The Elephant Who Wasn’t in the Room

One of the items approved tonight by the Bridgewater Township Council in its vote in favor of the use of $3 million of open space money for capital improvements to parks and other open space parcels in Bridgewater is an either/or option.

That question is whether to spend $1 million of Bridgewater Township’s open space money for two new artificial turf fields at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School, or to spend $1.5 million for capital improvements to Harry Ally Park in the Finderne section of Bridgewater.

The proposal for the B-R High School artificial turf fields is now “in the hands of the lawyers,” as was acknowledged by the Bridgewater Township Council at tonight’s meeting; as well as by Peter Starrs, B-R Administrator and Board Secretary, with whom I spoke this afternoon.

The specific legal issues in question are under “active” negotiation according to Jim Naples, Township Administrator, but none were specified at tonight’s meeting or by Mr. Starrs during our conversation.

The current status, as far as I can determine from limited information, is that the Township would lease school property to enable construction of two new artificial turf fields; would provide $1 million to that end and, in return, would obtain limited use of those fields after school hours for non-school athletic purposes.

Private athletic groups such as the Bridgewater United Soccer Club would be entitled to use those new facilities after school hours. At least two private groups would contribute $250,000 apiece towards the construction of the turf fields, in addition to Bridgewater Township’s $1 million. There was no mention of the amount of the B-R School District contribution, if any, to this project.

Tonight, there was a sizable group of sports enthusiasts, students and parents who turned out in favor of going ahead with the artificial turf. Only a few citizens questioned the use of Township monies reserved for open space to be transferred – for all practical purposes, despite the legal framework employed –from the Township to the School District.

The issue is a valid one for public discussion. Yet, not one member of the Bridgewater-Raritan School Board, its Facilities Committee, or of the School Administration was in the meeting room to offer clarification, summarize the proposal’s status, or to field questions from Bridgewater Council members.

Many people have volunteered assiduously to move forward all of the open space proposals approved today, not the least of which is Joanne Kane who chaired the ad hoc committee appointed by Bridgewater Mayor, Patricia Flannery.

But when it comes to moving monies from the Township to School District coffers, the general public has a right to know precisely what the terms and conditions of the agreement are that is now being hammered out by the lawyers, before a draft is finished and presented to the Bridgewater Township Council for its consideration. As it now stands, not even the Council knows what that is.

Photo:  Proponents for artificial turf fields at the Bridgewater-Raritan High School await their turn to address the Bridgewater Township Council.