school estimate. It is Monday, June 16th at 6:08 p.m. I'm going to proceed with a roll call. Mayor Sheena Colum, that's me. I am present.
Councilman Bobby Brown here. Councilwoman Jen Greenberg here. Alternate Councilman Steve Schnall here. Mayor Nancy Adams here. Committee person
Dean Daffis present. Alternate Deputy Mayor Malia Herman here. Board of Education members. Board President Nubia Deval Wilson here. Board member Bill Gford
here. Okay. Um please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Uh, notice of the meeting. Please take notice that adequate notice of this meeting has been provided in the following manner. A that written notice
was sent from the office of the secretary of the board at 11:07 a.m. on June 3rd, 2025. And B, that said notice was sent via email to Maplewood and South Orange Township clerks and the editors of the news record, Star Ledger, The Village Green, and Tap into Soma.
Uh, next up, we are going on to a few discussion items. Um, before I turn this over to the district, I'd like to remind everybody that there is not formal action or votes being taken tonight. We are having a discussion with everyone and we welcome everyone who is joining
us virtually. Thank you for taking the time to come uh participate in this very important topic. So, I think with that said, I'll turn it over to the district uh to take us through uh the bulleted items in our agenda packet. Good evening all.
Uh thank you for joining us. We're just going to uh Keith, I'm going to work off the uh PowerPoint. Okay. Um Mr. Bing, you want me to share my screen and have the PowerPoint up? Uh
I can pull mine up. Uh whatever is easier for you. Let's see. Are we all seeing that? Uh, yes we are. We are. Yes. Yes. Now we can. Yes. Super. Uh, I just want to reiterate what Sheena
just noted. There'll be no action tonight. Uh simply a discussion and and a uh look at proposals. Some of them uh may be familiar uh to you. Some may not. Obviously, I'll speak for Mr. Moody and
myself. All four are not familiar since these uh these proposals have been new to us. Uh I know they've two of them have been circulating in the communities for some time, but Mr. Mooney and myself are are quite new
to this project. So, uh, as noted, we're really looking for conversation and some input, uh, around the plans. So, I just want to move quickly through them. Um, Richard Field, Storied Past, Bright
Future. Um, as you all know, Underh Hill Complex is really our main central athletic complex. Um since I've uh started this position, the uh need for fields has popped up on my radar uh many
a time and we have had many meetings uh around that issue. Um and I think this richer project would be a nice first step uh in regards to growing the amount of uh athletic fields uh we have uh
between SOSD uh and Sil. So, uh, in my mind, and I know in Mr. Moody's mind, this more of a collaborative effort than than a, uh, school district initiative, um, we really want to try to meet the needs of all our youth and also our
adults, uh, throughout both, uh, communities. Um, so again, this, uh, revitalization initiative aims to address challenges upgrading the facility to meet contemporary athletic needs and provide a more reliable and versatile space for our students. Uh I
do want to quickly note that based upon the information submitted and upon a site inspection conducted by uh department uh environmental division staff on February 5th, 2025. Uh the division has determined that
freshwater wetlands and waters are not present on the referenced property. In addition, the division has determined that no part of the above reference property occurs within the transition area or buffer as designated NJAC77A-33D.
So, we did want to point this out. It is an important thing to note uh that DP has determined that freshwater wetlands and waters are not present on Ritzer. Um, quick background for our athletics.
Uh right now our high school population is is around 1,970. Estimated around 50% of uh CHS students participate in athletics or clubs that utilize Ritzer. Uh currently have 26 athletic programs offered at Columbia High School. That's including our
marching band. Uh there are also multiple activities and clubs. Uh Ritzer is utilized throughout the year. Fall for cheer, cross country, girls boy soccer, marching band obviously also open to the public. uh winter conditioning and spring softball lacrosse. Um also physical education
classes also utilize Richardfield. I think it's an also important to note though on this slide uh we are in the process of launching uh a middle school athletics program. Um so we'll also need fields uh for that program as that
launches uh fully over the next couple years. A program we're we're very excited about. Um, I do want to turn this over quickly to our new athletic director, Coach Winstead, uh, and also our Columbia High
School principal, uh, Frank Sanchez, just to speak about, um, a few notes and then give their perspective on this issue. Again, as noted, I I forgot to throw athletic director Winstead into uh, the uh, Mr. Moody and Mr. Bing team.
Obviously, all three are new for these proposals. So, I'll turn it over to uh Director Winstead. Uh good evening everyone. Just wanted to thank Mr. Bing for uh introducing me and also providing the context behind um why
we're here today. So, in in nearly completing my first year here at uh Columbia High School and serving the South Orange Maplewood School District, um I too strongly um believe that there's a high need a priority for uh
enhancing Ritzerfield. Um basically to share some data with you for the boys soccer team there are three levels who utilize this space during the fall along with the girls soccer team utilizing this uh space during the fall as well.
Um because of the the utilization of this the overutilization of the space is causing um a number of conflicts. So therefore with having a new proposal uh filled we will be able to address some
of our um conflicts that we are that we experienced so far. Um I ideally there are like no practice times um and this upcoming season because there will be less access to underhill field uh due to the scheduling
that is um has been constructed based upon conference mandates. um our boys and soccer team only have one opportunity or minim min minimal opportunity to play on turf. So by um introducing the new designs, it will
give our um both teams an opportunity to play on these um a new newly designed field along with uh girls and boys lacrosse. Uh right now this past season the girls and boys lacrosse team um had to share uh space on at Under Hill due
to the fact that i.e. games were either uh games were in conflict um and there were you know for example the boys had to play and then the girls would have to practice. So with having this newly revived space we can allow uh equal time
for scheduling and practicing and then um another thing to highlight is our uh lack of uh c numerous cancellations for our softball team. One our softball team is off campus for varsity and junior varsity. So allowing um with our new
newly planned designs, it will allow for our uh girls softball team to be on campus and less cancellations. Um this year uh we had uh numerous cancellations which uh the NJSIA had to extend our regular season playing time because of
the weather conditions. So this will uh help with weather uh inclement weather. It will help with um the fact that our girls softball team will be able to practice on site. Uh and that's what I have to present. Mr. Um that
addresses some of the scheduling and accommodations that will we know that um most of our we know that most of our suble teams will um it will be you know rest restricted but we are planning to go forward with other accommodations for
our suble teams to make sure that everybody will have access um to the newly fac new facility. Right. Thank you Mr. Bing. Oh you're welcome ma'am. Uh, Principal Sanchez, did you want to say a
few words? Sure. I I just um I'm not um dealing with the sports schedules for extracurricular as um Coach Winstead does. However, I will say if I can speak for the the physical education classes,
um we are definitely at a um a der of of of field options for our classes. So when I'm creating a master schedule with my guidance department, I can only use um x amount of what we call spaces,
right? And um with a with I think a a new um field, especially with a turf field, will allow us to perhaps add an extra uh section of PE that will give us
more flexibility for our students when we're creating our master schedule. Uh right now we have just a um we have outside we we we can use the project adventure. We can also use the
um circle around if you will. There's this asphalt uh kind of track and then what's inside it. However, as you'll see with different options here, we can actually add two um two additional
spaces for our students for PE classes, which will definitely allow us more flexibility when creating our master schedule. So, I'm just here to kind of in in this in right now to just also speak for um the high school in in
regards to physical education. So, thank you everybody for this opportunity. Thank you, Frank. I also want to give our uh board president Nubia Dval some time uh to speak as well. So, I'll turn this over to her quickly. Thank you
to the team a great job um jumping in on this. Um, and because uh myself and board member Gford have so much history being on the board since 2023, I did want to share just some fast facts on how we got to where we are today and
some history of our going to the board of school estimate and their involvement. Um, so the items that you're going to be presenting with tonight, Ritzer, as well as some auditorium needs. Um, Ritzer plans were originally approved by the New Jersey Department of Education and the board of ed in 2019. It was funded through a bond
as part of the long range facility plan. So, um I know a lot of this is is not new to um many of our Buddha board of school estimate u members, but for the community as well, I think it's just important to rehash and remind you how we got here. Um so, the items on the
list tonight were on next year's LRFP LRFP list that was presented in the April 2025 Bose update meeting. And uh after that meeting, we realized that these items are are urgent needs now for a number of reasons, including a Title 9 lawsuit and recent building
infrastructure damages in the auditoriums that quite frankly could harm our students. Um so reminder that when a bond falls short, as it did with our 2019 LRFP, New Jersey New Jersey law allows our district to go to the board of school estimate. Um and then they get
to vote on additional tax levies, which approves the total funding amount requested in tax impact. So legally, the board of school estimate does not control which projects the district completes or materials a district uses, but of course they they do approve the funding. And so we appreciate the
ongoing collaboration we have with our Bose and want to ensure that they have all the data and financial information they need to fund the amount requested which will be reviewed tonight. So just a reminder, at the end of 2023, the board requested additional LRFP
funds from Bose because of CO related inflation. And that meant there was no more money for Ritzer and other LRFP projects uh specifically related to Columbia High School. And then in 2024, the bo the Bose resolution for Ritzer was not funded. If it had been funded, we would be close to having a completed
Ritzerfield today, which we have an obligation to do as promised to the community. Um waiting until next year for the LRFP cycle in 2026 would unfairly delay a field that directly impacts our students. You heard some some really compelling feedback from Mr.
Sanchez from director Winstead um especially our female softball athletes uh as well as create hazardous environments for our students in our auditoriums. Uh so to wrap this up because of a lawsuit which is publicly which is public knowledge and our title 9 requirements. The board and district
have a legal and ethical responsibility to close the equity gap for our girls varsity and JV softball teams. And we're doing that by giving them a field on Ritzer. Um this is why Ritzer was expanded in 2023 to include a softball field and you'll see those those schematics um later in this
presentation. Thank you. Thank you President Dval. Uh so let's start. Uh we have four plan proposals. My understanding is plan A and B are have been uh shown to the public uh in previous years before uh
our time. Uh so we'll just quickly review uh these uh plan A which uh again I believe was approved by the board of school estimates. Um is a single turf multi-purpose field um for soccer
lacrosse with a netting uh and lighting. Total investment cost and this is updated from the initial uh proposal a few years back uh is around $3.6 million.
Plan B, which I think was uh referred to earlier in this presentation, uh was the uh second version, which was a turf multi-purpose field and two turf
softball fields. Um total investment in this plan would be around 5.5 million. Again, these are all updated costs. Now, plan C and D are are new to the table. Uh, plan C is a turf multi
multi-purpose lacrosse and soccer field and that is uh placed next to a grass natural grass softball field. Um, so as you can see all the darker green is natural grass, the lighter green is
turf. Uh again, uh lacrosse netting, lighting. Um I also uh put in these costs an irrigation system for uh the natural grass, which again brought the cost up to around 5.3
million. And plan D, as you can see, is is uh in the way it's laid out exactly the same as plan C, except as you can see by the color, the softball field would also be turf. So,
in plan D, you have a multi-purpose uh soccer lacrosse turf field. In addition to a girls softball turf field, the dark green remains natural grass. Again, this includes uh the lighting. This includes
the netting as well. Total investment here is around $5.4 million. These are all in your folder. Breakdown of our costs for each of the plans, plan A, B, C, and D. I will go over these now.
