Some neighbors around Vreeland Avenue in the east part of town took their complaints against Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church to the Nutley Board of Education on Monday. They claimed the meetings attract dangerous people.

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Resident Melanie Mitrano-Duffy said the meetings are too close to schools, especially when children are out to lunch.

AA meets in the evening, and NA meets midday.

Referring to the member anonymity, Mitrano-Duffy said parents can’t determine if the attendees are registered sex offenders, which should be public under Megan’s Law. She said the Walker Middle School and Yantacaw Elementary School principals share the concerns.

She said she spoke by phone with an Essex County senior parole officer, who stated there’s a percentage of sex offenders at AA and NA meetings in Essex County. He also said convicted criminals are mandated to attend to attend these meetings, she stated.

She wanted the district’s support to move these meetings somewhere else and wanted the public to be aware of them.

Another resident said parking problems could arise near the middle school when school is in session.

Neighbors addressed the Nutley Board of Commissioners two weeks ago, regarding the alleged bad behavior and illegal parking by attendees of AA and NA meetings at Holy Trinity. At a previous conference of church members, neighbors and police and neighbors, it was decided to move the NA meetings to two other locations, beginning in July.

The church and neighbors now disagree whether the AA meetings should continue there, Mitrano-Duffy told the Sun.

Board of Education Vice President Tom Sposato said, presiding over Monday’s meeting, the district would look into the matter before the board discusses it as a whole. The board needs to investigate whether or not law requires registered sex offenders to keep a certain distance from schools, member Charles Kucinski said

Franklin Reformed Church’s Rev. Jill Fenske told the board that churches open their doors to NA and AA out of hospitality, and there’s never been a problem before. Recent public opinion has “spun out of control,” she said. She voiced support for the peer-based groups, which are held all around town.