FOOTBALL:  Rich Etter reported the new scoreboard has been received. The football equipment has been sent out for re-conditioning.

 

SOCCER:  No Report

 

WRESTLING: Jay Cronce reported that the season is almost over, the league tournament will be held this weekend. Jay requested new singlets and warm up suits for next year.

 

BASKETBALL: Mike Duffy reported a raffle would be held next week for honor roll students. The winner will receive 4 tickets to the Nets Vs Bucks game. Mike is trying to arrange a game between the 8th grade boys and girls and the Pohatcong teachers to be held the 3rd week of March, Mike is still waiting for Mr. Jiorle’s response. The CBL league is investigating the large amount of technical fouls, there were 22 fouls reported for a one-month period of time.

 

SOFTBALL: Dale Hummer reported that the league President Fred Smith will be setting up a meeting at which time both Fred and Dale Hummer will step down as President and Vice President. All of the uniforms still have not been returned, Dale will ask for the uniforms at sign-ups. It is still undetermined if Julie Duffy will coach the midget team this year.

 

BASEBALL: Dale Cells reported that baseball sign-ups will be held on February 10th from 10:00-12:00 at the school. The fundraiser will be a coin toss, which will be scheduled for April 21st from 10:00 am – 2:00pm at the Walmart Plaza.

HOCKEY:  Jim Kern reported he is working on a school assembly program with Mr. Jiorle, where the former NJ Devils members will talk about merit, desire, and the importance of staying off drugs and alcohol. Jim also requested Hockey Dummies.

 

                                         TOWNSHIP REPORT

Steve Keyhayes reported the review of the Recreation budget is in process and should be completed in about one month.  Dale Cells asked Steve to work with us in regards to putting up the new scoreboard at Huntington Field. Rich Etter was told that the scoreboard is considered non-conformance use, and a variance will be required. Steve will check into the situation and obtain a variance if necessary. Dale has advised council that there is major concern with people abusing the Huntington Field. He has asked council to support the Association to get the police to patrol Huntington Field. Dale has called the police numerous times without results. There is an ordinance that states a permit must be obtained before using the field. Steve will speak with the Chief of Police in regards to this issue.

 

                                         COMMITTEE REPORT

 

No Report

                                         OLD BUSINESS

 

The second reading of the proposed by law was read, it states:

 

In the best interest of the children involved in the Pohatcong Recreation Association, the following proposal is being recommended for consideration:

 

A resident of Pohatcong Township or a parent of a child who resides in Pohatcong Township shall have first priority at any and all coaching positions if the coach is qualified. If and only if a qualified township resident or a parent of a child who resides in Pohatcong Township is not interested, the coaching position then shall be offered to an out of town resident who is qualified.

 

The third and finally reading will take place at the next meeting, and the proposal will then be voted on by the Association.

 

                                         NEW BUSINESS

 

Jay Cronce submitted a bylaw proposal to institute a Grievance Committee. The proposal states:

 

A motion is hereby made to add the following rule to the existing Pohatcong Township Recreational bylaws, which shall read as follows:

 

A “Grievance Committee” shall be established consisting of 4 voting members, the President of the Pohatcong Recreation Association and two alternate voting members, to handle any complaints lodged against any head or assistant coaches. Selection of the general members shall be by nomination and majority member vote and shall be elected on a yearly basis at the same time as the general elections. If the President of the P.R.A is not available or has conflict of interest, then the VP of the P.R.A shall be made a member of the Grievance Committee for that particular situation. In the event the President and the V.P. shall have conflicts or be unavailable then the Secretary (and then the  Treasurer) shall be made a member of the Grievance Committee for that particular situation. In the event a committee member is the individual of whom the complaint is against, or is the person filing the complaint or is unavailable or otherwise unable to deal with the matter in an unbiased manner, then 1st or 2nd alternate member shall preside over that particular matter of complaint. In order for a complaint to be reviewed by said committee, the person(s) making the the complaint shall have first spoken to the head coach of the team of which the complaint is based. Secondly, the person(s) filing the complaint shall contact and discuss the grievance with the Director of the applicable recreational program. Third, the person(s) filing the complaint shall contact the President of the Pohatcong Recreation. In the event the person(s) filing the complaint is not satisfied as to the outcome or the handling of the complaint after attempting to settle the matter in the preceding manner, then said complaint should be submitted in writing to the Grievance Committee. The Grievance Committee shall the review and discuss the complaint with the coach involved, the Director of the Recreational Program and the person(s) filing the complaint. The Grievance Committee shall also investigate the matter further by speaking to other people having knowledge of the situation. After, the Grievance Committee has finished its investigation of the complaint the President or a member of the committee appointed by the President shall contact the person filing the complaint to inform them as to the outcome of and the method by which the complaint will be resolved. All decisions made by the Grievance Committee shall be derived from a majority vote method and shall be final. All grievances shall be settled within two weeks from the time a written complaint is received by the Grievance Committee.

 

The proposal will be read at the next three consecutive meeting, and then the Association will vote.

 

 

Jim Burke made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Dale Hummer seconded the motion. It was voted unanimously passed and the meeting was adjourned.