New fees will hurt PAL programs, official says
BOE wants to charge Police Athletic League for facilities use
BY DANIELLE MEDINA Correspondent

BRICK TOWNSHIP — The Brick Police Athletic League (PAL) — which provides before- and after-school services to some 700 township children, is facing an uncertain future after the Board of Education (BOE) voted to begin charging for the use of its facilities.

"I am heartbroken," PAL Executive Director Catherine Dwyer said on Friday. "People are always saying that they're acting in the best interest of the kids. Well, this is not in their best interest. I have no idea what is going to happen."

Dwyer said that the annual fee that PAL is facing will undoubtedly have a negative impact on the organization's programs and services.

"The Brick PAL understands that there is a $16 million budget deficit and we want to help," Dwyer told the board at its Nov. 20 meeting. "But $346,000 will have a major impact on services. We will no longer be affordable. We will have to reduce or cut programs. We will have to reduce or cut scholarships for low-income families."

The new policy will require PAL to pay cost recovery fees of $40 per hour per building/ room and $5 per hour per athletic field. The cost recovery fees are intended to allow the Board of Education to recoup the expenses associated with electricity and janitorial services that arise from PAL's use of the district's buildings during nonschool hours.

PAL provides before-school programs beginning at 7 a.m. in three district schools — Emma Havens Young, Midstreams Elementary School and Veterans Memorial Elementary School. It also provides after school programs at all of the district's seven elementary schools.

PAL also before- and after-care programs for kindergarten students from the Brick Community Primary Learning Center at its own facility, located on Drum Point Road.

PAL offers children the opportunity to do their homework, enjoy recreational opportunities and peer-to-peer socialization under the guidance of site directors, paraprofessionals and counselors in their home schools.

"I think that people are missing the boat," said Dwyer. "We have active gangs in Brick Township. If we don't offer programs like these, what is going to happen to these children?"

PAL also employs a program director and an assistant program director, art director, gym teacher, hall monitors and an administrative staff in addition to Dwyer.

While the policy's adoption hurts PAL, the Brick Township Soccer Association (BTSA) faired much better.

The BTSA was facing an annual $100,000 bill from the board to use the soccer fields behind Veterans Memorial Elementary School, which would have put the organization out of business.

BTSA President Ben DeVizio appeared before the board at its meeting in October asking them to reconsider charging the organization for the fields that it helps to maintain.

He also said the fees were unfair because Twin County Soccer Association, another soccer association that operates in Brick, is not subject to any fees because it practices and plays at the Drum Point Sports Complex, which is run by the township.

"It's not fair to make one side pay," said board member Cynthia McCarthy, who heads the policy committee. "We wanted to make it equitable."

Therefore, the board amended the policy to make a distinction between 501c(3) nonprofit organizations that have paid employees and those who are made up of all volunteers.

That means that the PAL, with its 80 employees and $450,000 payroll, is subject to fees. Organizations like the BTSA, which is made up entirely of noncompensated staff, will not be charged.

"I'm extremely pleased with the board's decision," DeVizio said Friday. "But they should cut PAL a break because they perform a service for the township."

Dwyer said it's wrong for the school board to single out some nonprofit organizations at the expense of others.

"There are a lot of nonprofits that have more money in their bank accounts than we do," said Dwyer. "It's not fair."

Dwyer said that she asked for a meeting with school officials since August to discuss lowering the fees, but the two sides have yet to meet.

Board Attorney Nicholas Montenegro said Friday that board members "absolutely" still plan to meet with PAL to discuss the issue.

District Business Administrator James Edwards said on Friday that although the district provided PAL with an amount, there was an understanding that it would be discussed.

Board member Cynthia McCarthy said after the meeting that she empathizes with PAL's situation. But the school district is in tough financial times.

"We're not trying to be mean or single any group out," McCarthy said, "But we're in a budget crisis."