Recreation Commission Appointments Made

Nine borough residents were approved by resolution to serve on the newly revived borough Recreation Commission at Monday night's Mayor and Council work session.

"We made it known that we were reconstituting the recreation commission," said Mayor Ann Subrizi. "We received almost 20 letters from people interested in helping out."

The mayor narrowed the list down to the nine residents who were appointed by unanimous resolution Monday night. 

• Joseph Ricciardelli: Term through 12/13/15
• John O'Grady: Term through 12/31/15
• Neil Gouldsbury: Term through 12/31/14
• Maura Henyecz: Term through 12/31/14
• Syed Ameen: Term through 12/31/13
• Tom Schreck: Term through 12/31/12
• Joe Albanese: Term through 12/31/11
• Patrick Matthews: Alternate 1--Term through 12/31/15
• Cesar A. Galvis: Alternate 2--Term through 12/31/14

There was a bit of confusion at the meeting because the length of the terms don't correspond with those listed in the new ordinance adopted on Jan. 24 which restored the Recreation Commission. 

The ordinance states:

The Recreation Commission will be served by commissioners and alternates subject to the following terms of office:

Three commissioners for an initial three year term; said terms to be renewed for three year terms in perpetuity; and three commissioners for an initial two year term; said terms to be renewed for three year terms in perpetuity and one commissioner and two alternate commissioners, Alternate I and Alternate II for an initial one year term; said terms to be renewed for three year terms in perpetuity.

Borough Attorney Mark Madaio said the terms listed in the ordinance were not compliant with the requirements of the state statute. The state requires the following terms on a commission: two five-year terms, two four-year terms, one three-year term, one two-year term and one single year appointment. One alternate must be for a four-year term and the other a five-year term according to the statute.

"We are going to amend our ordinance because it is inconsistent with the terms outlined in the state statute," said Borough Administrator Christine Demiris. "The amendment is going to be introduced at the Feb. 28 meeting." 

Resident Hedy Grant also pointed out during public comment that the math had been done incorrectly on the resolution as listed on the agenda. The terms listed were all off by one year. That will be corrected for the record, according to the borough. 

Subrizi appointed John O'Grady as the Chairman Pro Temp of the commission. O'Grady was selected since he was the most senior member of the commission and is now charged with notifying other members of their upcoming meeting.