BY LINDA SMITH HANCHARICK
WEST MILFORD — The township meeting room was packed with Police Athletic League (PAL) supporters Wednesday night, parents as well as children, many standing along the perimeter with every seat taken. The show of support for the PAL did not sway the township council, though, which remained steadfast in their decision to take back use of their building from the nonprofit group that has failed to pay more than $100,000 in back rent dating back to July 2013.
The numbersBill Collister, treasurer of the group who has been involved with PAL for 21 years, told the council he didn't want them or the public to be misinformed. He said he took umbrage with Councilwoman Michele Dale’s comments a couple weeks earlier that no financial information was forthcoming from the group. From 2009 through 2014 summary sheets of income and loss were given to the township, he said. And he said income has not risen, as she has stated.
But Dale countered with her spreadsheet taken from the group’s filings with the IRS. According to their 990 forms, which are returns for organizations exempt from income, the numbers show a seven percent increase in revenue with a drop in expenses from 2010 through 2013 (see box).
“That’s what your findings state off of the government website,” said Dale. “That’s what is filed.”
Those were also the numbers on Collister’s summary given to the council.
“PAL had every opportunity to dispute the numbers last night and they didn’t,” Dale said on Thursday morning.
And it is the numbers that have propelled the council to move forward with their decision to evict the group and run the programs through their Community Services and Recreation Department.
Even after the group stopped paying rent in June, 2013 and turned a profit that year and in 2014, it wouldn't have been enough to pay the $6,000 monthly rent to the township. Dale pointed out it wouldn’t even have been enough to pay the $3,000 reduced rent negotiated earlier.
PAL familySome PAL board members were present but did not speak to the council. Instead, a handful of parents and one child stepped up to the microphone to plead for the organization that is more like family to them.
Liz Hodge is a past president of the West Milford PAL and an active volunteer in many local groups. She told the council their actions were more like a “land grab” and likened it to bullying. She said she didn’t understand how the township Recreation Department can run the PAL programs without additional expenses.
“(The Rec Department) has not run a single project that was successful in the last 20 years,” she said.
The programs at PAL are more than athletic games, she said. The open gym after-school gives kids a place to go instead of to an empty house.
“Our PAL is more than a building. It’s a family,” she quoted from a post online.
Julia Gaffney’s three sons all participate in PAL programs. She and her husband both have coached for the group. She said she doesn't understand from a financial standpoint how this will benefit the taxpayers and the children, noting the salaries for the Rec Department compared to the volunteer structure at PAL.
“Community Services and Recreation doesn’t run sports programs,” she said. “Work with the PAL. Come to an agreement.”
Dale said she wants everyone to understand that the council has indeed worked with the PAL.
“Negotiation after negotiation after negotiation. Several letters were sent, and no official acknowledgement that the agreement was accepted and no payments were made,” said Dale. “I take great exception to the perception we are not willing to work with the PAL.”
A new proposalThe township and the PAL had been discussing a reduction in rent payments through 2014. The township offered a reduction in the rent to $3,000 per month plus $1,000 per month to go against the back rent. The township also added that it would share the building with the group. PAL board members have said they accepted those terms but never signed an agreement and did not pay anything toward the rent. In hindsight, that wasn't a good move.
“In retrospect, we should have sent them something each month to show our good faith,” said PAL President Bill Hemstead Wednesday afternoon.
He has said changes in township administrators have derailed the process along the way but that the group still wants to coexist with the township in the building.
Late in the day on Tuesday, the PAL sent another financial proposal to the council. It calls for the group to pay $2,000 per month for the next five years, then increasing the rent $750 every five years for 35 years. The township would also get the preschool rent of $1,680 each month, Hemstead said.
“Why should we struggle every month?” he said.
However, the new proposal also calls for the township to split the maintenance now and be responsible for all repairs over $5,000. Currently, PAL is responsible for all repairs up to $10,000 and all maintenance on the building. After the township moves in, they would be responsible for all utilities, maintenance, improvements and repairs. That was not acceptable to the council.
TransitionIn the end, after a second executive session to discuss the proposal, the council issued a statement through their attorney, Fred Semrau. A fraction of the PAL supporters were there to hear it, and it wasn’t the result they had hoped for.
“The mayor and council proposes to offer residents programs that are currently offered through PAL,” said the statement. “PAL could continue to exist, if it so chooses. Or the PAL could opt to structure themselves in the same manner as all the other community sports organizations do.
“It is hoped, in the best interests of the community, that PAL volunteers would continue to volunteer coaching and refereeing these programs under the direction of the West Milford Department of Community Services and Recreation. PAL could continue as a valuable community-based nonprofit organization. The governing body of West Milford hopes that the PAL leaders will meet with municipal officials to coordinate a smooth transition for those who currently participate in their programs.”
A meeting is set for Friday, however the two meetings already scheduled were canceled by PAL, according to Semrau.