Um, you'll also, uh, see in that folder a, uh, comparison between plans C, D, and natural turf in regards to estimated maintenance costs, next steps. As as we noted uh just very
quickly uh today we're meeting as a public meeting. I want to emphasize that no action taken. Uh from the board's perspective at this point uh July 24th at the board monthly meeting action will be taken. Uh the board plans on voting
on a final Richerfield Auditorium plan and then sending that resolution to the board of school estimates and then in either August or September the board of school estimates public meeting. Again, action will be taken to vote on a final
plan. Uh, SOMD and the arts. Um, as uh, President Nval Dval noted, we've been having some challenges with our auditoriums that are used uh, the most, which those
are our secondary auditoriums, our South Orange Middle School, our Maplewood Middle School, and our Colombia High School. As you all know, we've had this discussion before. All of districtwide uh need improvement. Um the
elementarymentaries will be placed in our five-year long range facility plan. Uh the three secondary auditoriums, which are are used 247 uh really pushed their way to the top of the list and in our opinion uh need the
most work uh over the next year. Uh as many of you know, Columbia High School ortorium has been closed um as we are installing uh new rigging that uh did come out of the district budget. Um
that is phase one uh currently uh is being installed uh we're looking at probably in September for completion. Fingers crossed. Um phase two of Columbia High School uh is an upgraded
electric system. Um right now we're using a system that's decades old and that will not support uh the new rigging. So for the phase one stage rigging at Columbia High School, the district already has outlaid $1.1 million. Uh for the phase 2 electric
system, we will be asking the board of school estimates uh for 1.1 million uh to replace our electric system uh in that auditorium for South Orange Middle School Phase One stage rigging. Uh the
main auditorium is coming in at around half a million, a little more. the auxiliary the auxiliary auditorium or little auditorium is coming in at around $93,000. Uh, additionally, phase two of that is lighting in the auxiliary auditorium or
little auditorium at a cost of around $70,000. When we now travel over to Maplewood Middle School phase one stage rigging, we're looking at about $218,000. As noted by President Duval, um we've
been having some issues with ceiling tile, not only in Maplewood Middle School, but also Columbia High School. We believe we have the issue solved at Columbia. Uh we are now looking at Maplewood Middle School. We are bringing in a team, I believe this week, end of this week or early next week to take a
look um at the ceiling. We had some uh pieces of the ceiling fall. No one was injured. No one was in in the facility. uh we have shut down the auditorium until that team comes in to tell us whether uh the ceiling needs a full
replacement or we can uh simply repair uh the area that uh was broken. Uh if it needs a full replacement uh we are looking at a round with a best astus abatement if needed about $1.5
million. So, we're looking at a total of about a little more than two million dollars uh for the uh auditoriums and I think uh President Dval Wilson noted um
and we've talked about it quite often uh the arts are a cornerstone uh to SOSD and Soma and these three auditoriums uh are utilized all the time not only by their schools but also by our elementary schools by outside
parties, um Hall of Fame events, uh many other events, uh happen at our auditoriums. So, uh we would be excited to upgrade them and make sure they are safe for our students. Superintendent Ping, before you um
proceed to questions, I I might add here that um you know, in our effort to close out the school year from a fiscal perspective, we are looking at uh all of our uses and and sources of revenue over the past years from bond referendums and
the like. And we're being very meticulous about closing those projects out and determining whether any additional uh remaining funds will be left over, things of that nature. But we're uh as uh we've been very vocal about throughout the budget season, you
know, we are looking at all forms of uh avenues to increase revenues. So uh facilities use is a is a major uh potential source of revenue as well as uh external parties, external groups uh
up to and including commercial entities and even filming entities uh would would benefit from um renting our our our spaces. So, as we improve and expand these spaces, it it definitely improves our ability to to charge externally and
to uh I guess allow for more use broadly across the community and from even commercial entities and potentially uh gives us a better outlook in terms of that that potential revenue. Thank you. I just wanted to put that in there. Thank you, Mr. Moody. I do want to note
that we also have uh Todd Wascowitz on uh this call. He is a representative for Speasel Architects, the district's architects. He's been integral to a lot of these plans being developed and has been a great partner uh throughout our
last bond of uh for the last five years. So I I welcome Todd uh and you'll hear Todd answering some of these questions as they come across. Um so I I'll pass this over back to uh Sheena. We can open the floor to any questions the board of
schools assets may have. Okay, why don't we stop the share screen? All right, now I get to see all your chipper faces. If you don't mind, I want to start off with um Councilman Schnull. Um for those of you unfamiliar,
Councilman Schnull is now the head of our finance committee in South Orange. She is replacing Karen Hartshore and Hilton. and in earlier discussions he had raised some points about um the overall long-range facilities plan where we are with the bonding and additional
financial questions. So, uh Councilman Schnull, can you just kick off on on some of those questions? Sure. Thank you for that, Mayor Column. Yeah, I um my question guys, I was involved and uh I I came off the board. I was involved with
2019. So when I saw the April uh April presentation in the spreadsheet that showed the various notes per year um it totaled somewhere around I think $13 million um about eight of it was principal
obviously complement was interest but I was curious what what I didn't understand what was specific about those versus the 157 million of the total bonding back in 2019 was those have they been paid down what's what's the status of them, what's the debt service on a
yearly basis? I just was curious why those would have been left off and what was special about that 13 million. Sure, happy to provide some clarity there. Um, essentially, uh, the 13.033 million was the debt service that is contemplated
for the 2526 year. So that is the combination of the principal and interest to service all of the outstanding debt. Uh and so the outstanding debt of course is represented by the the the first issuance of around 157 million and then
the additional 24 million or so. Uh so again that's the the annual debt service uh you know for all of those those bonds issuances. Okay. And and have you rolled that scheduled out for ongoing years? Do we know are they all maturing at the same time? Is it a cliff? Are they
what's the the maturity dates as they go out? Sure. you know, there was what's represented there was a bond issuance from 2010 uh and then um substantially larger bond issuances in 2019
uh 2020 and then 2024. So that whole array of bonds which was listed in the in the presentation if we look out across the principal and interest due annually um it that represented the the 2526 budget year
portion of principal and interest of course uh those bonds um you know are longer term bonds. So each year there will be debt service. Now the components of debt service are uh debt service aid, any interest or earnings that have
accured on the proceeds of the bonds and then of course the debt service tax levy. So those three components uh are the funding sources for that debt service uh for for the for the uh the annual debt service of 13 million. So as you think going forward, I guess
my my point is just in terms of future budgeting and preparation for years. I understand and would expect we're going to see some you know new needs for uh you know infrastructure and maintenance. Just trying to get a sense if we have a longer term schedule over the next say
10 to 15 years of of the maturity of those those bonds. Again I'm not sure if it sounds like they were issued at different times. I don't know if they were different uh maturity lengths. Um but do we have a schedule that looks at that? Absolutely. And you know that u it
would have been a a substantial amount of information to include in that presentation but we do have that information available. It's also available through our our annual comprehens comprehensive financial review. But uh what we did show was the the debt service impact uh for the 2526
budget year. Now of course it will have an equivalent debt service impact in the uh 267 year and it should hover around the same dollar amount. Um now it there the reason why I mentioned that there are three components of that uh is
because you know there's the debt service aid we received around 2.8 8 million. Uh there's the component that is coming from taxpayers, the debt service tax levy of around 9 million. And then there was the uh the dollar amount that represented the earnings on
the proceeds of the bonds as they sat at our asset management. So you know that's going to uh constitute the fluctuation there because debt service aid will fluctuate each year. Uh the amount of interest or earnings we earn on proceeds will fluctuate. However, um when these
bonds were contemplated, you know, it was decided and decision was made to to issue them and and so uh you know there's buyin for that uh the payment of the debt service annually. Now, uh you can look out over years and what we're contemplating here is potentially, you
know, issuing new bonds which would then increase the the debt service tax obviously, but it's of course over the over the course of the maturity of those bonds. So, so my last question is you talked about the proceeds. I assume when we uh issued the bonds way back when
because interest rates were perceived to go higher, we took in we we drew down the bonds pretty quickly and that's what was the source of the the income. Have we completely appropriated? Are we still going to be continued to be uh earning on proceeds or have we basically spent everything on our infrastructure at this
point? Well, no. We're we're completing out uh a wide array of those those projects. Actually spent a good amount of time today and over the last several days with staff internally and also bond council auditors and and what have you just taking a look at and assessing how
approximate we are to completion on the projects associated with the 2019 issuance and how proximate we are to completion with the with the projects associated with the 2020 bond issuance. That said, uh, for a bit more explanation, there's there is a cap on
what we can earn in the way of returns on those those dollar amounts as they sit at the asset manager prior to being utilized, right? And so that's where we ran into the yield restriction arbitrage liability, which we had to return some excess funds earned to the IRS. That
said, we've assessed and captured those dollar amounts and we've uh both paid 1.289 289 million back in October, but we've also uh really created a deferred liability of around 2.07 million to that would be due in the fall, November of
25. Um, and that's just because of uh the confluence of events during the pandemic area, right? There was uh all of a sudden a great deal more that that one could earn in the way of of interest and and interest rates were low, but we were actually earning more during that
time. So, it was a a benefit to to the district and it did actually uh tap tap down on the debt service tax levy over those years. However, uh you know, that that will continue throughout the uh the maturity of those bonds. Thank you, Mr.
Moody, for those that complete answer. That's that's what I was looking for. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Sure. Of course. All right, guys. Let's um I I hope that was helpful for everyone. I had very similar questions. Um, why don't we go ahead and use the raise your hand uh function? Not that
we're in a classroom, but that way I can uh keep focus on on the hands for uh board of school estimate members. Mayor Adams. Hi guys. Do I press the raise again to lower it? Yes.
