You snoooze, you lose. Case closed.

Shame on the Kinnelon Rec Department and Council. We pay a $25 late fee, added on to an excessively high cost for a t-shirt, isn't that enough of a penalty. They are 4 kids in elementary school who want to join a sport, shame on you!

A mayor and council that is out of touch with the community. A mayor that likes deadlines but doesn't make sure boro employees enforce ordinances, a councilman that promises more transparency and doesn't. It is like they just do not care about the residents unless you are an insider. Maybe this parent should have donated some cash to the Mayors campaign and he would get a reasonable response other than he likes deadlines.

Another case of punishing children for the mistakes of their parents. How ridiculous is that?

Rules are rules, teach your child a valuable lesson and follow them. Adding another child onto a team may not be fair to the coach or the other players, if it is already full. Coaches are volunteers.

This is another example of a parent looking to blame someone else for their mistakes. The late sign up deadline was in place for over a month. The rec committee (which I am a part of) works hard to get coaches in place and put a reasonable number of kids on each team so the experience is fun and rewarding for all. It doesnt take much to sign up on time (even with the late sign up). The sign ups are online so you dont even have to leave your home or office to sign up. The mayor was wrong to send this back to rec and ask for a one time exception. This is a constant, and more often then not kids are placed on teams because we assume that some parent who "forgot" to sign their kid up will always do it after the deadline.

Give me a break, we're talking about FOUR grade school CHILDREN not a whole team nor a high schooler or even middle schooler for that matter. It doesn't say HOW late the parents were signing up the child. In the future, the Rec. Dept should make sure all the parents understand that the deadline is the deadline. For the record, Kinnelon's Rec Dept is the most unfriendly dept. I can't believe the lady that runs it (the former Mayor's relative?) is still running it, she actually made my kid cry. Also, when my kids were younger, they participated in other town's summer camps and it was such a positive experience and cheaper than Kinnelon. BTW, I'm sure if it was a friend of Freida or a Rec. Board Member or a kid that's a ringer, this wouldn't have even been made public. I don't disagree with the Mayor this time, it's a one time deal and there are other pressing issues. ie. tree ordinances, car impounds,solar panel ordinances, etc.

don't get me started on Kinnelon Rec. I do give kudos to all the "volunteer" parents who coach,but I remember how the teams would be "stacked". If you weren't an insider, your kids would be on the "losing" team and the coach's kid always got more play time. And, remember, they are parents first, not professionals, so you got what you got. Sometimes it was a coach that screamed and belittled the kids others you lucked out and got someone who really cared and just wanted the kids to have fun. Oh, I know, then get involved, right? Well that only works if you're in the "social circle" of the top coach's. This is 4 grade school kids right? Who made these people God, judge, and jury over them? Have some compassion! Then you wonder where the bullying originates?

I don't live in Kinnelon, so I am completely out of the loop on any political "personailty conflict" side of it. But I have been a member of some boards and commissions in my own town and can say this. No matter how much you work to try and make things fair, make registrations easy, someone is always unhappy. The boards and commissions have to have rules and have to enforce them in order to keep it organized for all. They have a commitment to the entire programs viability, organization, and fairness. If this rule is enforced I guarantee parents will be sure to get on it next year. Its three months of fall ball; correct? A few years ago the sport didn't even exist. The child will likely forget about it completely as soon as their parents drop it. Enjoy as a less structured fall. Go for a run with your kid. Focus on homework. And if you decide the three months off was good, don't sign up next year and if you decide you preferred fall ball, get your app in in time.

Lauren
Not true. The bottom line is, as long as the child is signed up before the draft takes place, they are almost always placed on a team. If you feel that the rec committee is so out of touch, please join us on the second Wed of every month at 7:30 for our rec meetings. They are open to the public.

Having been a volunteer coach for many rec sports for many years I can tell you Lombardi is spot on with Rec. I missed a draft and let me tell you how it is hard for the KIDS to have fun when you get romped on by every other team. But that is how Rec is run in my experience. Eric I know you try hard, I am grateful for your efforts and are a very fair and supportive coach but over the years most have not been. I wound up registering my children in other community rec programs because they really care about the kids. Kinnelon can learn a ton from some other towns programs. I tried sharing my concern's and was blown off so I went elsewhere it was worth the few extra bucks for a non resident fee, no gossip and the rest of the Ktown antics. If more were like you things would be much better.

