Following a series of complaints and unpaid fees, the Rutherford Recreation Department switched vendors for its Girls’ Softball Clinic. The change from Lyndhurst-based All Pro Academy to a newly formed group of local softball players left some parents asking "why."
Flyers handed out at Pierrepont School on Jan. 31 advertised the new vendor with a new price. Councilman John Sasso said the price increase was a direct result of a budget cut. The borough had kicked in $3,000 annually to subsidize the price of the former clinic. Also, All Pro Academy owed the town $700 in unpaid fees for the use of recreation fields. All Pro Academy did not use Rutherford fields for the softball clinic.
The department repeatedly demanded payment from All Pro Academy. The company also did not contact the borough about hosting another event. A representative from All Pro Academy did not return phone calls.
Sasso said although finances were a factor in the switch, complaints about the former vendor also paved the way for a change. According to Sasso, parents complained about the ratio of instructors to kids and school custodians noted that clinic instructors arrived late, leaving children unsupervised. Tardiness also cut instruction time short, according to Sasso.
Finally, the individual who ran the camp could often be spotted in the stands convincing parents to pay for private lessons through him, Sasso said. "Those complaints have been consistent for two years," he added.
Recreation Department secretary Barbara Bennett approached Sasso about switching to a group of young women interested in taking over the clinic. The new group, headed by Madlyn Mignone, who assistant coached softball in Rutherford last year, showed enthusiasm for taking over the clinic, said Sasso. "They’re experienced softball players. They’re college level," he said. "Why not take a chance on a different vendor?"
The clinic will cost $100 per student for five 90-minute sessions. The previous clinic cost parents $20 for a total of eight hours of instruction, 30 minutes less than the new clinic. Rutherford charges the organizers of the clinic $10 per participant for all clinics and camps run through the Recreation Department. All Pro Academy had a separate agreement with the former recreation director. Bennett declined to comment on that agreement.
The new instructors include three Rutherford High School graduates and a Queen of Peace High School grad, as well as Mignone. "These girls area all homegrown and they have a passion and a love for the game. You can see it in their eyes," said Mignone.
Two of the instructors, Amanda Jones and Jessica Murden, provide softball instruction through Lefty’s Sports Academy in Clifton. The other two instructors play softball for the recreation league with Mignone.
The group will also offer a free clinic for coaches with former Rutherford High School Softball Varsity Coach Ish Falcon. All of the coaches will be attending a Rutgers Coaches Certification, which the department requires of all coaches, according to Bennett.
Background checks have not been completed for the coaches, as the department does not require them for volunteer coaches. Nonetheless, the borough recently passed an ordinance dictating a code of conduct for recreation sporting events, including a code for coaches, players and people in attendance, said Sasso.
Still, confusion arose when flyers ended up in the take home folders of Pierrepont School students on Jan. 31. George Hughes, a Girls’ softball coach and parent, questioned the department, Sasso and Mayor John Hipp about the switch. After waiting for answers for weeks, Hughes garnered 74 signatures from members of the community demanding answers to his questions about the new clinic.
As of Feb. 12, 15 girls have signed up for the softball clinic. The deadline is Feb. 29. Seventy-one girls signed up last year.
Sasso and Hipp, both sworn into office in January, did not provide him with the answers promptly and the understaffed Recreation Department remained mum on the topic until recently. Hughes believes the absence of a recreation director has put a strain on department operations. "The most glaring thing in this whole situation is that Rutherford Recreation is a mess. They need to get a director in there," said Hughes. "[Bennett] is one person doing the job of many."
The Recreation Department has been without a director since the summer and Bennett is currently the only full-time employee. The previous administration sat on resumes last year, said Sasso. The council will soon reopen the search for candidates and bring former candidates back in to see if they are still interested. In the meantime, the short-staffed Recreation Department has been forced to work very hard, said Sasso.