Not used to WebEx. Um, so I have a a few quick questions. One, I'd like um Superintendent Bing and um about the preferences for
um the fields when we talked about this um recently. I don't remember when or under what uh context it was. The new uh proposal was to handle the title nine by putting in the natural grass softball
field and keeping the previously approved under facilities plan um limit of the artificial turf to the soccer field. So, honestly, I'm a little frustrated that we're relitigating this again because we spent like almost a
six-hour meeting hearing public comment at a previous border school estimate where um the votes weren't there to artificially turf the whole field. So, now we're essentially back there again. And um that's pretty disrespectful to
the last border school estimate that talked about it. So, I'd just like to know if the artificial turf soccer and lacrosse field and the natural grass um softball field would suffice generally
speaking for those who are going to, you know, utilize it. Um, and as a someone who played softball for some 30 years, um, usually softball fields weren't really weather dependent, coach, because you don't play softball in the
rain. But, um, I I defer to you guys to answer that question about usage. Coach, you want to speak on the usage? Sure. Um so I'm I wasn't at the previous meeting um so I'm sorry I wasn't I wasn't there to understand exactly what
was discussed but the for um for one of the fields that was presented was one was half um lacrosse was turf and other half was natural grass for the infield and outfield for softball and then the second
one was full turf for in um for the infield for softball and out there still will be a grass section. So, in reference to which um what would be ideal? Well, um this this season we had
um numerous cancellations because of the fact that we couldn't play the next day. So, what you're correct, uh, Mayor Adams, that you cannot play in the rain for softball, but because of the fact that the um the next day we could the the amount of rain the d um that did not
irrigate out properly, it caused us to have to uh not have the game and or not have practice. So with being able the water being able to observe absorb a little faster, it allowed um it people who do school or districts that have a turf field, they can play the next day
and practice in the proper um space. So that's what will be permit us and allow us to have um games on um a turf versus turf. Now again um this if the infield is grass and outfield is grass as well.
Um the whole idea of having our softball team on campus is ideal. I mean again we know we have that title one um litigation. So I'm sorry title N excuse me. So with that being said um both uh models will be uh efficient and
effective to support us. But ideally turf versus and turf is something that we would like to have. Mayor Mayor Adams I'm Can I speak? Sure. Sure. I understand your your frustration. I'm sorry I wasn't at the
last meeting, but I I just consider myself fortunate to to be part of this district uh who that's so committed to to to education, committed to to, you know, um keeping up with our
facilities. And I get it right. When I first got here, I I I was shocked that not that I was shocked, but I was so impressed that as a community, and that means both comm both towns, you know, we voted for $157 million referendum and
then after that we reuped again. Um, and so I I think if plan B is there, I I will be honest, I think plan B is is just to get us to to be on par with other districts. Okay? I mean, I think I just
want you to just kind of understand that that's why that plan B is there, but I understand that that might not be where the votes are. I I think that might not be where everybody in the in the community is. Um, but I think that's
where most of our that we play have. Um there was a there was a baseball game that we had this year um and and we lost a a close game and I don't know who the reporter was
but they said something about the tundra field at Underh Hill where a bad bounce on the grass took you know what have you and um someone said we have one of the worst uh fields in in the in the um
super Essex county. Um I would say because we have been so committed as a district to the arts and to other um to the II. Um I'm comfortable as principal of saying, you know, I I think I recommend
either C or D. It would meet our our minimal needs. Uh it would allow us to catch up. I think I mean B will let us catch up with other districts, but I get it. There's there's costs that that that the the town people in this community
have have dealt with and I think C and D would be um something that I think is is appropriate. It I mean I'm not a obviously a an elected town official, but it would allow us at the very least to meet in the middle. Mayor Adams and
and if if that's kind of your question about um the earlier ones, I think they're just there to let people know that we get it. We this is what would be maybe an ideal world, but we we can't maybe that's not what we're we're
looking for. I think also what's important to us is that this is a collaborative effort. Um you know, we've discussed this many of times. We don't want this being a district-driven effort. uh these fields will be used by not only our students but community
members uh non-school age students adults just as Underh Hill is utilized by a wide variety and diverse community. So for us it's most important that this is a collaborative effort and as as
noted uh you know we've been working on the idea of uh gratitude in the district and you know we would be grateful for a plan C or or or plan D. Yeah, understood. And I appreciate that input because while other school districts may
have, you know, um better fields or something, they may also have more land. Um so I get concerned uh and and because this is not only utilized currently for athletics, it's also utilized by the
students on a you know daily basis, those who are not playing um sports. I'm um leaning toward being in favor of the auditorium work. We don't want anybody getting hurt and if there's work that needs to be done. Um I I respectful of
the residents and our issues with regard to climate change and storm water runoff and all those things. Um I the B obviously C is what was prop proposed not recently and um respected
the the the long-term facilities plan in the original form and also handles the Title N without going back into the um argument about artificial turf. So um I'd be in favor of supporting uh letter
S. So, and I I'll let others speak for now. So, I will shut up. Councilwoman Greenberg and then Committeeman Daffis. Good evening. Um, I want to recognize the many neighbors
who have concerns about the storm water management, especially as climate change brings more severe storms. So to understand fully and transparently um to get some clear answers on the following questions that have continued
to come through the emails and I thought maybe I could um address them here for everybody and see who can answer them. How will the surface water be addressed on the artificial turf under normal weather conditions? Where will the
underground water receptacles drain? And during flash floods, what will happen when the waters receptacles fill up, as they inevitably will? Where will the overfill go? Will the additional drainage pipes be
installed below Hixon Place and Valley Street? If so, where will they drain? I think answering some of these questions will help build the trust and ensure that this very important project um meets the needs of our students while
also addressing some of the concerns of those that live so close by. So I'm going to turn this over to Todd as I noted. Thank you for those questions by the way. Uh Todd uh from Species Architect. I do want to note that we did make some tweaks in plan in
our plans in regards uh to adding a water storage tank which many uh new developments are doing uh as an option for the storm water. Um we also want to make a note that as many of you know we
ran an action a community action committee model uh for our budget this school year. Our plans are to do the same throughout uh this project as well to have community members as part of our action committee uh to act as watchd dogss for the project and get input as
we move forward. Uh the model worked very well with our 2526 budget. I think this project will enable us to um push that model to another level and and really get some good input in input uh consistently from community
members through an action committee. So Todd, I'll I'll turn those questions over to you. Yeah, thank you. Um so so first off, um obviously these plans are at the at the concept level and and once a plan or a version of one
of these plans is approved, uh we on the design end have most of our work to do. Um but generally with storm water um the the DP is state level D is concerned with three levels and that's your your
how much water is you're running off the quality of the water and groundwater disch recharge. Now the quality only applies if you're doing a parking lot. So not applicable to this and we're outside the zone where groundwater recharge is a factor. So we're into
runoff quantity. um as part of the design and we we may end up with a a tank below ground. Uh it may be a series of pipes and that's part of what our work is to do and and to balance that with the most cost-effective way to do
it. But in the end generally the water will come down you you absorb the water and then you retain it for a set period of time and to make sure you're not overwhelming or adversely impacting the
balance of the system. So at uh for the calculations of a 2-year, a 5-year, and a 100redyear storm, those are certain prescriptive storms and rainfall calculations, we will need to prove to the DP as part of the application that we have the
storage to account for that water. Um so basically the water comes in come down into the field into a network of stone pipes basins that will be held and then it will be discharged um connected onto
the the property on valley. The uh the plan as of now does not contemplate uh impacting Hixon at all for drainage. Generally we'll be moving towards valley collecting over the process retaining and then there's an outlet control
structure it's a metered flow um to ensure that it doesn't overwhelm the system and the end result will show that the storm water impact outside of the field is no worse than it is today.
Um, thank you. And just reading my notes to make sure I answered all of your questions. Um, yes. And just to confirm that the line items for the cost of this
has some room within it should it be more expensive. because once you start to go underground and find you need a little more uh work to do that we're we're including that little kind of
buffer if you will. Yeah, we we have we have reasonable assumptions and uh in conjunction with our site civil engineer, they've completed uh numerous fields throughout the state and uh they have the expertise to do that. But there there is a conservative nature in there
given the proximity to Valley Street and uh the improvements to make sure that they're done completely. Thank you very much. Hey T, can I speak speak on the also the artificial turf itself and the perforated backing and as well as the
the move towards organic infill which also does help with allows water to percolate. Yes. So uh in addition to helping offset any heat island effects or heat absorption there there's a general movement exploring
different um infills on the synthetic turf uh from corn cobs to olive husk to to various components and and their benefits are generally that they're they're organic and they're obviously sourced better. They're natural products
and they they have a similar playing environment that you may experience with the more conventional rubber infield but uh with connection with an absorption mat because they do have some downsides to it. So we would have to add another mat underneath the layer and that that
cost is included. Um, you can use some some great natural products around that uh are are touted to have much less negative uh environmental impact. Councilwoman Greenberg, did that answer your questions? I am satisfied. Thank
you. Guys, we're we're on storm water right now. So, before we jump to the next topic, I just kind of want to circle through this a few times with Todd. Hi, Todd. I'm Sheena. Nice to meet you. So, as you can imagine is, you know, if you are a resident living on Hixon, you
know, uh this is a big issue, right? We've experienced flooding all throughout the community. And so, we're going to hear this repetitive concern about somebody's largest investment, their homes. And so, proceeding forward with a model that has turf, which I am
supportive of, is that we need asurances other than we're going to appropriate the money and then maybe something's going to happen. through our traditional land use boards and you know even courtesy reviews uh that come to us is that we have storm water management plans, we have lighting plans, we have
landscaping plans, we get to see all those things but you know the request to us right now is allocate x number of money and yes we we are planning on doing storm water. So I I guess my question to you and to the district is, you know, from this oversight role and
in the spirit of cooperation and partnership is that our residents are the ones that are directly facing this field. And so at what point are there going to be if we proceed forward storm water management plans a better understanding of how the storm water is going to look? Um to my understanding
also when D updated their inland flood rules I it's not even just a matter of it being um it's not even just a matter of keeping more on uh equal is that any improvements or or disruption have to
has to result in more storm water being retained on site. Um I may be saying that incorrectly uh but I believe that's correct. Can can you and the district speak a little bit to this process moving forward and those assurances that we can give to our residents and other
stakeholders in the area? Um if it would please I I'll run through a a a rough outline of the procedures that we would take that once an option was selected then it would take us uh probably about two months to do the
design work and the calculations which would then be followed with submissions to soil conservation committees. Um and once that's made then we can submit to the New Jersey D. Um these are all public submissions and it's part of the
process. Once we gather those approvals, then we will come in and submit to the the township again the complete package of information so they can then verify that we've followed all the necessary steps and that the right approvals are
in place as well as conduct their review uh for the agencies that they represent. Only at that time would a building permit be issued or a allow us to proceed allow the district to proceed to the next step.
You just said something that struck a chord with me that might be brand new. Is there going to be a courtesy review to the Maplewood Planning Board since this is property in Maplewood? That's our plan. Yes. Very nice. That is, I believe, new
information. I think from the the last um communication we received was that it wasn't necessary, but I was hoping that a courtesy review would be happening. And for our South Orange residents who are watching this meeting, uh Ritzer is in fact in Maplewood despite the shared
interest amongst our residents. So, the natural place would be to the planning board in Maplewood. Um Mayor Adams, were you aware of that? Not until this minute, but it was going to be requested. Ah, fabulous. Especially because of all the issues with regard to the buildout. Um, we want to make sure
that our engineers looking at it and so is our consulting engineer. Yeah, we're we want to make sure we're as transparent as possible. I think, you know, one thing, uh, President Nubia Wilson hit on this and myself is we want this to be a collaborative effort and not really a district-driven effort.