Isn't this supposed to be RECREATIONAL? This is one of the silliest things I have heard. It's REC, it shouldn't be all about the UNIFORMS and ADULTS ON POWER TRIPS, and POLITICS! And to see people say that you could have signed up online from your home or office is just ignorant in any town!

The Rec dept did NOT even list fall ball on it's on-line newsletter! You can check it out on their website. If you are new to the sport or the town you had no idea it even existed. Shame on the rec department, let the kids play ball.

Come on people we have rules and dealines in life for a reason. The past couple of years yes the programs have gone to the waste side because the rec commision only caring about travel ball instead of the importance of all programs having the fairness of every child plays mentality. We have commisioners that only care about the sports their children play in and don’t care about the other sports. About 6 years ago the sports were ran completely different and there was a commisioner that was always on the field to make sure all was fair, where did they go??? And Mr. Freda needs to step away from the recreation dept or possible even the council, he has been there way to long and needs to get a grip on what Kinnelon really needs and it is not him. All our programs have gone to pot since he took over. Enough Said!!!

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT WAS NOT LISTED. THE BORO AWARDED A STIPEND TO AN EMPLOYEE TO MAINTAIN THE WEB SITE. HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN?

Everyone always has a lot to say. Too bad all the people with so much to complain about dont step up and try to help change what it is they complain about. I have been a volunteer coach and I have been an officer in our town sports program and it is next to IMPOSSIBLE to get any help from parents, but they are always ready, willing and able to complain and rant about how everything is so wrong with our town sports programs. STEP UP PEOPLE and do someting about it or keep your complaints to yourself! I whole heartedly support and thank Eric Rosenberg and Jim Freda for all they have done to improve our town sports programs. I know the time and dedication they put in and for anyone to single them out is a travisty!!! A deadline is a deadline, in life as well as Kinnelon Rec! It is a shame these children have to sit the season out, but it is the fault of their own parents, not Eric or Jim or Kinnelon Rec Dept. or anyone else they want to blame for their oversight!

Carolyn, how can it possibly be the fault of the parent when fall ball was not made public information on the rec departments own sign up sheet? In this case the rec department is clearly at fault.

Carolyn is saying Put up or shut up. She has decided you no longer have any first amendment rights to free speech. You should have no say in how our government is run unless you volunteer. So when the Boro decides to spend $700,000 on a turf field just shut up unless you are an insider as stated earlier. So if you are lucky enough to have a job or work 2 to help pay the outrageous taxes here in Ktown and can not volunteer you should just keep sending in your money and keep your mouth shut. Where is Patrick Henry? We sure need him back.

No one said you could not speak on the issue. You said "STEP UP PEOPLE and do someting about it or keep your complaints to yourself!" not me!

Whoever in the rec department that is in charge of listing fall ball on the online sign up sheet has made the oversight. Do not let a 9 year old suffer for it. Show some compassion and acknowledge the oversight. Let the children play RECREATIONAL ball, this is not the majors.

Again that is the commissioners at the rec dept that run the programs, they only want the kids they know to play so they can coach only those kids. It is sad but that is the plain truth. They run the signups in early Spring and on the bottom of the flyer is where the information about Fall ball resides.

Perhaps if Mr.Seraphin and every other parent in town, knew back in the spring that fall ball was being offered, he would have had the opportunity to sign up by the deadline. I know I would have signed my own 9 year old up. I checked the sign up sheet last spring. I didn't hear about fall ball until I got to the bus stop on the first day of school, how sad for the children of this town.

Having been through the rec program and my child personally experiencing some of the issues brought up, I am very proud of Mr. Seraphin for standing up for his child. However, at the same time, I feel bad for him because now the Stepford's of Kinnelon will shun him and his family, when he shows up for a game, all the gossip mongers will be whispering behind his back. As for "Carolyn"? You are one of the problems, stick your head in the sand but don't look at yourself or the issues and say "how can we change this?" instead of bashing parents who don't "volunteer". We all get the "deadline" but it's FOUR GRADE SCHOOL kids! They will have plenty of time to learn about rules and deadlines. If you truly volunteer for the kids, you would be more understanding. Four more kids plus late fees equals more money in your coffers for your turf field, which is another thing being forced down the taxpayers throats. I agree with Mr. Freda stepping down or at the LEAST recusing himself from this committee-he has too much vested.

