Politics & Government

High School Turf Project Sealed at Commissioners Meeting

An agreement with the Haddonfield school board to install artificial-turf fields was unanimously approved Tuesday by borough commissioners.

Another milestone in the saga of artificial turf fields in Haddonfield was marked Tuesday night.

The borough Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a shared services agreement with the local Board of Education for the installation and maintenance of two fields, one of which is on municipal property.

The agreement clears the way for the installation of turf on the high school football stadium field and an adjacent practice field, which is owned by the borough.

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Commissioner Ed Borden hailed the project as a “cause for great celebration.”

A cadre of residents, who sat through nearly two hours of other agenda items, including the passage of the 2013 municipal budget, didn’t see it that way.

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“When the school board and borough approved this there was no mention of who was paying to replace the turf in 10 years,” Angela Melzi said. “Why not?”

Borden said it was always understood the BOE would pay for replacement of both the field surfaces.

Commissioner Jeff Kasko also praised the deal because 64% of the $946,000 cost will be paid with private funds raised through donations and 36% by the borough and the school board. Private fundraising kicked in $600,000 of the cost.

Both Kasko and Borden are on the ballot in a May 14 election. Opposition to turf fields, in part, helped sink a $12.5 million ballot referendum in February. The measure was to buy the 19-acre Bancroft property adjacent to the high school and it included the construction of a third turf field. The vote may foreshadow the mood of voters toward public officials such as Kasko and Borden who support the ongoing turf project.

The school board approved the agreement last week.

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