It's going to be used by everyone in the community. So, we really would like to make sure this is collaborative. So, to that point, and I'm sorry I see the other hands up, but I'm still going on this line of thinking on on how our residents are going to be able to uh participate in this process. Do you
anticipate the same in terms of the lighting plan, uh the landscaping plan, uh traffic, uh related studies, etc., all going to the Maplewood Planning Board as a part of a and I I I imagine it is a courtesy review.
We do and also as I noted earlier um we want to we will use our uh action uh committee model as well with this project. So, uh, we will be opening up applications, especially, uh, giving special, uh, room for our Hicks and neighbors,
uh, to take part in that action, uh, committee that will will meet regularly to go over the plans and go over the progress, uh, not only at this date, but also through the build and hopefully to the finish. That's wonderful. Let me just note, thank you very much for that.
I think that's something that might be new to all of us is that it will have a review through that statutory uh process. So, I'll kick it over to um Committee Men Daffis and then uh Deputy Mayor uh Herman.
Thank you, Mayor. I had two questions, two areas of inquiry rather. Uh the first one largely answered because it had to do with storm water mitigation and runoff mitigation. That is a large uh that's a big concern for residents as
the mayor noted. Um and I think you know it's great to hear that there's going to be more work in this regard and that there's going to be a lot of transparency uh about our process. Uh one quick question as it relates to whether or not
the storm water mitigation expenses are reflected in what we were presented with tonight. probably not because we don't know exactly everything that we're going to have to do, right? There is a budget for a complete system
and but I can't say definitively today that we'll use all the parts and pieces that we estimated in the final design, but it it's reasonable that we have enough accommodations for a complete storm water management system. Um there
has been some research done by the the engineers identifying current flows, current situations. So without going into the hundreds of pages of calculations, they they feel that we have a reasonable budget to accommodate it.
I see. Thank you for that. So um I want to switch back over to uh the four plans, plan A, B, C, and D. Is it the district's representation that plan B is pie in the sky, ideal,
get us uh on par with other districts or is it what we need to do for sports equity? So for us this is the richer project is really a first step for in the development of more fields across
uh the community. Uh we were looking at future options uh and working collaboratively with both towns to really explore possibilities for us. When we went into this my understanding as in addition I don't
want to speak for Mr. But I will in this case uh was that plan A was passed. Plan B that you noted Dean was uh was not passed. Um and then uh when I came in I'm thinking you know early July started
meeting with some folks. This was put on my radar and uh we worked out plan C and then eventually plan D. Um and I think uh speaking for the district plan C or B will will meet our needs currently. Um however there there is a need for more
more fields moving forward. Um that also includes tennis courts and and things uh to meet uh our athletics. But this to me is a wonderful first step. And as coach noted, and as many of you know, our
girls softball team had a spectacular year, making it to the state championship this year. Uh, our expectations are that, uh, next year we will be holding that trophy. Um, so, uh,
not only are we will be meeting Title N requirements, but also, uh, I I think, uh, giving our girls a well-deserved field where they actually don't have to walk or take a bus to. It'll be right outside, uh, the high school, which is
very unique for our athletic teams. The majority of our athletic teams have to travel to our sports field. though, uh, our girls softball will be in a very unique spot where they can open the door and walk right out to their new field. I would only add actually to that that,
uh, I would regard plans C and D to be just the more comprehensively considered plans with all forces at play, right? with the demand uh with uh the requirements for the title N and with uh a new uh more granular and detailed
information about uh you know water flow uh and and all the information that's come from our our continued research. So um so that's sort of how we have gotten to and C and D to be um you know more advantageous. It's also important to note that C and D
do not impact project adventure. Um so nothing will need to be moved in regards to project adventure. Uh so which was uh an important uh item that we kept in mind. Also we wanted to keep a place where students could congregate.
As you know we have tables out there where students eat their lunch and congregate. That will not be disturbed as well. That will remain. Um, and the beauty of plan C and D is they actually are putting in a a better walkway that is currently used uh that will be used
by our physical education programs. Right now, as many of you know, the uh backtop walkway that we have, uh, Ritzer isn't isn't the best. Um, so, uh, plan C and D will put in a better walkway for our students, uh, for physical
education. I'd just like to throw in there because Project Adventure to those of you who didn't have kids go through Columbia High School, I had five of different athletic levels and Project Adventure is beloved by literally every kid who ever
goes to Columbia High School and it's really important especially for those who aren't on team sports. So, just throwing that out there. Well, we also Mayor Adams, it's a I'm sorry. I was just going to say it's extremely positive uh uh program. Mr. Shannon and his
colleagues do an incredible job. Just Yeah, we also utilize it uh in our interview process. So that is our last third round of interviews. They have to get through that course in order to be offered a position in the district.
Deputy Mayor Herman, you're muted. Yeah, I was looking for the mute. Found it. Thank you. Um, so I want to thank uh, Superintendent Bing and everyone in the district for these detailed plans and for all of supporting financial information.
Clearly, a lot of time and effort have gone have gone into these options. So, I want to thank you for that. Um, with respect to project adventure, I just wanted to ask um, it was my understanding the um, plan B schematic also would accommodate that. Is that not
the case? I think it was plan A that accommodated that, right, Todd? I believe plan B actually impacted it. Uh, plan B would would allow project venture to stay as
it is. Yes, that is. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So, I wanted to point that out that um plan B also would allow Project Adventure to stay because um I I understand that that is also very important. We've heard from a lot of people about that. Um I wanted to point
out a couple of clarifying things that were said earlier um with regard to games taking place um in the rain that actually can happen on turf. Um many games can continue um and then as our um
athletic um director pointed out they can take place the very next day because of the drainage. Um whereas games that are on dirt and grass fields cannot take place during the rain or the next day. Um and then I did want to point out also
with regard to the plan that has the grass and dirt softball field. Um, if we're talking about the community and wanting to share with the community and work together, um, I would be worried that that would not be able to be shared with the community because of um, being
able to handle the additional usage and also when you have a grass field, it can't be used with other sports. Um, so when the softball is not happening, the other sports would not also be able to happen. So if we want to look at, you
know, field use, um, I just wanted, um, I want to thank Columbia High School softball team. Um, they did finish this season. They were ranked ninth in the entire player of the year.
Yeah. Is everybody else getting that from Malia as well? Yeah. Having a hard time with sometimes if there's connections issues like that sometimes turn off your video. Yeah. Yeah. Does is that better now? Yes, we can hear you better. Yes, it is.
Can you go back about 20 seconds? Yeah. Okay, let me go back. Uh, so I was thanking everyone for these plans. Um, and then we did clarify that Project Adventure will remain on plan B as well. And then I was pointing out that
actually a lot of games are played in the rain on turf. Um, it's grass fields that you wouldn't be able to play in the rain. And then also the next day, as the athletic director pointed out. Um, and then also if we wanted this to be a
community field, um, if the softball field is grass and dirt, it does put limitations on being able to share it with the community because of usage constraints. Um, and then also, um, you know, you obviously wouldn't be able to use it with other sports. Um, you know,
it would be more like the baseball fields at Underh Hill which are used, um, just for baseball. Um, so spirit of sharing and community use, um, that's an important thing to point out. Um, and I was thanking also the, um,
superintendent for pointing out our amazing Columbia High School softball team. They finished the season ranked nine in the entire state, and they have, um, multiple allconerence players on the first team, second team, and honorable mention. Um, I also wanted
to point out we have more than 400 young players in kindergarten through 8 who are in the U Maplewood and South Orange combined villagers and recreation softball programs. So, our towns have a very successful softball program that
send a lot of players to the high school. Um, currently the baseball team has three teams. They have a freshman team, a JV team, and also a senior, a varsity team. A freshman team, a JV team, and a varsity team. Um, we would
have more than enough players to feel the same, but the softball players don't have their own field. Um, so when we're talking about equity that, you know, we're looking at the fact that the baseball teams have two
fields. And the big question I have is if it's if we were only going to be looking at one of the plans that have one field, where would the other team play? So, is that um something that could be
answered? And then I have additional Yeah, I we're still looking to develop other fields around the district um which we'd be happy. We've been sharing at uh well we would be sharing at municipal alliance meetings uh and then
when the time is appropriate be happy to bring to the board of school estimates uh but we are we are looking at development of of other fields moving forward over the next few years and Mr. If I can add may I add also um with under with lower level teams um
oftent times you have you you send the reverse so if there's a varsity game home you have a JV game away um so when you we're talking about utilizing the space um some you know mo most teams can do that as well so that's another way to
uh take advantage of having this new space so um in my so I'm not sure if that really gets us to solve the Title N equity problem if we're still not giving the girls what their male counterparts have.
I just want to point that out. Um and so M3 and South Orange is where the Columbia varsity softball team currently plays. This field was closed 10 times this spring due to bad weather. Uh those numbers come from the South Orange Department. Conversely, turf fields stay
open even after rain when it is rain. So that end, option C, which is the hybrid plan, um that calls for the multi-purpose turf field and a separate grass field. It could create a situation where we have one open and one closed,
which seems to fly in the face of some of the inequities that we're trying to address. the fact that the high school um softball season happens during the rainy season, April until June. And we all have seen how much rain we've gotten lately. Um it seems that turf is really
the only option that makes sense. Um Ritzer is located in a valley. Um compared to Underh Hill, which is higher in elevation. So again, when we're talking about equity, um it really just seems to me that in terms of usage,
um plan B or usage point. I went through the numbers. We're having a real Malia Malia, we're having a real tough time with you. It's really coming in and out. Um, it started up again in the past 15
seconds. Malia, do you want to log off and get back on and just reset and we'll come back to you? Sure. Okay. Don't worry, we won't forget about you. I just want to make sure everything you're saying is heard. Yeah, thank you.
Um, yeah, come back to me. Okay. All right. Before I go back to Councilwoman Greenberg, do we have other questions from members of the board of school estimate? Um, before we do another round, Councilwoman, let me just ask a question
of the board of education members. Do you have a recommendation for us? Have you spoken about this within your facilities committee of which option you would like the board of school estimate to consider the most or a priority?
Uh thank you Sheena. Um yes so you know I have spoken to many board members. Um you know the the mindset right now I would say of the majority is that they really want to support um what the administration wants. And so
most folks right now are leaning um towards D. Uh personally um I like C. I think I think it's a good compromise to you know have some turf and some grass, but uh right now I I would say that the
majority is is leaning uh towards D right now. Okay. um board president uh Nubia is is that kind of your understanding as well from people you've spoken to? Right. D which is um the turf for the softball
field. Um but I will say that there that we do have board members who are concerned about having more than one turf field or more than one field on Ritzer. um to Malia's um point, making sure that there's enough playability and
that there is equity there. Um but Bill is correct that he's been the one receiving all of the all of the feedback um as FFT chair and so that is that is what he's been getting. Um if that's what he said and and I've and I but I did want to point out that that we have
had discussions. I did join FFT two months ago. I don't even remember when that was. Um, and we did listen to uh, director Winstead discuss the the JV versus varsity if two teams were if if varsity and JV
um, opposing teams were coming to our fields, stopping at Ritzer and then stopping at Underh Hill. Um, if they had to have two stops versus one. Um, so those are topics that we have discussed in FFT. Yeah. and and and you know, I I don't know if it's worth mentioning, but you
know, I I just think that we've kicked the can down the road uh too long on Ritzer. Personally, I am not a proponent of turf. I I fought against turfing Dehart Park. Uh but as an elected official, I know there are times we have to compromise in order to make progress.
