As of last night there still is a Bogota Recreation Commission, and it is still serving the Borough of Bogota. In a very heated council meeting, the citizens of Bogota had a chance to give their opinion about the future of the Rec Dept. A meeting that unfortunately had it's moments of name calling, from both the audience and council members, showed how passionate this issue is for the public. As a procedural step members of the Rec. Commission where given "RICE" notices stating that their positions ( paid & volunteer) may be terminated. This was done so those people would have a chance in an open , and public forum to discuss the issue. NO members where terminated tonight.

At issue is who will have control of the Rec Commission in the future. In past administrations the Rec Commission was cut loose from the towns budget as a cost savings measure. Since that time the Rec has had to fund the programs it runs, by the fees they charge. Basic services to the Rec Building ( electric, heat, etc.) and part of the Rec Directors salary comes from the Borough's budget. Over the last few years a men's softball league was organized by Jorge Nunez, who is a Borough Councilman. After the first season the league lost money. and fees where raised the following year. Councilman Nunez also set-up a commission to run the league relinquishing his control to that commission. The next season the league again loss money, with most of the loss coming in the form of players payments fee that were not received. The amount that Councilman Nunez has accounted for , and what the Rec Dept. is owed, part of the disagreement between the Councilman & the Rec Dept. When asked to proved hard copies of receipts to the Councilman it was discovered that a number of books are not accounted for. there is an investigation into this matter.

Councilman Nunez is looking for the Rec. Dept to be more answerable to the Borough about it's finances. While the Rec Dept. has been operating within itself for some years, and does believe it is working with the Borough as it should. Both parties agree that the Rec Dept, and what is does for the community is a vital part of the town. This thought was echoed by also all of the public who spoke to the council. Some members of the Rec Commission who spoke explained how they thought they are complying with the need to have the openness, with their finances that Councilman Nunez is asking for.

A proposal to re-organize the Rec. Dept was tabled so it can be further looked at by the Mayor & Council.

Some of the other business, was a plan for landscaping around the parking lot off of Bogert Ln. was submitted to the Council. To look at ways to improve the Borough's web-site, and to get new lockers for the Police Dept.

 

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 Bogota Blog NJ

BY KARTHIK AGGARWAL

STAFF WRITER

Bogota Bulletin

BOGOTA - After a resident had complained about the Recreation Center’s condition, officials say they have fixed the problems in the building.

 

"As a Recreation Commission, we feel that when someone does complain we like to address it. Although it was purely cosmetic and wasn’t to the magnitude that the resident made it, we wanted to address it immediately," said Vice Chairman Nick Barese.

 

The repairs occurred between Tuesday, Dec. 27, and Thursday, Dec. 29, said Recreation Commission Chairman Art Sopelsa.

 

"We usually have an after-school childcare program. With the schools closed this week, we could do it because all the kids are out," Sopelsa said Dec. 30, 2011.

 

According to a copy of a Dec. 13 report filed by a Bogota Board of Health inspector, various items in the kitchen and bathrooms of the West Main Street building were noted as needing improvement.

 

In the kitchen, the report stated the floor surface near the entrance was "in disrepair"; burners on the stove were wrapped with aluminum foil; ceiling tiles in a closet were water-damaged, for which the source of the leak and the tiles themselves needed repair; and a baseboard radiator's cover was missing.

 

In the bathrooms, the mechanical ventilation was said to require repair, and toilets and sinks were described as having stains. The report further stated floor tiles by the building's rear entrance were missing and also noted that an "indicating thermometer" should be provided in the office and kitchen refrigerators.

 

Virtually all of the items listed in the inspector’s report were fixed as of Dec. 30, according to Sopelsa.

 

In the kitchen, new vinyl flooring was installed, as was a new stove and a new baseboard radiator covering. Kitchen walls were painted, and the closet’s damaged ceiling tile was replaced. The building’s roof was repaired "years ago" but the closet’s damaged ceiling tile had been overlooked, Sopelsa noted.

 

The bathrooms’ toilets and sinks were cleaned of hard water stains, floor tiles by the building’s rear entrance were replaced and thermometers were installed in the refrigerators, he said.

 

The fan in the men’s bathroom will be replaced by the Department of Public Works (DPW) and is on a work order, he said, adding electrical issues are taken care of by the borough.

The project cost just under $1,000 in total, including $450 for the stove, and is paid from the Recreation Commission Trust Fund. Sopelsa, a contractor, said he did the work pro bono. The expenses were for materials, such as the tiles, various glues, paint items and cork, among others, he said.

 

"This is a building that gets used everyday, including on the weekends for rentals. It sees a lot of wear and tear," he said.

 

The building’s main room will also be painted this month, he noted.