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Residents urge long-term plan for fields, ask town to ease volunteer background-check burden
Summary
Volunteer recreation leaders and residents urged the Old Tappan council to adopt a long-term capital plan for athletic fields and to make background checks and fingerprinting more convenient or reimbursed for volunteer coaches; council members said budget reviews are underway and will consider options.
At public comment the borough heard sustained concerns about the condition and maintenance of youth-sports facilities and about volunteer costs tied to background checks.
Rob, a longtime volunteer with the borough’s Recreation and Sports program, described recurring problems at multiple fields — Gallagher, Chestnut and Stone Point — including deteriorating backstops and fences, field sinking and drainage issues, and an aging batting cage and gazebo roof. "We need a long-term plan," he said, arguing that piecemeal fixes leave recurring problems unresolved. Rob asked the borough to use DPW GIS mapping and photographs to prioritize capital improvements during the budget process.
Rob also raised administrative issues: declining volunteerism, difficulties securing paid umpires and referees because of tax-reporting and W-4 requirements, and that volunteers currently bear the cost of required fingerprint-based background checks (the fee was discussed as about $65). Council members acknowledged the time volunteers invest and said the council has spent multiple sessions reviewing departmental budgets; they said some of Rob’s concerns (fencing, batting cages, roofing) were noted for possible inclusion in the capital plan and flagged DPW superintendent Danny Braberry to follow up.
Council members discussed options to ease the fingerprinting process — including a single on-site day for volunteers or partial fee reimbursement — and noted ongoing discussions with the auditor about how umpire and referee payments are processed to comply with financial controls.
Councilwoman Christine and Council members said they would work with Recreation, DPW and administration staff to map fields in GIS, link photographic evidence, and consider funding during budget deliberations. No formal motion was taken at the meeting; council indicated the topics will move into budget and departmental follow-up work.