Uh and last year we were unsuccessful receiving the funds we needed to complete the Ritzer plans from our last Bose request, but uh we do appreciate receiving the funds that we did. Um but this is a collaborative effort and uh we just want to provide our girls the uh
our girls softball team some fields to play on. I'm going to go back to Deputy Mayor Herman and then I'll come to you, Councilwoman Greenberg. Hi, thank you. Can you hear me better now? Yes, hopefully.
Okay, good. We think it may have been too much Wi-Fi being used. So, um I'm not sure where to start back up. Um uh cuz I'm not sure what heard. Malia, we got all the way up to your point
about equity and having the two softball fields available um rather than just the one. Yeah. Okay. Now I'm looking for Hold on. This is what I'm looking for. Ha. All right. So,
I wanted to thank Superintendent Bing for providing all of the uh the stats um and point out that if we're for a turf field, we would have 3,000 hours versus,900
and 800 hours for grass. So, our students would clearly, as our athletic director pointed out, get more usage from a turf from a full turf field. And if you look at the maintenance costs per hour, it's really quite dramatic, we're talking about um about $13 per hour for
turf versus about almost a hundred hour for grass. So um taxpayers would get significantly more value for their tax dollars from a total turf field. Not to mention that um you know there's the concern about whether or not uh future
BOE's would be able to continue funding um what's properly needed to properly maintain a natural grass field. Um and then we also should um I'm not sure if this part came through that M3, the South Orange field that the Columbia
varsity team c currently uses was closed 10 times this spring due to bad weather. So, um, in addition to down days for grass and hybrid fields, we should also consider how many days the fields will be closed for bad weather. Um, so a
multiple uh a multi-purpose turf field and a separate grass field could create a situation where we have one open and one closed. Um, and then I'm not sure again if this point came through, but I was pointing out that softball happens during the spring from April to June,
which is the rainy season. So, um, with that, I believe that I I basically am saying that plan B, I think that is absolutely what we see other towns have
and I think that we shouldn't sell our program short. as superintendent pointed out being pointed out our softball team is it's it's one of the jewels of our well
done and we have kids playing softball from kindergarten on up and looking forward to playing in the high school and for them to be able to have field to look forward to would really um be quite spe you know uh it it's if we want to
address the inequity issue we need to stop stalling and do what we promised the softball community and our female athletes year ago. And as far as I'm concerned, option option B is the way to go. And as one resident wrote to me today, she said, "The turf complex at Ritzer is an investment in our students
and equity. Sports team are a space for students from different backgrounds or in different academic programs meet, work together, learn life lessons, and create lasting friendships. And the turf complex will be an outdoor classroom that is an essential part of our school's facilities upgrade. So, um,
let's not scale back what was promised. Let's do this one time. Uh, and let's do it right. Let's build a sports complex worthy of the hardworking, determined, strong female athletes that attend our high school. Thank you, Malia. Going back to
Councilwoman Greenberg. Thank you. Um, I am looking at plan B and I am asking a question because I don't know the answer and that is where do the current field hockey teams practice?
That's listed on here in plan B and it's not listed anywhere else on any of the A, B, I'm sorry, A, C, or D. So, I'm asking because I don't know where the female field hockey team practices and
plays their games. The female field hockey teams practice and play their games at Underh Hill. Okay. And so they share the field with um what the coaches do is they they um
share the whether it's the grass fields for practices that are out there like what what is today the baseball fields in spring but in the fall right they share that or they share the turf but then games are always on the turf. Correct coach Winston. Um sorry let me
just add to it. The freshman team plays their games on the grass only and varsity and junior varsity play on the turf all the time, practice and games. And again, because I don't know, is field hockey in the fall or the spring? Fall.
Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. That was my question. All right. Any other questions from members of the board of school estimate before we move to the attendees? Okay, seeing none. And then we're going
to circle back. All right. To the board of school estimate. We're just go now to the attendees. Sorry, Mayor. Can I squeeze one in real quick? Yeah, absolutely. Um the re the talk the spreadsheet showed the expenses for maintenance and other things for the
fields over the over a 24 year lifespan but um artificial turf field replacement seemed rather low in the estimates and the lifespan for those are 8 to 10 years. So that means it'd be like two
and a half replacement like one and a half replacements after the initial install. What is the what is the cost of putting that replacement artificial turf in? Because that it seemed low on the on the thing based on like my research on what
it cost to replace it. It typically the manufacturer the recent guidance they've been providing is to assume a 12-ear cycle. So that's the hence the reason for the 24 that would get us through two cycles of of the turf replacement. Um
escalated values of today what were included. Um but as you as you probably know when you do that replacement you're only dealing with the the infill in the topmost layer. The the balance of the field construction remains intact. So
the replacement cost cost down the road is is much less than the initial. And how long did Underh Hill how long before Underh Hill was replaced? Wasn't it like eight years? Anyway, food for thought. You don't whoever does want to answer or can't
answer right now, that's fine. Okay. So, uh we are going to move on to the attendees. Uh we do have a robust group with us tonight. So, we're going to ask you try and limit your comments to 2 minutes. Um, Mr. Bonds, would you be able to help and assist and call out
the order? Certainly. Uh, if we're ready, I'll move on to the first, uh, speaker is Virginia Lamb. Hi. Hi. Can you hear me? Yes. Okay, great. Hold on one second. I'm just doing all these buttons. Um, so, hi, good evening. My name is Virginia Lamb.
I've lived in Maplewood since 2003. My kids both played sports here throughout the years and uh Project Adventure was a really important part of my youngest kids um experience at Colombia. So there's obviously been a lot of effort put into these plans and I understand you know various turf elements and all
that costs of multiple millions of dollars. And while I understand the need to uh address the the sports team's uh needs, I'm frankly pretty astounded at the casual way that spending these quantities of money is discussed and the
and the way that attributes of turf that are promised by turf companies are accepted at face value. Uh the more that I've learned recently about turf in recent years, the more I understand that it's really not the right approach and it's far from a silver bullet. Um, we have these grass fields in our
communities that get zero maintenance and then they're criticized for being deficient. This would be like starving a dog and blaming it for being skinny. These fields are used as athletic fields, but they are not managed as athletic fields. On grass fields, playability is directly related to
maintenance, and well-maintained grass can be played on during and after rain. Regarding cost, in 2019 there was a $2 million approved to turf Ritzer. inflation and COVID supply chain issues increased these costs and necessitated a request for an additional four million
in 2024 as you all know which was not approved. Uh and now we have international tariffs on top of this. The cost of every import is increasing. Uh many projects that I'm working on for my work have had with grant funds or increased cost for uh equipment shipping
from overseas and economists are predicting that inflation is going to increase as well. So, planning to spend $5 million or more on turf seems like a pretty unpredictable plan in terms of cost. And in addition to cost, turf has other unpredictable elements. As many of you have learned, it will change how
storm water flows. It will divert it away from the grass field and into local streets, storm drains, rivers, basement, likely including the basement of Columbia High School. It will be dangerous and damaging. It will result in additional costs, and it will not be limited to neighbors in the immediate vicinity. Storm water draining through
this field will be contaminated with PAS and microlastics. In addition, turf will become far hotter on days than grass does, sometimes too hot to play on. In fact, with turf and increasing temperatures, we may find ourselves going from fields too wet to
play on to fields too hot to play on. Lastly, the installation of turf will be hugely disruptive to the site for at least several months. Grass turf that's properly maintained will have none of these problems and can be done for a fraction of the cost. The grass turf quote circulated last year was
completely inaccurate as it called for total replacement of the field including all soil removal which was not necessary. We can have excellent grass fields and manage our storm water naturally and inexpensively. I urge you not to rush into a decision that could be very costly for residents of our
towns in many ways for many years to come and in ways we can't yet anticipate. Please carefully consider all the options and the impacts on the affordability of Maplewood and South Orange to families in the future and how school funding is actually used. I would like to ask you to consider a plan E
which would keep the current site undisturbed but drastically improve its natural function. Thank you for your time. Next speaker please. Hi, sorry. Um, my name is Phoebe Spaniard. Um, I live in Maplewood. I am
um the chair of the climate committee of Soma Action, which is a local progressive group. And one of the things we've been doing is working with other groups including the school green teams to advocate for fiscally and environmentally sound measures in the district. Um so I'm sort of speaking
from that perspective. Um I support finding solutions and doing that in a smart way by first considering the full range of options and that's what I want to you know request and encourage the people who are here today
to do. Um, for sure the Title N issues related to girls softball absolutely have to be addressed. Um, but since there's flexibility in how they're addressed, we should be looking at the full range of options to choose what makes the most sense. There are a lot of ways to address Title 9 and turf isn't
required. Effectively maintained grass can be a cost effective part of the solution. One option could be the mealins fields which have an annual aotment of um I think $30,000 for upgrades that most of this board of ed supported. Um travel to
the field would obviously be something that would need to be addressed but as Virginia mentioned um the option of using grass that is effectively maintained should be on the table as well. It should be one of the options people are looking at. Um even beyond title n I have some usage questions
about the fields at Soma Action Climate. But we've done some analysis and it looks to us like Underh Hill is underused at about 800 hours per year rather than the 3,000 hours that is often cited. I'd be happy to share our analysis with anyone who's interested
and to see any other analysis of this. Um, richer field is fully used during the spring and fall sports season and turf can't make the field bigger. Also, it looks to us like there are other Essex County turf fields available to school districts in the county for rental by time blocks, including Ivy
Hill on the South Orange border. This would be worth looking into. It might be a more financially sensible way to have more turf access compared to investing millions in another turf field here. Um, that's all. Thank you. Next speaker, please.
Hi. Um, thanks for sharing all this information with the public and um, I do want to say, you know, there's a it was really comprehensive and also excited to hear about some other um, programs that will help with um, sports equity like middle introducing
middle school sports which we had when I was growing up and I see how important that is. Um, and you know, also I think it's important as you're figuring out the long-term financial plans, um, looking at how,
you know, the existing LRFP is being closed out because there's other things that were in it that were promised to the community that have not happened. Um, and which I've seen at Clinton as a Clinton parent. Twice um in board meetings it was
announced that we got a new playground when in fact we did not. So that was a lie to the community. Um also Ecklinton is an an example of how the district is putting no attention into maintaining its grass fields. So I can only imagine
if the same thing is happening at Ritzer that's why it's so um you know why people are complaining because at Clinton after they did the construction they they there was no like soil um remediation.
