HILLSDALE—The Borough Council approved a $2.7 million capital ordinance on June 11 that devotes $1.8 million to improvements for athletic and recreation fields, although the ordinance does not specify what the capital funds will be used for.
Under ordinance 24-11 that was approved 5-0, with councilman Clemente Osso absent, the $2,726,400 capital improvement ordinance funds “various improvements to and equipment acquisitions for the borough’s athletic fields, parks and recreation facilities. Estimated cost: $1,800,000.”
The ordinance notes that the $2.7 million appropriation shall be raised from the Capital Improvement Fund and Forfeiture Trust Fund, $2,621,400 and $105,000, respectively.
Although he voted to approve the funding, member John Ruocco noted the $1.8 million appropriation for local recreational fields— including future plans for artificial turf fields at Memorial Field— “should have gone through a more public decision-making process.”
He said the cost-benefit analysis weighing artificial turf versus natural turf for Memorial Field was “not explained satisfactorily” and wondered “who was driving the train towards the artificial turf” at Memorial Field.
He said he would vote for it “nevertheless … because the die seems to be cast” and the capital ordinance provided items needed by other borough departments. He reminded councilors that improvements to fields and recreation facilities “was considerably less valued” in recent Planning Board surveys, than tax affordability, downtown improvements, better roads, better schools and public safety, which “all ranked above” artificial turfing, he said.
He noted some residents may be wary of tax increases given the school district’s upcoming $61 million referendum that, if approved, will increase property taxes.
The $2.7 million capital ordinance includes the following estimated costs:
- $60,000 for replacement of the Office of Emergency Management fire and flood siren;
- $92,000 for Fire Department turnout gear, self-contained breathing apparatus packs, mobile data terminals and a thermal imaging device;
- $39,000 for DPW HFD heater and plows;
- $600,000 for infrastructure improvements including curb, sidewalk, culvert, sewer and drainage improvements;
- $6,400 for Buildings & Grounds purchase and installation of lock-timer at Memorial Park restrooms;
- $129,000 for a Police Department sports utility vehicle and personal protective equipment.
- In a later 4-1 resolution authorizing the clerk to advertise for bids for Centennial Athletic Complex renovations, should the engineer decide NJDEP approval is likely on the renovations, Ruocco was the no vote.
Ghassali told Ruocco that authorizing Colliers Engineering & Design (CED) officials to advertise for bids in advance was “not uncommon,” noting that Colliers would begin working on a bid package to possibly be advertised if NJDEP approval is received. “There’s no money spent here,” Ghassali told Ruocco.
Ruocco said he feared the bid specs might have to be changed should NJDEP not approve the Centennial Field project plans. Both Ghassali and councilor Lundy said they had “some level of confidence” that NJDEP had seen similar plans before and any plan changes would likely be minimal.
Colliers engineer Nick Chelius said they were not sure if they would wait for official NJDEP comments back or whether they would move ahead with bid documents following early unofficial, preliminary comments, which appeared positive, he said.
Chelius noted that if NJDEP indicated no major changes were likely, they might go ahead with bidding on the Centennial Field Project.
He said that as the council only has monthly meetings in July and August, the resolution would provide the authorization needed before they went out to bid.
Chelius said he based his comments on conversations with the borough’s licensed site remediation professional (LSRP), or Lois Spagnola of The Environmental Group.