MONTVALE, N.J.—The Borough Council has approved an ordinance to regulate the use of the basketball courts on Memorial Drive, aiming in the mayor’s words to answer complaints about “adults using the courts with loud music and using profanity around younger residents.”
Mayor Michael Ghassali said of the measure, approved April 27, “For as long as I have been serving this great town, every spring and summer we receive complaints about the use of these basketball courts. Last year and this year, the calls have been almost daily.”
He said he’d witnessed problems firsthand, “where about 40 grown men intimidated and taunted 4th and 5th grade girls on the court and took pictures of players.”
Ghassali said, “This was a young team practice, and the paid referee should have intervened and asked the men to stop or leave the courts. However, because he did not take any action it was necessary to call the police.”
Ghassali said the primary goal of the ordinance is to ensure that everyone playing on the courts has obtained a badge from the borough and has received, read, and agreed to the regulations and code of conduct in place for the courts.
“This ordinance allows everyone to play as long as you have obtained a badge. The badge is free for Montvale residents and a very reasonable $25 for non-residents,” Ghassali emailed residents on April 28.
He said, “We also want to ensure that all players (residents and non-residents alike) are accountable for their conduct, so these badges can be revoked if players do not follow the rules.”
The mayor said “We believe that by issuing easily identifiable badges, it will help our recreation director, police officers, and other borough officials to clearly ascertain those players who have permission to be on the court. For those individuals who do not have badges, our goal is compliance.”
To that end, said Ghassali, “We will have large, clear and concise signs advising players how to obtain badges from the borough. To help ease the transition, Recreation Director Lisa Dent will announce several dates where she will be at the courts to register players, distribute the rules for the courts, and to issue badges.”
The signs and the badges should be ready by the week of May 3.
Ghassali said Montvale is a welcoming town whose basketball courts are fully funded, paid for, and maintained by Montvale taxpayers.
“During certain times these courts are full, and we frankly needed a more orderly way to regulate their use during these times of high demand. Although we believe that we could have limited use to residents only, that was not the goal of this ordinance.”
He said “Basketball is a great team game, and we encourage everyone to use our courts as long as they demonstrate sportsmanship, respect and appreciation of the rules and regulations that will help ensure a safe and friendly atmosphere for all players.”
In the week leading up to the public hearing and final vote on the ordinance, Ghassali shared the initiative on his official Facebook page.
“Because out-of-town basketball players seem to be overtaking our basketball courts, and you the taxpayers and our youth teams are having difficulty utilizing our courts, we have no choice but to regulate and enforce a badge system. It’s a free lifetime badge to the residents. Non-residents will have to pay a fee and obtain an individual badge from borough hall,” he said.
He received a plethora of supportive remarks, and a few comments asking questions about legality and enforcement.
Here are a few representative cheers:
- Esteban Dentice: “Very good initiative… it has been an ongoing issue for some time.”
- Charlie Derk: “Same thing is happening at the new soccer field in Park Ridge Boro. Took the dogs for a walk the other day — Eight cars in the lot, all with N.Y. plates.”
- Jeffrey Michael: “This needs to be done…”
- Gael Burman: “It’s a great idea. Thank you for doing this.”
- Joan Dolder Gifas: “I’m so happy that a solution has been found.”
- Briget Calenda: “Lots of Montvale kids playing at courts in Park Ridge because they can actually play on a court.”
- Tommy Funesti: “That is great… Hopefully you are able to enforce it.”