They laid down some grass seed and called it a day and now it's, you know, not very usable and it floods and it needs more um some kind of drainage fix that the district has promised to do um over the
past year, but it's not done yet. So, there's a lot of needs that that this district has and we know that there's a lot of financial constraints and um some of these things could be solved with um just a little bit more basic
maintenance. Um and we should be trying that and minimizing the large capital expenses that will be a burden for many years to come on our community. and not just a financial burden but also an environmental burden. Um so I was
glad to hear you know of the plans this time around to include the community more do more um courtesy planning board reviews and um make sure that there's appropriate storm water um planning in the plans for Ritzer. So
um we do appreciate that and ask that you know you uphold that promise. Um, so just again reering reiterating my support to minimize the use of turf and promote the natural field maintenance
for our community. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. The next speaker is Ben Vitali. Mr. Vatitali, uh, you'll need to unmute your microphone.
Sorry, fighting with three dueling WebEx pop-ups. Uh, good evening. Uh, lovely conversation so far. Thank you for the opportunity to speak. Um, I didn't speak on this issue initially in 2019 um or when it came up uh in the
community about the heart um or at the previous board of school estimate meeting. I used to re actually be undecided and neutral on this issue which probably surprises you because you all know me as having a lot of strong opinions about things including especially environmental issues. Um and
I acknowledge that there's a problem here um that definitely needs a solution. I have a few ideas I'll run by you another time, but and I've heard lots of other good ideas tonight. But there are really two things that changed my mind and um and I'm not
neutral anymore about uh artificial turf in our community and for the school district. Uh the key thing is really the advancing science on microplastics and to a lesser extent PFAS which you know are polyfloral alcohol substances. Um, and the other thing is the growing list
of towns around the world that are banning that are pumping the brakes on on artificial turf either by banning it or putting moratoriums in place. The science is very recent and it's evolving fast. It's so new that there have been significant developments since the board
of education voted in 2019 um to install turf at Ritzerfield. Um, some participants in the debate are trying to say that this this decision is kind of already made. We just need to figure out how to pay for it. That's true. Um, but there is still a chance to do the right
thing and I think we need to figure out what that right thing is. It's not that clear and I my message to you is that I think we should consider waiting for more science. Um, so about the bans uh the European Union in 2023 banned microlastics which includes crumb rubber
infill which is used in artificial turf. Um the Netherlands phase is phasing out artificial turf by 2030 artificial turf by 2030 due to cancer risks and environmental concerns. Boston, Massachusetts closer to home has a
moratorium in city parks since 2022 uh indefinitely and their justification was PFAS PFAS. Um Milbury, California banned artificial turf in 2023. Sharon, Massachusetts has a moratorum. Wayland,
Massachusetts has a moratorum. Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts and Martha's Vineyard has a ban permanently. Westport, Connecticut has a ban on crumb rubber infill and is now considering banning artificial turf permanently. Concord, Massachusetts has a moratorum
uh since 2022 and that goes until 2027. They're waiting to see the science develop. Um the list goes on. I'll stop there, but as you can see, this is really fresh stuff. And so I that's why I think we should reconsider recent decisions. Um, even the Sierra Club opposes synthetic turf. They are a very
moderate organization. Um, I I have some other questions like what is the plan for the 200 plus tons of synthetic turf at the end of their life? Have you estimated the dollar cost? Probably you have, but we should make sure that's the case. And then have you estimated the environmental cost? because the story on
that is not so good. Organic infill mentioned by um um I'm sorry the consultant very interesting. We need to learn more about the published science on health and environmental impact of that because the crumb rubber really is the biggest problem. We also need to
check in on the increased costs that you mentioned which I'm sure will be present. Um but yeah, let's give cork and coconut shells and corn husks and everything a chance. Um, there are still PFAs in the fake blades of grass. Um, but let's look at the levels. Are they parts per trillion or are they more? Are
they real? Are they mostly in the manufacturing or are they actually leeched out? So, we need ideally a mature product and we need peer-reviewed research. So, I'll just finally very briefly talk on touch on the health issues. I think other people have talked about two minutes is up. If you could
wrap it up, uh, that would be great. I'll try to do that. I plan for three since that's what we usually have, but I'll just very quickly and I'll email I'll follow up with an email as well since that's probably more useful to everybody. Um well, so I'll leave the house health stuff out al together then. I'll I'll put that in email. But in
conclusion, I just want to talk about the Title N issue. I'm kind of troubled to hear that come up again. Um you know, um I understand this is complicated because boys and girls play different sports. Um but going to the extreme of invoking Title N, I think is
insane. It's time to reconfigure our existing sports facilities so that we're not negotiating at the, you know, barrel of a gun. And once that's involved, we can totally meet Title 9 regulations that way. This district does way too much under the threat of litigation. You know, do you want us to roll out the
National Resources Defense Council and sue the district over that? No. We don't operate that way, right? And it's unfair of a of proponents of static turf to operate that way. Um, yeah. Great. Thanks. Thanks, Ben. anything additional
um feel free to email to us or the board secretary and it'll be distributed out. Mr. Bones, I want to be consistent with all the speakers. Is there a way that we can pull up the timer so that they can see? Uh yes. I'm going to try to share my screen on another device to have a timer
present. Oh yeah, I see a little box up here now that says timer, but it's it's still gray. Thank you. Okay, so the uh next person is Mr. I'm sorry,
Fred Meyer and this is a call in Hi, how are you? I just uh figuring I'm on the phone here, so I'm just figuring out the controls. We can hear you. Um Okay, sorry about the delay there. Just trying to get everything set up so I can
do this uh while I'm mobile. Um hearing here tonight uh to implore our townships and district leadership to invest in turfs at Richster Field, improve our athletic spaces, and to rebut any misguided individual who claims that they are currently adequate.
Your electorate is angry about your continued head in the sand approach to the pathetic, dilapidated fields you offer the children of our town. Perhaps you've seen pictures taken from an angle that makes them look green and covered in grass. Perhaps you have not
actually walked on these fields. Discover that they are potholed with dirt, bumpy, dangerous to the ankles and knees to run on, and frustratingly difficult to play on, especially when the grass isn't even kept short enough. There's no way you could try to play on
these fields like Ritzer, Bordon, Maplerest, or Deart, and feel like we are providing our exceptional athletes with fields that match their ability and ambition. We are a town full of high-caliber young athletes who are made fun of by visiting teams for the fields
we play on and parents who have to apologize to visiting teams for the unplayable quality of the fields we offer. Don't just visit these fields and note yes there appears to be grass must be okay. Try to run at top speed across the
field. How many of you felt safe doing so? Go ahead, roll a ball and see how it bounced around by potholes or just plain stops. Our kids deserve better. Anyone like Maplewood Mayor Nancy Adams who waves
her hand dismissively and tells us her kids played on these fields, therefore somehow they must still be in good shape and that is somehow supportive of athletics, kidding ourselves. We know the truth and we want to vote you out on this issue alone.
I'll close with the story of a young soccer player who all season strove to score a goal. Tried so hard even though he was a bit small for the competition, but he never stopped trying. We all rooted so hard for him. Then one game he was exactly where he
needed to be in front of goal, unmarked. The ball got free from the corner, headed right towards him. He got ready, took a shot, only for the ball to hit one of the many divots on the field, bounce up to his knees, and roll out of
bounds. I'm I'm sorry for interrupting, but your two minutes is up. Thank you so much for coming out tonight. Sorry that that's all I had to say about the one line that I'm glad that story was about a missed opportunity and not a
broken ankle. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Uh the next speaker is Paul Surroville. Can you hear me? Hi Paul. Yes, we can. Great. Okay. Um, I'd just sort of like to follow up on that last comment by
reminding everybody that our sports teams are doing phenomenally on the existing uh fields that we have. I'd like to provide a little more context about artificial turf from the Mount Si Children's Environmental Health Center.
The center is the preeminent organization studying environmental impacts on children's health. Here's what the center says about artificial turf. Quote, "We strongly discourage the installation of artificial turf playing surfaces and fields due to the
uncertainty surrounding the safety of these products and the potential for dangerous heat and chemical exposures. In addition, recent studies demonstrating the presence of PAS and microlastics in these products raise
significant concerns for both human health and environmental contamination. It's well, this is uh and that's end of quote. Uh it's well established that the PAS forever chemicals and microlastics in artificial turf and by the way they
come from the blades. So, excuse me. Even if you're eliminating the crumb rubber, uh there's there's still POS and microlastics uh that are being leeched by artificial turf. Um it's well established that the micro microlastics
and forever chemicals uh leech into the water supply during the turf's active life and after it's dumped into a landfill. If you follow the news, you can't miss the growing alarm about PAS and microplastics moving from the water supply into our bodies, creating serious
long-term health risks. Artificial turf makes this worse. Um, I have a few other things which I'll email to you. I was going to quote Congressman Cheryl who made a very strong statement not about artificial turf but about the uh serious risks to
the to health and the environment from PAS. Um but I'd like to conclude by urging you to listen to the wise council of the children's environmental health center at Mount Si. They've been studying the issue for 15 years and they
are currently um they've launched a a five-year study uh to measure the blood levels of these contaminants in children's in in the children who are on playing on artificial turf. Thanks for your thanks for your time. Thanks Paul.
Next speaker please. The next speaker is uh Sedartha Dika. Hi. Can you hear me now? Yes. Welcome. Hi. Um, thank you so much uh for the opportunity to speak tonight. Um um I'm
a Rickon I'm I'm a little Nixon and um I'm a neighbor to Ritzerfield and um I just want to echo my concern that um about just you know the placement of artificial turfs um and the the plans that are going forward. I understand
that they're going forward. Um, but I just want to implore um the board of education and whoever is involved to really uh go with the most responsible decision for our environment, for our block, and for our community and our
athletes. Um, I'm not only um I not only live on Hixon, but um I also want to say that I'm a cancer survivor. Um, and I had cancer when I was 19 years old. And I'm not sure if that was due to exposure to peas, but I was a young person and
you know I don't want young people at that age to be exposed to chemicals and you know have these types of uh outcomes, health outcomes later in their life because of this. So you know I just want to implore um who the decision
makers to make the most responsible uh decision for our athletes, for our block and for our community um and for the environment. Um, thank you so much. Thank you. Next speaker, please.
Next speaker is Jessica Shaw. Um, hello everyone. Can you see me? Can you see Ritzerfield? Um, can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you, Jessica. Yeah. Okay, great. Um, this is Ritzer. Um, this is my home office. Um,
I work from here uh full-time since COVID. Um, and I actually had some prepared comments to touch on some other issues, but I I I think I'm going to I think I'm going to just go back to um Fred's comments actually earlier about
um the state of the playing fields. I am on Ritzer quite a bit. Um I do go over there and run. Um I have two small children who are elementary age and we do go over there. Um I would agree with him. The field is not maintained well.
