Berkeley Heights Residents Press Council Over Unfilled Recreation Commission Seats, Surprise Inspections at Playground Camp

Tensions over the future of Berkeley Heights' all-volunteer Recreation Commission surfaced at the Tuesday, July 21 Township Council meeting, with residents pressing officials on unfilled vacancies and recent inspections at the township's playground camp.

Resident Ed Gallitelli, a former recreation commissioner whose term expired in 2024, detailed a timeline of three commission vacancies opened since October 2025. Deb Varnerin, the former chair, resigned after being hired as a part-time recreation field project manager. PAL liaison Doug Caruso resigned, and Christine Gertzma's term expired after 10 years of service, all by December 2025.

Gallitelli said three qualified applicants—Steve Hughes (December 2025), Phil Burroughs, and Ryan Larson (early 2026)—have not been appointed despite submitting applications through standard township process.

Gallitelli referenced a financial review of the Recreation Department conducted between December 2025 and March 2026 that found no wrongdoing, followed by a June 30 ordinance that would have dissolved the Recreation Commission. That ordinance was pulled from the agenda after approximately three and a half hours of public opposition, with the council voting unanimously to table it.

Gallitelli pointed to unannounced inspections that followed: Union County officials visited the playground camp on July 10, and a New Jersey state health official visited on July 14, both examining child safety and food safety practices. The camp serves 300 to 350 children on a typical day. Gallitelli characterized the timing of back-to-back visits as significant given their proximity to the council's tabled restructuring effort.

Business Administrator Liza Viana disputed elements of Gallitelli's account, stating the ordinance would have promoted Associate Recreation Director Carolyn George to a director-level title and that the township had not hired an attorney to investigate the Recreation Commission. She said the township was unaware of the county inspection until a Recreation Commission member mentioned it roughly a week after the fact.

Councilwoman Margaret Illis noted that unannounced health inspections fall under the township's existing shared-services contract with Union County.

Recreation Commission member Ed Kingsley said the county and state visits stemmed from an anonymous letter containing 20 detailed alleged violations. He stated the issues ultimately identified were minor cleanup items, though he acknowledged the timing of the two visits had been disruptive.

Michelle Phillippi, a 16-year Berkeley Heights resident and mother of three school district children, defended Associate Recreation Director Carolyn George, noting an earlier township-commissioned investigation found no wrongdoing. She criticized the council for introducing the restructuring ordinance as a rushed late addition to the public agenda.

Recreation Commission member Mark Dahn clarified that the commission had voted to promote George but the title did not exist in the township's job classifications, requiring a new ordinance that also included a provision converting the Recreation Commission into a recreation committee—the portion drawing bulk opposition in June.

Business Administrator Viana provided an update on the Lower Columbia Field project during her administrator's report. Harbor Consultants presented plans to the Planning Board on April 8, and both the Planning Board and Recreation Commission raised questions. The township engineer flagged issues centered on drainage, construction, and lighting. The Recreation Commission contracted with Harbor Consultants in fall 2025 for approximately $32,000 in engineering, surveying, and planning services; the township later expanded the contract to include final engineering and design documents for bidding. To date, Harbor has been paid about $18,000 for site survey work performed between September 2025 and March 2026.

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FAQ SECTION

Q: What was discussed at the Berkeley Heights Council meeting on July 21?
A: Residents pressed officials over unfilled Recreation Commission vacancies and the timing of recent inspections at the township's playground camp, while council members and administrators addressed the concerns and disputes.

Q: How many Recreation Commission vacancies exist?
A: Three vacancies have opened since October 2025: former Chair Deb Varnerin resigned in December 2025 after being hired as part-time recreation field project manager; PAL liaison Doug Caruso resigned; and Christine Gertzma's 10-year term expired in December 2025.

Q: Why haven't the qualified applicants been appointed?
A: Resident Ed Gallitelli stated that three qualified applicants—Steve Hughes, Phil Burroughs, and Ryan Larson—submitted applications through standard township process but have not been appointed.

Q: What ordinance was tabled in June?
A: A June 30 ordinance that would have dissolved the Recreation Commission and promoted Associate Recreation Director Carolyn George to director-level title. The council voted unanimously to table it after approximately three and a half hours of public opposition.

Q: When did the inspections of the playground camp occur?
A: Union County officials visited on July 10, 2026, and a New Jersey state health official visited on July 14, 2026. Both inspections examined child safety and food safety practices.

Q: What triggered the inspections?
A: Recreation Commission member Ed Kingsley said the visits stemmed from an anonymous letter containing 20 detailed alleged violations.

Q: What did the inspections find?
A: Kingsley stated the issues ultimately identified were minor cleanup items, though he acknowledged the timing of the two visits had been disruptive.

Q: How many children attend the playground camp?
A: The camp serves 300 to 350 children on a typical day.

Q: What is the status of the Lower Columbia Field project?
A: Harbor Consultants presented plans to the Planning Board on April 8. The Recreation Commission contracted with Harbor for approximately $32,000 in engineering, surveying, and planning services (fall 2025); the township later expanded the contract. To date, Harbor has been paid about $18,000 for site survey work performed between September 2025 and March 2026.

Q: What issues did the township engineer flag for the field project?
A: The engineer flagged issues centered on drainage, construction, and lighting.

Q: Where can I find more Berkeley Heights government news?
A: Union County Life covers Berkeley Heights government meetings, municipal news, and community information. Subscribe to the Berkeley Heights newsletter or visit unioncountylife.com for updates.