Little league mounts large protest against the council

Parents claim utility shed relocation creates a safety hazard for young athletes Byram - Nothing brings people out on a rainy night like something that affects their kids. About 30 parents, managers and coaches of the Hob Engler Little League proved that to the Byram Township Council Monday night as they packed the municipal meeting room, nearly depleting the tray of cookies the Council’s staff always leaves out. The issue was a baseball storage shed that was moved last week from a central location amid the four diamonds at C. O. Johnson Park to a spot past the football storage area about 300 yards away. While a number of parents complained of its inaccessibility, Nick Cutrone of Forest Lakes, cut to the chase as he said “this is a safety issue, not a schlepping issue.” Cutrone pointed out many parents have to drop off their Little Leaguers and ferry other children to activities either on fields elsewhere or at different venues. Often a coach and a couple of assistants are present to supervise, while other adults retrieve and set up the equipment. However, having more than one adult available is not always the case because one person may be running late. “In the old spot, we could see all fields,” Cutrone said. “Now, should there be no one to supervise, the coach has to wait, especially with t-ball or instructional league children, until a parent comes by and can stay (with the children) or until an assistant gets to the field. In addition to the safety issue, the relocation of the shed is forcing coaches to go on the roadway with the striper, the machine used to mark the fields, to cover the 300-yard distance. According to Brian Tufaro the shed was relocated because some considered it an eyesore. Members of the council informed the parents that plans to move the shed were discussed previously by the council and representatives of the recreation commission. As a result of the parents’ arguments, the council authorized Township Manager Greg Popp to meet with representatives of the recreation commission and the Little League to decide on a better placement for the shed. The council did not agree to a request by Steve Carrivo, to have municipal employees do the striping of the fields. The task currently falls on the coaches. In response to other complaints that the members of the recreation committee have no children participating in its programs, Mayor Eskil Danielson said it might be time to consider increasing the membership of the panel from five to seven or nine. Gruff suggested a representative from each of the sports’ boards should have a place on recreation committee.