Likely as a result of the public criticism leveled at the Township by senior officers of the Teaneck Junior Soccer League (TJSL) at the Teaneck Council’s August 9, 2022 meeting, the agenda for the Tuesday August 30 meeting includes a new ordinance specifying how the Township will prioritize permits given to organizations seeking to use its athletic fields. TJSL leadership expressed their distress that the League had been told its permits for key soccer times in the Fall had been “taken away” from the Leahgue and given to an organization (Yeshiva University) which is not located in the Town, (See the Teaneck Voices story on this controversy which appears Click Here elsewhere on this Voices website.)

The proposed ordinance that is scheduled to receive a hearing and vote at the Council’s September 20 meeting is as follows:

                 Ordinance No. 45-2022

BE IT ORDAINED by the Township Council of the Township of Teaneck, Bergen County,
New Jersey, as follows:
SECTION 1. Paragraph (c) of Section 27-2, “Recreational activities in parks and park
facilities,” of Chapter 27, “Parks and Playgrounds,” of the Code of the Township of Teaneck is
hereby amended to read in full as follows:

(c) Play of any kind is prohibited on the following fields without a permit therefor, issued by
the Superintendent of Recreation as aforesaid:

(1) The three soccer fields in Votee Park used by Teaneck Junior Soccer League and
Teaneck Football.
(2) The ninety-foot field in Votee Park used by Teaneck Junior Soccer League and
Teaneck Football.
(3) The three baseball fields in Votee Park used by Teaneck Baseball Organization.
(4) The four baseball fields in Hawthorne Park used by Southern Little League.
(5) The two baseball fields in Phelps Park.
(6) The soccer field in Terhune Park used by Teaneck Junior Soccer League

SECTION 2. Section 27-4, “Permits,” of Chapter 27, “Parks and Playgrounds,” of the Code of
the Township of Teaneck is hereby amended to add thereto new paragraphs (b) and (c), to read
as follows, and to re-letter existing paragraphs (b), (c) and (d) as paragraphs (d), (e) and (f):

(b) Township staff, when considering requests for permits for fields/events will use
following priority ranking to manage potential conflicts before issuing a permit:

(1) Recreation and Township activities
(2) Township Recognized Sports Organizations (100% Teaneck residents)
(3) Teaneck Board of Education
(4) Club Teams/Sports Organizations (80% Teaneck Residents)
(5) Community based Groups/Organizations, Intratown located in Teaneck
(6) Non-Teaneck League/Team/ Camp or individual resident

(c) Council sponsored sports organizations using the Park Facilities shall have their schedule
permanently entered into the field schedule software.

(1) Once each organization has closed its registration for the current year, such
organization will inform the recreation department if any additional fields are needed
or if field permits can be given back.

SECTION 3. SEVERABILITY
If any section, sentence, clause or other portion of this ordinance or the application thereof to any
person or circumstance, shall for any reason be adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction to
be invalid or unconstitutional, such judgment shall not affect, impair or repeal the remainder of
this ordinance.
SECTION 4. INCONSISTENCY
All ordinances or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby
repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE
This ordinance shall take effect twenty (20) days following adoption and publication as required
by law.
________________________________
James Dunleavy, Mayor
_________________________________
Doug Ruccione, Township Clerk
Date of Introduction: ______________