Um but also I'm in a unique position to see what actually what is happening every single day with the maintenance on Ritzer field and it is almost nothing. They mow it and that appears to be the end. I I do think that there is a path
here where the the grass could be maintained in a in a safe environment, but there has to be some amount of upkeep. It would require some grading. It would require receding. It would require at the bare minimum watering. Ritzerfield is not watered on a regular
basis. When there is drought, you you are going to end up with playing fields similar to to the to the experience that Fred shared, which isn't which is dangerous. I don't know that turf is the answer. There's been many people who've spoken much more elegantly on this issue than I
could. But I would implore you to do more than to to have allocate an actual maintenance program to do more than nothing. Every day I am here. I have seen everything that is done to this field. watering, se reeding, like anything
could improve these conditions that would not be would not result in microlastics and some of the other issues that have come up here. Um, thank you for your time tonight. Thank you. The next speaker is Anita Hannah.
Hi everyone. Um, my name is Neta Hannah and I live at 53 Hixon Place. Thank you so much for giving me this time to speak. My house like CHS and Ritzerfield live lies at
the bottom of the hill that runs into Valley Street. Adding impermeable turf to Ritzer will directly impact my house, my family, and my financial security. So, I have a number of questions and concerns about these plans. What I want you to understand is that I've lived in
my house since 2012, and the only time my basement has ever flooded was during Ida's flash flood. The water just poured in through my utility sink, and for hours, my little daughters and I pushed it into my sump pump with brooms and
buckets. Why did this happen? Well, it happened because Ritzerfield was overwhelmed by this incredibly intense flash flood and the no the water had nowhere else to go. But other than Ida, I've lived through storms and superstorms and hurricanes and my
basement has stayed dry as a bone. That's because the much maligned grass and dirt of Ritzer Field absorbs massive amounts of water. Will a field of impermeable turf with who knows what kind of underground piping and reservoir
system be able to absorb at least as much water as the field does now? We know we'll be getting more violent weather like Ida due to climate change. The more impermeable turf we have, the more my house is at risk. And how can
the flooding of Hixon Place not be considered? It's your fiduciary responsibility to ensure that any plan is properly designed and that the needs and homes and concerns of your neighbors and constituents are not imperiled by
the plans you approve. Thank you again for giving me this time to speak and I really appreciate all the concern and work that goes into this. Thank you. Thank you.
The next speaker is Ida Wango. Hi, this is Ida. I'm a mother of a middle schooler, an elementary schooler, and a coach in the Cougar Soccer Club. And I'm
I'm shocked that we don't have a plan E based on what Virginia said, based on what Phoebe has said, based on all the data about Ephos chemicals and and knowing what uh volunteers from the
community have done to Ritzer to put compost into the field to make it more playable and greener. uh which has had a great effect but the fact that there is no maintenance on that field is just that is where
Todd's point comes into play that shame on all of us for not putting the money into maintaining grass fields. that is clearly the way to go here and that there is no plan or evaluation for what that's going to take and how many hours of play we actually need between Ritzer
and Underh Hill that is underutilized according to what Phoebe said. I I just don't understand how we don't have a plan E and how we're going forward with a plan from 2019 that's going to cost us $5 million that we don't have. It does not cost that much to maintain
Ritzerfield and a Hartfield and Maple Crest Park. It's just it's shocking and irresponsible. So, where's Planning? That's my question. That's it. Okay. Thank you.
Next speaker is Jonathan Poor. Okay. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Okay. Um, Jonathan Poor, 35 Roosevelt Road in Maplewood, a 30-year resident. Um, these plans you have are impressive but very expensive.
How can the board justify this extra burden at a time when the district itself projects budget shortfalls of 8 million or more in each of the next three years, especially when there is a much less expensive solution to the problems the proposals are trying to
solve. Um, yes, the field conditions are terrible, but due to absolutely no maintenance, as other people have said. So, I urge you to postpone this decision for a another year while you engage with people in our community and region who
have knowledge about how to repair and maintain grass sports fields. To date, you have only received information from consultants that specialize in building entirely new fields from scratch. Building fields from scratch costs millions. Properly maintaining fields
that already exist costs thousands. Volunteers working on Ritzer this past year have shown that it does respond to cultivation. The key is aerration, timely overseeding, and addition of soil amendments to smooth the surface and relieve compaction.
Our neighboring town, Glenn Ridge, with the same number of varsity and JV teams as Soma, maintains three natural grass fields totaling about eight acres. They get far more than the supposed limit of 16 hours per week of play. All for an
annual cost of $50,000 for aation, overseeding, and fertilizer. That is less than $7,000 per acre or roughly 20,000 for a field the size of Ritzer. And the fields over there in Glenidge look great. I invite all the
members here to go visit um Carterette um Forest Avenue and Hurell Field in in in Glen Ridge. They are they are grass fields that are beautiful and the decision to m to keep them grass came up in Glen Ridge and they decided to keep
them that way in consideration for the neighborhoods that surround fields. Ritzer in its current configuration is quite flexible. hope somehow is quite flexible, accommodates a variety of sports activities, sometimes several simultaneously.
Um before we commit to this drastic and expens expensive solution, let's see if we can learn to take care of what we have. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Our next speaker is Jane Conrad.
Jane, are you with us? Sorry, I was yammering away there. Um, so yes, I'm Jane Conrad, a 30-year resident of Maplewood. My kids are CHS graduates who both played ultimate frisbee for Colombia. I worked for nine
years at Battery Park City Parks Conservancy where we maintain grass that hosts 25 million visitors annually. In general, I feel grass is best for everybody and certainly for our budget. In terms of design, I believe a large
grassy square allows the greatest flexibility to accommodate the greatest variety of sports and activities. I do understand that field condition and playability are primary concerns in our community. The past year I've spent as a
volunteer working on Ritzerfield has given me a chance to see its weaknesses and its strengths up close. In brief, Ritzer's defects as a playing surface are owing to a treatable condition which has shown rapid improvement using a
renewable resource. Ritzer's history has meant it contains a lot of clay subs soil low in organic matter. Adding compost breaks up the clay, lets air and water in, lets roots grow, and the field is really responding. So, I urge you,
don't embark on major construction just yet. We can't afford it, and we particularly can't afford the risk of cost overruns or storm water miscalculations. Instead, try improving grass care on Ritzer and maybe also Chisowitz and then
reassess. Call up some real grass field managers. Tyler Nef of Gren Glenn Ridge whose three grass fields support heavier use than Underh Hill does. Keith Fiser, who won the New Jersey High School grass
field of the year with a $7,000 budget. the Hort department at Battery Park City Parks to hear how they use compost. Bring them out to Maplewood and ask, "If these were your fields, what would you do right now to make them the best they
could be starting this fall?" Then do what they say, assess the results, and let that factor into your decision. Thank you for listening. Thanks, Jane. Next speaker, please. Can I just say that just because Jane mentioned
ultimate frisbee, we we have both state champions in the boys and girls uh genderneutral teams this year. So, I just wanted to point that out, Mayor Cole. As we should, Frank, since that's where we invented it, right? We got to get it right.
I love that. That is correct. Yeah, you're absolutely right. Sorry. All right. Next speaker, please. Okay, our next speaker is Josh Sturman. Hello. Good evening. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Uh, thank you. Uh, I would
like to also um reiterate all the other issues of how that field has not been maintained in any way, shape or form and only by volunteer members. I agree with Jessica and all the other individuals who have spoken out about
how if this field was actually maintained at all, it would be in much better condition. The other issues that I have is based off of maintenance and the cost to maintain anything. We see that there is nothing being put forward to maintain the fields yet. We're
proposing to add additional items out onto the field that will then need to be maintained. those costs will be reflected in the future and they will just fall apart if not maintained properly.
Other concerns that I have is the traffic. I understand that we need additional fields and additional areas for the students to compete in, but there doesn't seem to be any interest in trying to figure out the traffic patterns that are going to be affected
affecting the areas that we live in right now. Academy. Anytime any sports event happens, Academy gets filled with buses. So does Hixon, which turns both of those streets into dangerous areas for the neighborhood kids to cross the
streets. Hixon becomes a shortcut and individuals will speed down that road. And now that it's become a portra multiple buses and cars on both sides, it increases, sorry, I apologize, it decreases sight lines, allowing for
children's lives to be in danger. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Uh, yes. Our next speaker is Jessica Miller. Good evening. Um I had prepared comments asking for um the district to go to the
planning board, but I'm so I'm very happy to hear that we have that agreement. Um so you get my unprepared remarks. Um as a neighbor of Ritzer Field, I face the field and I see as my neighbors have said just how little care
that that field gets. It gets mowing and that's about it. Um, aside from the two volunteers that I always see as on my walk home in the evening. Um, and what we also see are our amazing like CHS
kids eating lunch and like blowing off steam on the field. You know, last year I know the clubs when they presented to the freshmen coming in that those events happen on the field when we unfortunately when a child died in our community that memorial was on that
field. So, you know, like as a grass space, it has a flexible use that that goes away when we start to fence in and and turf this space. Um, and I I'm a district parent and I have a son who's headed to CHS in the fall and um, you
know, I'm excited for all of the students use that space, right? And I and so I'm apprehensive about defining that space and making it only for use for field sports. Um I and I do have questions. You know, all of the
Hixon children oo and awe at Project Adventure and wait for that day, right? How does the zipline work when they're zipping over the planned fencing? That's um you know, I see like six, eight foot fencing on different plans and I don't know if a
zipline is safe over that um because sometimes they have to like guide them and get them down. We see them zipping around. Um, and I would like to understand who would who will be memorializing the the
lighting hours of use. Um and because we need these agreements to be memorialized so that they can survive different administrations and um I would like to understand how with $90 million in unfinished projects
in this left in this district and pres attending town halls on the predicted fiscal cliff how this is a good use of funds. So thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please.
Our next speaker is Jodi Rotundo. Hi, Jod. You may need to unmute your microphone. Sorry. My name's Jod Ratundo. My daughter is Claire Shupe, a rising senior at CHS and she has played varsity softball since her freshman year. I
wanted to expand on what's been said regarding the Ritzer development plans and why it's critical the plan includes turf softball fields. The CHS softball program does not have a home on school property like other athletic teams. Although baseball has two fields on the
school property at Underh Hill, softball players are required to travel 1.6 miles to play and practice on borrowed fields in South Orange. Unlike Underh Hill at our fields, there are no bathrooms, no
changing rooms, and no lockers. Turfing Ritzer would provide a home for the softball program that is close to CHS and that is controlled and maintained by the school district. The softball program would not be at the mercy of South Orange and the Soma recreation
baseball program in regards to scheduling, field use, field maintenance, facility improvements, etc. Softball also can't access our field until April 1st, which means two weeks
of inseason zero access to a field. March softball scrimmages need to be scheduled at other schools. Turfing the field at Ritzer would enable the softball program to practice and play in March. It is possible actually to play
in light rain like our state final game on turf unless of course there's lightning. On dirt, mud makes it too slippery and dangerous. And athletes have been injured because of the conditions on M3, my daughter included.
