Work On New Joint Recreation Agreement Underway In Chatham

CHATHAM, NJ — Last summer, the hiring of a new and separate Recreation Director in the township caused concern among residents about the future of the joint recreation agreement.

The Chatham Township Committee voted 3-2 to renegotiate certain aspects of the Joint Recreation Program, which organizes joint travel teams made up of both borough and township residents.

Steve Williams, the borough administrator, spoke and gave an update on the negotiations during the June 26 borough council meeting.

According to Williams, the township is reviewing the most recent version of the agreement, which was negotiated in meetings between administrators, chief financial officers, and attorneys.

"We are extremely close to having a final joint recreation agreement, which will be happy news for a lot of people," Williams said. "We should know shortly."

The local recreation department is run by the Chatham Recreation Joint Advisory Committee, which meets six times per year.

The committee is dedicated to developing, promoting, implementing, and maintaining a variety of programs for Chatham Borough and Chatham Township residents.

Sports programs include flag football, tackle football, soccer, cheerleading, field hockey, cross country, golf, ice skating, and more. To view the full list, click here.

"The Township and Borough worked cooperatively in the past on the 2016 amendment to the agreement and I expect the same good-faith negotiations today. There is no need to terminate the agreement to negotiate," Township Committee member Stacey Ewald said.