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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
TENAFLY, NEW JERSEY —— The synthetic turf at Municipal Field will be replaced, decided the borough council Jan. 23.
Moreover, the artificial turf surface will be expanded to fill in gaps between field and dirt, and an extra layer added to reduce surface heat, agreed the council.
Following an hour-plus discussion – with occasionally raised voices, sharp exchanges and frustration apparent for several members – the council agreed Jan. 23 to appropriate the full $634,000 cost for a new artificial turf field and to use $214,000 from its Open Space Trust fund to finance the project.
The council approved by consensus, with only Councilwoman Lauren Dayton abstaining, an estimated $634,000 expenditure to resurface 72,000 square feet of turf at Municipal Field, including approximately $40,000 for a special layer—known as “coolplay”—to keep turf surface temperature cooler during hot, sunny days.
$420K in capital set aside
The council had allocated $420,000 in 2017 capital funds for turf replacement, and was divided for months over how to fund any remaining cost—whether from Open Space Trust funds or capital reserves. Chief Financial Officer Susan Corrado repeatedly told members that any Open Space funds appropriated and not needed for the turf replacement can be returned to the fund.
Dozens of residents, including many parents, coaches and recreation board members, showed up to support a new turf field, with most advocating funds be taken from the municipal Open Space Trust to expedite the long overdue and long-discussed project.
Councilwoman Shama Haider and Councilman Maxim Basch, who previously opposed using Open Space funding to resurface Municipal Field, relented and agreed to use the funds given the need to appropriate full funding up front. Both contended that turf replacement was not an appropriate use for such funds.
2018 capital funds
Because capital funds in the 2018 budget are not available until mid-May—and Haider and Basch wanted to access them for the project—Borough Chief Financial Officer Susan Corrado explained that all funding for a specific project must be appropriated by ordinance as part of a single upfront amount approved by the council.
Corrado said the council’s recent appropriation of $661,000 from Open Space funds for Pfister’s Pond restoration was a similar situation. Though the council is approving each specific dollar amount and may spend less on Pfister’s Pond, the full project amount was appropriated. All funds, she said, may not be used in either case and will be returned to Open Space Trust Fund.
Corrado said the current municipal Open Space Trust Fund balance is $1.8 million, with almost $400,000 coming into the fund yearly.
Corrado told members that waiting until mid-May to access capital funds risks delaying the field resurfacing. In addition, Mayor Peter Rustin noted FieldTurf—the vendor—may be booked for summer and the project could further interfere with fall sports schedules should the council delay fully appropriating funding until May.
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Nagging issues resolved
Throughout the fall, members disagreed over a source of funding for turf replacement, project size, and timing. With two newly elected members coming on board Jan. 2—Lauren Dayton and Jeffrey Grossman—some members feared further delays. Two December meetings on a new turf field ended with members split over whether and how to move forward.
In addition to Haider and Basch’s reservations about using Open Space funds, both Dayton and Grossman suggested that taking Open Space funds depletes current reserves and may leave the borough short of funds should an appropriate property go on the market.
Grossman said the borough might want to purchase a property that enters the market for a new recreation field, and with less Open Space funds after spending for turf replacement, that may not be possible.
Recreation Director Jamie Cannon said Dec. 12 that she supported turf for an expanded field area—72,000 square feet—as existing areas between artificial turf and dirt are a trip hazard for athletes and football practice push-sleds often get stuck.
Rustin, Barzelatto respond
While each member commented for or against an appropriation for a new turf field, Basch said there was “much misinformation” about the turf replacement.
He said the Open Space Trust Fund “was not a slush fund…it’s specifically to purchase open space” and said that all council members needed to give FieldTurf was a letter of intent, not money.
“We will find a way without having to chop the Open Space fund,” he said.
Basch’s characterization of Open Space and what needed to be done appeared to rankle both Councilman Anthony Barzelatto and Rustin.
“I don’t want the audience to believe everything you’re saying,” said Barzelatto, adding he was “a little disturbed that you are having personal contact with the company [FieldTurf]” installing the new turf.
Barzelatto said he was in favor of using Open Space funds.
Rustin said he was “dismayed” to hear Basch describe use of Open Space funding for turf replacement as a “slush fund.” He rebutted Basch’s assertion that only a letter of intent was needed to secure the FieldTurf contract.
“We must have a specific allocation of funds committed. We can’t borrow money from one to repay the other,” said Rustin. “It’s time to you know what or get off the pot,” said Rustin.
Public, mayor reaction
Michelle Merchant, Columbus Drive, said she “wanted to express our gratitude for making the right decision,” and added the council will “do it right once and for all” to replace an expanded turf area in a timely manner.
Michael Greeley, Recreation Board chair, said “this field is long past its lifespan” and urged replacement stating Municipal Field “is one of the gems in our community.”
Several more residents urged fast action on replacing the field during August to avoid disrupting fall sports schedules.
Jamie Cannon, Recreation Department director, said local recreation advocates were “a most enthusiastic bunch” and urged turf replacement during summer to minimize field scheduling issues.
She cited 2017 statistics showing 3,055 participants on borough recreation fields over 2,723 hours “mostly in spring and fall,” she said.
“I most strongly emphasize Open Space funds be used,” said Jack Finnerty, Recreation Board member. “You have the money, you cannot have kids play on that field for another year,” he added.
Rustin characterized the council as “victims of our own inaction” for discussing turf replacement for two years and “if we wanted to capitalize it [even] a year ago we could have.”
“We’ve never spent better money than this,” he noted earlier. He said using the Open Space funds “are for a field that is two to three real fields” and said “we’ll be ready” with Open Space funds should new field space become available.
“I think we’re all going to be happy with the end result,” he added.
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