BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, N.J. —— The synthetic turf at Municipal Field needs replacing.
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That is the one point — at this moment — it appears all council members agree on. Everything else is up for further debate at their Jan. 23, 2018, meeting after several months of discussion and debate.
The unresolved issues include how to fund the new turf replacement, whether more turf area should be replaced, and when it should be done. All issues remain up in the air following a 20-minute discussion – at times acrimonious – at the Dec. 12 regular meeting.
After hearing from a FieldTurf representative Dec. 5, who discussed adding a layer to reduce surface temperature, council members used a Dec. 12 meeting to argue over whether Open Space Trust Funds should be used for the project and if an estimated $100,000 should be added to do grass areas that now exist between the turf and field fences.
The adjacent artificial turf and grass areas cause safety and maintenance issues, said Recreation Director Jamie Cannon.
Mayor Peter Rustin said Dec. 12 that the borough engineer estimates for replacing the existing turf field were approximately $488,000, while the expanded field area – which was supported by Cannon – was estimated at $594,000. The new estimates were lower than initial engineering estimates of approximately $650,000-$750,000, depending on what type of turf infill was used.
Borough Administrator Jewel Thompson-Chin said that $420,000 in 2017 capital funds has already been set aside for the project.
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Cost estimates for more turf
If the existing turf field is replaced, that would likely require an additional $60,000 be appropriated; if the expanded field area is included, approximately $174,000 would be required.
Whether those funds should come from the borough Open Space Trust Fund or from 2018 capital funds was unresolved Dec. 12 despite several options and compromises offered.
Borough Clerk Lissette Aportella said that if members wait until the capital budget is finalized in May 2018 to approve funding, it then takes approximately 50 days to provide required legal and public notices, six to eight weeks for turf to arrive once ordered, and about a month to install, or approximately four months, which puts installation likely in September, or later.
Rustin again challenged council members Shama Haider and Maxim Basch, who appeared to prefer holding off a decision at least until January’s meeting or later. Two new council members, Jeffrey Grossman and Lauren Dayton, join the council Jan. 2. Both sat at the council table during the Dec. 12 meeting.
Haider said January, February or March would work for approving funding. Rustin urged that a decision be made in January so the turf could be replaced in August, as originally scheduled.
He said that not approving the funding source for the project in January would jeopardize the summer installation of new turf and risk fall sports seasons for high school football and soccer,
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Perpetuating a mistake?
Councilman Mark Zinna suggested as a compromise that members agree to replace the existing turf and appropriate $60,000 only from Open Space funds.
“It’s a balancing act,” said Zinna.
“Basically what we determined is when we made that field [Municipal Field] we made a mistake. You’re perpetuating that mistake,” said Rustin to Zinna.
Another option was to take the funding difference (approximately $174,000) from Open Space Funds and pay it back from capital reserves when the 2018 budget is officially approved. However, borough attorney William McClure said that was neither legal nor permissible.
Corrado suggested taking $160,000 to $170,000 from Open Space to fund the entire turf project, and if members decide not to use any of that or if the price is less, the remaining funds can be returned to Open Space, said Corrado.
Following Corrado’s proposal, Rustin and Haider again argued over further delaying a funding decision past the January meeting.
“I frankly do not understand the reluctance,” to taking funds from Open Space Trust Fund, said Rustin at one point.
He said that waiting until May to approve funding may postpone turf installation later into the fall, causing more disruption of sports schedules.
Rustin said FieldTurf makes up turf installation timetables months in advance. “We promised a whole slew of people that this field would be done this summer. If you wait until the capital budget is set, it will not be done in August,” he said.
It’s worth the extra money to turf the expanded field area for the safety of athletes using the field, said Cannon. She said currently the area between the turf and dirt “is uneven” and a trip hazard for athletes as well as when football practice push-sleds to get stuck.
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FieldTurf’s ‘CoolPlay’ infill
After a presentation Dec. 5 to council members by FieldTurf representative Terry DiPiazza, the council tentatively agreed to use an infill material called “coolplay” composed of granules made of thermal plastic.
The “CoolPlay” layer — an extruded composite plastic — takes the place of a top layer of rubber, said DiPiazza. He said the new turf over the existing 69,000 square foot turf field would cost roughly 50 cents per square foot more, or about $35,000 more, than crumb rubber infill.
Di Piazza said the new layer keep the playing surface about 35 degrees cooler under sunlight and “we expect the longevity of this fiber to be greater,” he said, noting the new fiber has been around for five years. He said “15 of 53” turf fields installed in New Jersey last year were done with a CoolPlay layer.
“The latest version of the CoolPlay product does not contain organic (cork) content; instead it contains the following: proprietary formula mix (polymer mix at 49.75 percent and mineral mix at 50.25 percent) designed for efficient surface heat reduction,” states FieldTurf’s website.
In addition to the increased turf cost, council members asked borough engineer Andy Hipolit to provide them estimates of “soft costs” associated with new turf installation, including bonding, engineering, fencing, site/road access, and parking lot repairs.
The council approved a resolution Dec. 12 to join the Keystone Purchasing Network co-operative from which they will be able to purchase the new turf field once funding is approved.
Council members did not discuss funding options following DiPiazza’s Dec. 5 presentation.
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DiPiazza told members that because existing field turf material will be recycled, Tenafly earns a $37,981 “recycling credit” that basically pays for the “CoolPlay” layer.
He also said FieldTurf would provide field markings at no cost – saving another $35,000 – for sports including football, soccer, baseball and softball.
“You’re like my wife. I can’t afford what you’re saving me,” quipped Rustin to DiPiazza following his presentation.