By Brian McCready
Milford Bureau Chief
MILFORD — Recreation Director William McCarthy says he wants to meet with representatives of all the city’s youth leagues to create a database to ensure volunteer coaches do not possess serious criminal records.
For the past several months, the city’s Park, Beach, and Recreation Commission has been discussing a plan to ensure there is a mechanism in place to screen volunteer coaches for youth programs.
“My belief is that it would benefit every youth organization to share information with everyone,” McCarthy said. “It would reduce duplication.”
McCarthy said he envisions creating a database that would keep records of anyone who applies for a volunteer coaching position. He said since some youth sport leagues perform background checks, it’s not necessary for those coaches who have been vetted to pay for the same service again.
“It’s a no-brainer. It will save the taxpayers and the coaches money,” McCarthy said.
He said he believes the background checks should cover three specific areas including whether someone is a convicted sex offender, or has been arrested for domestic violence or child abuse. He said a complete criminal background check that includes motor vehicle and civil offenses will cost $200, and isn’t realistic.
McCarthy said he believes he can get the cost down to $25 per person. He said he believes the new policy would affect about 200 people who would have to screened for 80 youth basketball teams.
The issue of criminal background checks surfaced in September after former youth coach Robert Dulin, 49, was sentenced to 18 months in prison. The judge did not bar Dulin from volunteering or acting as a coach in any organization involving adolescent girls in the future.
Dulin, a former recreational league coach, engaged in a three-year illegal affair with a then-high school student whom he coached in a summer basketball camp. The affair began when the girl was 15-years-old.
Officials say they hope to have a final policy in place by the end of summer, including a company to perform the background checks.

Again, the following information is submitted by our friends at Milford Indians Wrestling.

Milford Indians Compete at Madison Wrestling Tournament on January 6th.

The Milford Indians wrestled at one of the states most competitive tournaments this past weekend in Madison. Four wrestlers started the morning session which was led by Ryan Luth. Ryan out wrestled his first two opponents winning by two Technical Falls and pinning his third opponent. In his final match Ryan faced Madison’s tough Joey Ciotti. Both wrestlers fought a tough bout with Ciotti edging out Luth by one point. Ryan ended the day with a 2nd place medal. Gino Esposito lost a close first match to one of last years state champs and pinned two more opponents to end the day with a 3rd place medal. Billy Kelly and Dante Esposito posted 1 win to each finish the morning session with a 4th place finish.

The afternoon session was led off by Jack Luth and Joseph Buzelle. Luth had one pin for the day and Buzelle won his first match by Technical Fall. A.J. Linet competed in his first wrestling tournament and lost his first match by only one point. Linet showed lots of heart after facing some of the toughest wrestlers in the tournament. Jonathon Buzelle also competed in the afternoon session. Tyler Bishop shut out his first opponent 12-0 scoring a Technical Fall. Bishop would then have his toughest match of the day against Windham wrestler Miquel Calixto. That match ended in a 5-2 win for Calixto. Bishop came back hard to win his next two matches 12-0 and 5-2 to take 2nd place.