TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON—Town administration has posted signs on all 10 light poles at Memorial Field warning users not to touch them due to a risk of electric shock — possibly related to the poles not being properly grounded.
The issue surfaced publicly at the Sept. 22 Township Council meeting, after a sprinkler installer reportedly struck an underground electrical conduit and severed a connection. During a follow-up inspection by S.M. Electric Group of Rahway, contractors determined that the 10 poles likely were not grounded properly and would require rewiring or additional grounding.
“Ultimately, we have identified a safety hazard over at Memorial Field,” Township Administrator Mark DiCarlo said at the meeting, which included about a half-hour of discussion on possible next steps. (See “Council eyeing Memorial Field light upgrades,” by Michael Olohan, Sept. 28, 2025, thepressgroup.net.)
According to DiCarlo, S.M. Electric’s study found that access plates on several poles were not secured properly — some stuck or broken, others sealed with duct tape. The report included photographs showing issues with access plates and internal wiring. The report was not attached to the online agenda or provided before press time. Pascack Press submitted a public records request Oct. 23.
DiCarlo said the consultant concluded it was unlikely the poles were grounded. Officials warned that if someone touched an ungrounded pole, they could become the ground, risking an electrical shock.
Signs posted in October
By Oct. 22, Pascack Press observed new signs posted at each of the 10 poles, warning field users to avoid contact. When asked about the signs, township officials said all playing fields at Memorial Field remain safe to use, but that people should avoid touching the poles as a precaution.
“It was an administrative decision to place the signs,” DiCarlo said Oct. 23. “The signs will remain there permanently. I am working with a contractor now and do not have final costs.”
DiCarlo added, “From my understanding, even when we confirm the poles are properly grounded, there is still a potential hazard if an individual is in contact with the light post when, God forbid, lightning strikes. We will be grounding each pole and putting an insulation mat around the bottom of each of the 10 poles. We hope to have the work done very soon.”
Earlier work under review
In 2021, the township upgraded the 10 lights by installing LED fixtures for approximately $160,000, according to Mayor Peter Calamari. Council President Mike DeSena questioned why the contractor who performed that work did not discover that the poles were not grounded.
Although the upgrade occurred before his tenure, DiCarlo said, the project focused on the fixtures at the top of the poles rather than the wiring below. Several councilmembers suggested reviewing the prior contractor’s work to ensure it had been performed properly.
“Something doesn’t smell right here,” DeSena said during the Sept. 22 discussion, after council members raised questions about whether the 2021 installation had included grounding checks.
According to invoices obtained by Pascack Press, K. Hanrahan Enterprises of Fair Lawn replaced the floodlights with LED fixtures at a cost of approximately $174,041.13, based on the highest of three invoices included in a public records request. Earlier invoices listed costs of $162,741 and $156,800, with additional charges appearing on the final billing.
An invoice dated May 4, 2021 showed a total of $162,741, while a May 17 invoice (due June 16) showed $174,041.13. One document noted, “Repair electrical issue on stadium light pole – overhead wiring run,” citing six specific labor charges on two dates totaling $6,688.24.
Altogether, it remains unclear exactly how much the 2021 LED project cost, though Calamari has estimated the total at about $160,000. Councilmembers have asked DiCarlo to look into the prior contractor’s experience with similar lighting work.
K. Hanrahan Enterprises did not immediately respond to our email seeking comment.
It also remains unclear what the current grounding work will cost. However, on Oct. 20, the council approved Ordinance 25-21, a reappropriation of $68,601.38 from certain capital fund balances to fund improvements at Memorial Field, including future grounding expenses.
DiCarlo emphasized that the danger is limited, and talked up the value of the warning placards. “Honestly, it should probably be something that every municipality has on their light poles,” he said. “Even with grounded poles, if someone is in contact with a light post when lightning strikes, there might be a serious hazard.”
He added, “I’m kindly asking that this not be made more of an issue than it really is. Thank you very much.”
Stay clear
According to electrical-safety guidance from Cornell University, shock hazards occur only when a person becomes part of an electrical circuit — that is, when current finds a path through the body to ground. In normal use, a light pole’s wiring is sealed and insulated so no live current is exposed.
If a pole is properly grounded, any stray voltage or fault current should discharge harmlessly into the earth instead of through a person. Ungrounded or damaged wiring, however, could allow even a low-voltage current to energize a metal surface, creating a potential for mild to severe shock depending on contact time, body resistance, and moisture at the site.
In practical terms, the risk to a passerby appears generally low unless the pole’s insulation or wiring is compromised and someone touches it while also in contact with the ground. Minor currents of only a few milliamperes can cause painful muscle contraction, while higher currents can induce respiratory arrest or cardiac fibrillation in seconds.