Statement Concerning Hugg Report

The Board of Commissioners and Staff wish to thank the public for their interest concerning this very important and sensitive matter. We would also like to thank the Tremls and their families and friends who have come forward to voice their comments, concerns and recommendations.

The members of the Board and Staff came to the table at the beginning of this process not only as elected officials, but as mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and fellow citizens. We come to our town hall to debate issues such as tax policy, budgets and land use. We may disagree on policies concerning the administration of municipal affairs, but we are all unified in the paramount goal that reaches our very core: to always protect and defend our children through any and all practical and legal means. This is not only our charge as elected officials, but as citizens, parents and neighbors. We began this process with differences on how, not if, an administrative review of the situation would be conducted. The goals were to improve our policies and procedures in a manner that would further protect our children from abuse, and to educate employees, staff, parents, volunteers and children themselves concerning possible child abuse. Further, to facilitate a manner in which we as a community could prevent and detect abuse, and to properly react to any and all complaints of child sexual abuse. We believe with the conclusion of this report, and after much public input and reflection, we are well on our way to achieving those goals.

As a Board, we believe that all of the parties involved at the time — elected officials, volunteer members of the Parks & Recreation Committee and Township Staff acted in what they perceived as the best interest of the Township. Those Boards sought and received guidance from law enforcement as well as legal advice on these matters. Considerations were given to the Township's lack of legal standing in the matter and focused on the downside risks of possible libel charges if the matter were pursued. Township staff and the elected and volunteer Boards in the early 1990's were faced with a difficult, and unforeseen, issue for our township. Since the time these incidents were first reported, there have been significant legal advances in how such allegations must be handled by the police and other government agencies; and the responsibility of public officials who are aware of any sexually predatory practices aimed at children to notify appropriate law enforcement has since been broadened. We as a community benefit from these advances in legal protections and from the current social environment in which we now tragically recognize that child sexual molestation not only exists, it abounds.

All members of the Board have had an opportunity to review and comment on the Hugg report in executive session. The recommendations outlined in the report have been released to the public, and have been considered carefully by the Board and staff.

The recommendations focused on three key areas: revisions in the permitting process of Township Parks; records retention practices for matters before prior boards; and the process by which legal matters addressed by one board would be communicated to subsequent Boards.

1. The recommendations on the permitting of the parks have been incorporated in our recently re-drafted Park and Recreation Permit policy. We have specifically benefited from the input of Paul and Colleen Treml on the scope and language of the permit policy. Charlie Carraba, the director of Parks & Recreation, is concluding the review process of the draft policy, obtaining input from other local youth sports organizations. Among other provisions, the proposed policy requires national criminal checks for all full and part-time paid staff, all coaches and for all other volunteers who work with children under age 18. The Board of Commissioners will vote to consider enacting the revised policy as soon as this review process is complete. The revised policy includes advice to the community on what actions they should take when abuse has been alleged by a child.

2. Document retention policies have been reviewed and confirmed with our current solicitor.

3. The Board of Commissioners has developed a new procedure to address the dissemination of necessary information to subsequent boards. We have instructed the firm currently serving as Township Solicitor that at the conclusion of their engagement, they will be required to prepare a summary of legal matters with which they dealt during their tenure. Each successive solicitor will receive the cumulative set of summaries which have been prepared. In a special executive session, the outgoing law firm will brief the incoming firm on the items summarized. New Commissioners will also directly benefit from this briefing.

The current Board believes due diligence was employed initially and most recently concerning this matter. We have sought the proper legal and practical advice, made every attempt to secure public comment, and have taken appropriate personnel measures. We have worked diligently to address this matter, while making the process as transparent as possible.

While we as a Board may often disagree over matters of policy and procedure, we stand before you tonight with one voice in doing our best to lead us all to a safer and more secure community.