Concerned, can you post the link to the flyer that you mentioned because I was checking the Kinnelon.org site recreation page and on that Fall newsletter, Fall ball is not listed.

I'm sure the rec dept does the best it can do for a small town. Years ago, a couple of friends attended a Rec Meeting and were basically ignored. As someone stated, you're not the friendliest bunch. Whether you are appointed, volunteer, or are voted into your position, it is YOUR choice. If people don't feel comfortable publicly voicing their opinions, this thread gives them a chance to anonymously talk about things that need to be tweaked. Please don't be offended by the constructive criticism but take the "complaints" and try to find a solution, do it for the kids.

The Kinnelon rec programs and the commissioners are some of the best around. They spend an enormous amount if time trying to make the best situations for all children. It's not a perfect program and constructive criticism has been taken seriously and addressed in the past. I'm not hearing much constructive criticism just distructive mudslinging. I want to personally thank everyone involved for making the Recreation department a great place for my children including Karen, coaches, volunteers who run snack sheds, line fields , cleaned up bathrooms, coach kids, teach children to give back to the community and other important life lesson. These comments remind me of the quote " Nothing ruins children's sports like parents."

Parents - do you look at yourelsves in the mirror and ask why I didn't register my kid for any sport..WE live in a digital age that allows us the benefits of being continuously connected via multiple platforms. Whether it's phones, handhelds, computers, etc., the option is there offering very little excuse for inactivity on your part. WE get bombarded by emails about the registration process months in advance, yet somehow there is never any personal accountability and only finger pointing at a rec program, it's directors and commisioners about their ineffectiveness. I find it sad, to say the least. Do you ever think about the other side of the equation and not just the impact to your individual child...The impact to coaches, volunteers, etc. that spend an inordinate amount of their own free time teaching, instructing and managing all that goes into an effective program while others like some on this chain are happy to chirp about the inefficiencies while dropping their kids at the fields for others to manage..Like I said earlier - SAD. Maybe if you truly wanted to make a change - roll up your sleeves and get involved or just be happy and let others do it for you..

I am a volunteer coach and also a member of the REC commission. I agree with Eric. We are constantly teaching our kids to follow the rules - we should at least hold the parents to the same standard. Sign-ups are listed on the town sign, through text cast and then resent at least 2 more times. Yes, in this case there were 4 kids on the waitlist and there are 4 teams. However every situation isn't the same and as a commission we voted to uphold a rule already in place! What's wrong with that!!?? Eric and Jim devote many hours to our community and we should be thanking them for their time. Although Jim Freda came to the REC meeting fighting the case for Mr. Seraphin (who didn't come to the meeting) - The commission didn't vote AGAINST Mr. Seraphin - we voted FOR the rule in place.

What would Jesus do?

Of course Serafin didn't come to the meeting, he has problems following laws of society so how do you expect him to follow the rules for town rec. It is no surprise he didn't attend , he runs his mouth, offers to buy all boys uniforms, (typical, a guy with money who assumes no rules pertain to him) HEY, WELCOME TO KINNELON!!

If you make an exception once, it will never end. Why can't this guy explain to his son why.he's on the waitlist....not the fault of the Rec Committee, but because he was late to sign up his son. Sure his son will be disappointed, but I'm surr he'll get over it!
BTW....only been in town for a year and still trying to figure out how to see what sports are available each season. Do they post this info somewhere?

I coach and there are always kids coming and going...it's a part of coaching and especially coaching younger kids who are trying different sports. For anyone that loves sports and loves when kids love sports instead of the many other things that vie for their attention, some worse than others, the most important thing here should have been to get the kid on the field period....with or without a uniform...not turn this into some life lesson that life is not fair.

Amen, Jim!

Article does not state what circumstances led to missing the registration deadline. I am sure there were extenuating circumstances. If a child moves into town should he not be allowed to play because his parents decided to move? I understand that there needs to be deadlines in life but this is Rec soccer and I think every child should be afforded the opportunity to play with their friends and schoolmates. The child should not suffer the consequences of their parents' actions. The Rec committee should reconsider their decision on 4th grade soccer and allow the four CHILDREN to play!

Nor should the article mention anything about the circumstances...it just doesn't matter...the only thing that should matter is to get the kids on the field. That is what the tradition of Rec is all about.