Joint agreement for turf approved by commissioners
Commissioners approved a shared services agreement with the school district for installing new turf at the high school stadium and Anniversary Field.
The borough currently owns Anniversary Field, which is adjacent to Haddonfield Memorial High School.
Both the borough and the school district have agreed to accept joint responsibility for the installation of the turf fields at a total cost of $948,080.
However, the borough would only pay $258,090, while the school district will pay $90,000. The remaining $600,000 will come from private contributions.
According to Borden, the fields are used by youth sports programs, as well as high school students for gym, sports events and practice.
Some residents did not approve of the agreement. Resident Mary Fagan was concerned with the cost of future upkeep as well as labor costs.
Administrator Sharon McCullough said the cost for the material is $5 per square foot, which totals approximately $598,000.
The cost for the replacement of the field was calculated, as well as the cost for upkeep. It was estimated by comparing cost to Eastern Regional High School’s turf field replacement.
“When we were discussing the inter-local agreement with the school board, we looked to see what cost would be reasonable for them to consider as a part of their sinking fund,” she said, adding Eastern’s turf fields are 9 years old and in decent condition.
They wanted to replace the turf field while the track was being repaired, McCullough said.
The numbers are based on the cost received from bids, including approximately $59,000 per year for 10 years in their sinking fund.
If the bid for the installation is below what is allocated, the excess funds would be used for other work on the field.
Haddonfield Turf Committee Chair Joe DelDuca said the committee has raised approximately $650,000.
“We have the $600,000 after expenses ready to go right now,” he said, adding the additional $50,000 will be used for other purposes on the fields.
Residents were also concerned that litigations would form if someone gets hurt on a neglected Anniversary Field.
The school district is responsible for the maintenance while the borough is responsible for maintaining insurance on the field.
Borough solicitor Mario Iavicoli reassured residents if someone is injured on the Anniversary Field due to neglect of maintenance, the school district is solely responsible per stated in the agreement.
Health concerns regarding the possibility of high amounts of lead being present in the turf was also mentioned.
Kasko and DelDuca said the manufacturer was contacted and the materials do not have hazardous levels of lead. Both Kasko and DelDuca said if there was a health concern related to installing a turf field, an alternative solution would have replaced the turf field.
“I have every confidence in the world . . . that the board of education and the commissioners that we elect are fully capable and responsible for maintaining these fields,” DelDuca said.
A groundbreaking for the fields would hopefully be sometime in May.
