CAMP HAVEN

Brookhaven debates popular kids’ summer camp

BROOKHAVEN » The fate of a popular summer camp for borough children was a main topic of discussion during a recent council meeting.

Camp Haven has been operating in the borough for the past five years. The camp serves approximately 50 children between the ages of 5 and 12.

Differences of opinion and incorrect information spread via social media was said to have added to the confusion.

Rumors and innuendo have been swirling about the borough’s intention to close the camp, but Council President Vawn Donaway said that was simply not the case.

“I and Councilman Jim LaPera have been drug through the mud on social media, but that comes with the territory,” Donaway said.

Donaway displayed an audit performed by Arthur J. Gallagher and Co., the borough’s insurance broker, stating the camp cannot be run privately and be covered under the borough’s insurance policy.

“When it came to Camp Haven, the insurance broker put up a red herring,” Donaway said.

Donaway said the broker suggested if the borough were to continue authorizing the camp as a boroughsponsored activity, either directly or indirectly via the recreation board, the safest option would be to adopt a special resolution recognizing the camp as a sponsored activity under the recreation program.

That approach would allow the borough’s recreation department to oversee the operations of the camp. Donaway said the staff would be hired on a parttime basis and would be subject to policies and procedures of the borough, including background checks. All monies connected with the program would be under the direct control of the borough.

Under the second option, the borough would not recognize the camp as an authorized borough entity, directly or indirectly. A formal agreement would be drawn up through the camp and recreation committee, and the camp would acquire its own insurance.

“This is not something the borough dreamed up,” Donaway said. “This is the insurance company putting us on notice that they don’t like what we were doing and we need to clean it up. We are not sure who is at fault here because we were not here when this camp was started. I’m happy the broker gave us the opportunity to fix it.”

LaPera reiterated that “nobody is trying to get rid of the camp.”

Camp Director Dawn Jones, a borough employee and president of the recreation board, was surrounded by members of the Camp Haven staff, parents and children.

“It is not our intent to take advantage of anybody,” Jones said. “But, this is a good program for our children.”

Jones’ husband, William, disputed some of Donaway’s remarks, saying that communication between the camp and the borough had been non-existent for several months.

Jones’ daughter Gianna, who is the on-site supervisor of the camp, also was present, but did not speak publicly.

During a follow-up interview, Jones said in addition to making donations to various borough activities, the camp had been paying rent to the borough. She added that there was not a set amount of rent because it was based on the number of days used during a given month.

“We will have our own insurance,” Jones said. “I was just following what I was told when the camp was first set up.”

Donaway said he will be most happy when the entire issue is settled.