HILLSDALE—The borough administrator said April 2 that the recreational fields—including Memorial and Centennial—would be ready for spring baseball season despite two recent heavy rains. More clay was on order to improve Centennial Field.
Administrator Michael Ghassali told council that the clay was ordered late, and that they knew several months ago it was likely needed. He said 50 tons of clay had already been spread, with another 25 tons ordered and to arrive soon, mostly for Centennial Field. He also said two truckloads of stone dust were ordered for rec fields.
Ghassali said generally the DPW superintendent or foreman would be responsible for ordering the clay, but he said he ultimately was in charge of making sure the clay was ordered. He noted councilwoman Abby Lundy mentioned the need for clay several months ago, too.
Ghassali said in prior years only about 25 tons of clay were used to improve the fields in an entire season, but anticipated at least 75 tons being used this year. He said another 25 tons of clay would be ordered as the season progresses.
He said he hoped to have “a spare clay mountain” for future use. Lundy said extra clay was previously stored in a covered stockpile in the parking lot adjacent to Centennial’s Knickerbocker Field.
Councilor Clemente Osso noted that initial estimates this year were for 100 tons of clay for recreational fields, and wondered why there were delays in spreading on some fields, including Roell (Knickerbocker baseball) and Corra fields.
Osso noted “a sense of urgency” to get the work completed soon. Osso said the extra tons of clay were due to field degradation caused by poor weather in fall and winter. Osso noted the baseball season started April 6.
Ghassali said a clay delivery was expected by April 4 or April 5, and it was expected to take up to several days to till the clay and tamp it down on fields where needed.
Council on YouTube
Ghassali said the council meeting was broadcast on community access channels, Zoom, and for the first time, on YouTube, and thanked borough clerk Denise Kohan for handling the technical aspects. He said it will be much easier for the public to click on the (YouTube) link, and if they subscribe to the channel, “it’ll pop up when we are live.”
He said planner Darlene Green was hired to work on the borough’s vacant land analysis that will be used to help determine the upcoming fourth round of affordable housing obligations, to be decided later this year. He said Green would provide her analysis in closed session to council in late May or early June.
He also said the police department renovations were expected to be completed by mid-April. The department suffered flood damage last year during a severe rainstorm.