HILLSDALE—At a seven-minute special meeting over Zoom on Nov. 15, the Borough Council approved a $48,660 annual contract for environmental testing at Centennial Field and introduced Ordinance 24-17 to protect critical slope areas.
The environmental testing, required by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), includes quarterly air monitoring and slam bar testing. The testing will be conducted by The Environmental Group (TEG) under a contract totaling nearly $50,000 per year.
The meeting was archived as an audio recording accessible on the borough website, though it was unclear if the meeting was publicly available via Zoom or YouTube. No public explanation of the slope protection ordinance was provided during the meeting.
Critical Slope Protection Ordinance
Councilman John Ruocco told Pascack Press that Ordinance 24-17 could improve Hillsdale’s ability to adjust its affordable housing obligations. “We are moving quickly on it because it must also go through our Planning Board, time being of the essence,” Ruocco said.
He added that the ordinance might aid the borough in meeting its fourth-round affordable housing obligations for the period of July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2035. Towns statewide must adopt affordable housing obligation numbers by Jan. 31, 2025.
A public hearing for Ordinance 24-17 is set for Dec. 10.
Centennial Field Air Monitoring Contract
The council recently approved a $377,164 contract with Dakota Construction to upgrade Centennial Field, which rests above a capped landfill. The upgrades will include new natural grass, stormwater management improvements, and an upgraded drainage system.
The environmental testing contract with TEG outlines specific quarterly tasks:
• Site Reconnaissance: A qualified team, including a principal consultant, senior technician, and field technician, will review air monitoring and slam bar testing points and assess site safety and logistics. Cost: $5,590 per quarter.
• Vent Testing and Reporting: TEG will use EPA-approved methodologies for vent testing, with findings documented in quarterly reports to the borough. Cost: $6,575 per quarter.
The improvements are designed to address longstanding drainage issues that have limited the field’s playability after rainfall.
The Environmental Group’s application for an NJDEP permit noted, “The drainage improvements proposed will consist of basic regrading of the playing surface to avoid ponding, topsoil replacement, and perforated pipe underdrains.”
Colliers Engineering has been contracted to oversee renovations, which include new sod, irrigation systems, and stormwater management.