MTHS Football Field To Get Turf, If Voters Agree

The Montville Township High School football field will be getting a makeover.

The township board of educaton, at its regular meeting Tuesday night, approved a resolution to put out a referendum for voters to install a new turf field on the football field in time for the 2012 season. The vote was 7-0. Board trustees Carmela Novi and John Morella did not attend the meeting.

A special referendum on the matter will be held on Sept. 27, when voters will be asked to approve the project.

The money for the new field would come from savings the board received when it switched its health insurance provider from Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Cigna. The money would be transferred from the board's general operating budget to the capital improvements budget.

School Business Administrator James Tevis said the work would be done at no cost to the taxpayer and no bonds will need to be issued for the project. If the work costs less than the allotted amount, Tevis said, the extra money could be use for tax relief.

School Superintendent Dr. Paul Fried said the current grass field is in dire need of repair, having been worn out from use by the high school's athletic teams and marching band and various recreational teams.

"The field has been overused," Fried said. "The sooner we get this done, the better. We need to have a new field in place as soon as possible."

Fried said that the school administration will meet with township residents between now and Sept. 27 to inform residents of the project. He noted that it is unlikely that a turf field, if approved, would be ready for the high school lacrosse season next spring. Both the MTHS boys and girls lacrosse teams play their home games on the football field.

Several residents aired their thoughts for and against the project during the meeting's public portion. While most supported a turf field, several felt the money could be better used toward education.

Heidi Calcagno asked if a turf field woud be better over a sod or even a grass field, and wondered what would happen if the referendum was voted down.

"These are important questions that need to be addressed," Fried said. "Studies have been done."

Regarding placing the field over education, Fried said, "This is a one-time amount of money that can be used for a capital project. This gives us an opportunity to spend this money on a priority project."

Monies for education, Fried added, are spread out over several years.

Tevis said that if the referendum is voted down, the board would have to make a decision as to what to do with the money.

"It could fall into a fund balance for the spring of 2012 and be used to fund other projects," he said.

Trustee Michael Palma, while sympathizing with those residents who felt the savings should be used for students' education, said the new field would also benefit students.

"I think this is a fair compromise," he said.

Even with school closed for the summer, the football field is still being used, something that concered several trustees.

Trustee Charles Grau wondered if the field could be closed until school opens in September.

"Do the teams practice on the field?" Grau wondered.

Athletics director Paul Pignatello said that the football team under former coach Gerry Gallagher practiced on the outfield of the softball field, using the football field to practice on the day before a game. The marching band, Pignatello said, practices on the baseball field, moving to the football field before a game.

The field, Pignatello said, can be closed until scrimmages begin in late August, thus protecting it from overuse and also from inclement weather.

"One issue with the field is drainage," Pignatello said. "A good rain just wrecks the field."

Fried said the field should be closed immediately.

"Let's do all we can to give it a rest between now and the end of August," he said.

A previous version of this article said that the board voted to appropriate $990,000 in funds for the field, but has since been corrected. The board only voted to put out a referendum to ask voters to allow the board to use the funds for the field.