Residents defend recreation director and press council to halt changes amid anonymous complaint

Dozens of residents spoke at the July 21 council meeting in defense of Carolyn George and the Recreation Commission after the township received an anonymous letter that triggered county and state inspections of the playground camp.

Speakers described George’s long record of running youth programs and asked the council not to dissolve the volunteer commission or remove local oversight. “We owe this woman a public apology, and we owe her the formal recognition and backdated restitution funds for the immense labor that she has given to this town,” said Michelle Philippe, who gave her name and address during public comment.

Council response and next steps: Council members said they were unaware of many details and pledged to meet with rec commission members and review the anonymous complaint. Officials noted that the county and state inspections are standard procedures and that a small number of cleanup items were reportedly identified and are being addressed. The council agreed to provide an update to the community after following up with the recreation commission and the town’s contracted health inspectors.

Why it matters: The Recreation Commission runs summer programs that serve hundreds of local children; residents argued that abrupt structural changes or dissolving the commission could disrupt services and undermine long‑running volunteer contributions. Council members asked staff to prioritize clear communication and to bring the rec commission into discussions about next steps.

Sources: Public comments and council member responses recorded during the July 21 meeting.