Lastly, the softball team is often forced because of unplayable field conditions at M3 to move games to Satan Hall's turf field or our opponents turf home field. Many towns around us play on turf like West Orange, Milbour,
Montlair, Newark, Summit, Springfield, Verona, Cedar Grove, and yes, the yes, the S Glen Ridge softball team also plays on turf and many, many more have turf fields. I will also add that my daughter has played all over the
country, including in the South on turf, and it's never been too hot to play. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next speaker, please. Next speaker is Po Rosenberg.
Hello. How are you today? Uh, my name is Paul Rosenberg. I live at 38 Broadview A. Um I am a CHS alum. I've lived here my entire life. Um and I am against turfing. Um in part uh or in large part
because of the myriad health uh and environmental reasons stated. And I want to bring up the um public land use. Um, so many of these drastically restrict the amount of
public land access, which coming from uh my time at college, third spaces are incredibly important. My apologies. Um, third spaces are incredibly important and cutting out
public green space is a detriment is a a considerable detail community as a whole. Um, yeah, I don't have much to say, but yeah, it it would be a tragedy for this
to occur. Thank you. Our next speaker is Maisie Conrad Poor. Hello. Can you hear me? Yes, we can. Welcome. Hello. My name is Maisy Conrad Poor. I'm a CHS alum of 2019
and I am very against her fields for all of the reasons for mentioned environmentally, public healthwise in terms of sharing our space. I also want to remind you that um a turf field is a long-term commitment. It's a 10 10 years
that it lasts and after which time you need to decide what to do with the now completely degraded area. In order to install a turf field, you need to dig up and dispose of the entire organic system that's already in place,
which as mentioned before has cooling effects, um prevents flooding for the neighbors. I I'm personally very um sensitive to heat and when I was at CHS I sometimes missed classes because of passing out due to the heat or having migraines and going outside and sitting
under a tree was really helpful. And not everybody who goes to CHS has a lot of green space. And I just want you to remember that there are more people that use this field than just the soccer teams or lacrosse teams. Right now it is
public free access open to everyone. If you install turf, I'm afraid I'm concerned that there will be fences that people will not be allowed on it without cleats. We used to have lunch here. Um, it was a really important space for us to be able to socialize and be with one
another in between classes. Um, and all of that is being taken away without talking to the community, without consent of the community. And I'm very concerned about that, especially with all of the health issues. Um, and yeah, I want you to also think about
many generations in the future. Think about your grandchildren. Think about the land that's being inherited. Do you want something that could become a farm or something that can become a landfill? I think um I you have a lot of responsibilities to take here in this
moment and I just want to remind you of the importance of all of that. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Our next speaker speaker is David Americaner. All right. Can you hear me? Yes, we can.
Welcome. Great. Thank you. My name is Dave America Connor. I am a parent uh of two athletes in South Orange and Maplewood. We live in Maplewood. My daughter is a softball player. My son is a baseball player. I am a member of the
baseball uh the recreational baseball committee. I'm a member of the recreational uh flag football committee. I am the president of the South Orange Maplewood baseball boosters. And I am a strong supporter of giving our female athletes equal access to playable fields
for them to show what they can do in a competitive environment. We do not have that right now. And our it is a tragedy to use a word that I've heard several times tonight that our softball players do not have a home that they can play on that is controlled by the school
district that gives them equal opportunity to play. A turf field would be versatile. It would provide opportunities not only for for softball players and other athletes at CHS, but would open up field space for our youth
athletes uh who who must wait while uh girls softball players play at Meland uh for them to get off of those fields to play baseball. Uh field st field space is incredibly constrained in our towns and even the slightest rainstorm wres
havoc and prevents our athletes from playing. Right now we've had rain for the last three or four days. Our fields have been closed. They're closed again tonight and these are dirt fields with grass. Uh our athletes do not have equal
opportunity to practice and play and compete as things are. A turf field does not pose environmental problems or public health problems. Communities around the country have installed turf to great benefit to the athletes in
their communities. We can do the same here. Um I am a in addition to my other roles. I am a land use and environmental attorney. This is what I do all the time and uh turf is an unquestionably good for this community and especially
for our female athletes. Please do the right thing for them. Thank you. David, wait. David. Yep. David. Yes. Are you South Orange or Maplewood? I live in Maplewood. Oh, shucks. I was going to see if you want to join our
development committee. All right. Never mind. All right. Thanks, Dave. Thanks, Shina. All right. Next speaker, please. It looks like the next speaker, Rebecca Shear, is not online. At least I do not see that name on the list of online uh
participants. So, that completes uh the list that has signed up. All right, great. Um thank you all for the public comments. This is an informal meeting, so I'll just say the public comment period is now closed. Uh but keep in
mind that if anybody has any additional feedback um you can send it to uh Mr. Bing. Uh what what is the best mechanism if people have feedback for the board of school estimate? Um is there a way that we can collect comments
and distribute out to all the members? I'm not sure if Mr. Bing is there at the moment. Yeah. Oh, but uh um Madame President, feel free to provide a suggestion. I was going to provide one, but No, no, no. You go for
it. I'll back you up. Well, you know, these uh we have our our emails on our website and so correspondents can be directed uh you know to those emails or to the board uh of the board of education here. Okay,
that that works. I know you guys have your distribution but perhaps if any additional emails come in you can also share with the municipal uh counterparts. I know sometimes we get emails and then we have to forward to you and then you guys get emails and you forward to us. So as long as whatever is
coming in is getting distributed to the group uh between now and our next meeting that's very helpful. All right so we are going back into a discussion period and then we'll do a straw poll. We're not taking any formal action again. This is uh not not that we're not
approving resolutions. Uh this will be going back to the board of education. So I'm curious after hearing some of the public comment how people feel and if they would like to share what preferences that they have. Jean, do you want all of us on the board
of school estimate to do that? Yeah, that would be helpful. Excuse me for one second. I just wanted to share something because um South Orange I know was alluded to about the maintenance of fields. It is something we're very proud of in South Orange. We work really
really hard to maintain our fields and also support the school district uh with the interlocal agreement that we have for softball right now. Um but we do track hours of usage and um last year we had over uh close to 12,000 hours of
play. What this worked out to between us and the school district using the fields was roughly around 1,400 hours a month and um over 800 hours of use in a year on natural grass is considered
excessive. So um that is how South Orange is tracking it. The former board president Kuawi Telis board had also asked for this information. So we've been tracking it pretty closely. Um, but I can share that from our perspective in South Orange is that we are also way
over capacity and um I know it sometimes just throwing out maintenance like you should maintain it, you should maintain it. There's not a lot of time to maintain it because we turn over and we move to a next game. Uh that's why we have you know the four three and a half months of rest is to try and get it to a
better place. So, you know, very uh great ideas about watering, seeding, like we we're at the highest demand that we could be at over 100% more than where we should be in order to rest our natural fields. Um, so for anybody who's
who's kind of raised that, uh, I can't speak to Ritzer. I don't know what the maintenance program looks there like there. I I can't speak to Maplewood either, but in South Orange, we do do that regularly. Uh but we have very little downtime because of the sheer
volume of um people that are using our fields and the partnership with the district. All right. So, how are folks doing here? Does anybody want to kick off? I'll do it. I'll just I'll just respond to um I
I'm still um right now anyway uh in favor of uh plan C. Um, and I also I also do want to say I um based on what you just said, Mayor, I think there's um definitely um want to make the uh point
of the misconception that artificial turf needs no maintenance because that's actually not the case. So I I there needs to be like a moderating thing. I think maintenance will need to be an issue whether Ritzer gets artificial
turf on it or not. So, I just I don't want that to be like artificial turf needs no maintenance and natural grass needs maintenance. So, I just want to make that clear because there is there is maintenance involved with both. Um,
so that's where I land right now for your straw poll and I think we've heard enough from all of us. So, I'm going to keep it very brief like that. Let me ask a question. um be because we heard preferences um outside of uh
Deputy Mayor Herman um from the district that talked about C and D, but there was some vagory there. Um my concern with that would be do you believe that the soft bill uh the softball will be
adequately addressed if it were natural versus having similar to what the boys have which is turf and that that can come from district leadership uh or the athletic director. Um that's my curiosity here is if you're
looking for parody um will see accomplish that in your mind. J our boys uh play on grass. So Under Hill has is a grass based two grass baseball fields. Okay. And varsity and then
there's the uh soccer football lacrosse uh turf field. Okay. So Dr. or um Mr. Bing, from your perspective, is there more of a preference from administration regarding C or D? Cuz we're we're
essentially talking about, you know, turfing the softball field versus not turfing the softball field. Yeah, I think uh I mean I think our coach spoke on that obviously uh
as an athletic director and going to many athletic director organizations. uh playability is is the main issue uh and it's that turnover of games. I mean on our end our discussions have been strictly around plan C and plan D. I
know a plan E was mentioned. We have not had discussions around that but I think as previously noted uh we would be grateful for plan C or plan D. I know our students would as well. So since Nancy went first, I guess I'm
going to go second. Um, my preference would be for plan D. Um, before, just to be clear, I've been consistent on this from the get-go. Uh, the major concerns I had was collaboration with the adjacent neighbors. Now, knowing that this will have a courtesy review, is
that there's an expectation, please hear me loud and clear, is that there is going to be a storm water management plan. There is going to be a lighting plan. There is going to be a traffic plan and a a way to address, you know, um, parking. All those issues will be a part of a courtesy review. Mayor Adams
obviously sits on the planning board in Maplewood, but that's the level of detail that all residents and all stake stakeholders have have come to expect as it relates to this type of a major um development. It's it doesn't have to be a building to be called development is
that there is going to be uh soil disturbance and those type of things are important and I know that this board is doing everything to be transparent. Um, in each iteration I supported more turf for the reasons that I've articulated numerous times now. Um, I think D, the
reason that I like D, um, more so than just reinforcing B again, uh, because B is where my vote was last time. It's where, uh, five of seven elected officials in South Orange were. was where the entire uh unanimous uh support of the board of education was and where
three out of five Maplewood Township Committee members were when we visited this last year was option B. So, I think that um even though it was voted down on the board of school estimate by nature of voting members, that was the determination, but we saw an
overwhelming desire year after year to try and get the situation remedied. And now being, I believe, the longest elected official on this screen is that this is not new. This has gone back year after year after year. I will tell you South Orange did not evaluate turf
options because we were anticipating Ritzer to be coming online and to relieve some of the burdens on our local parks. I view Ritzer as an athletic field, an athletic field adjacent to a school, not as a public park. Uh to the greatest extent possible where our
residents can utilize athletic fields on school district property uh to improve, you know, their lives to have outdoor fun, whatever it may be, that's wonderful. But to me, this is emphatically an athletic field. Um, so I
I would say that D is what I'm willing to go with uh because I do like uh the additional natural turf that's still or I'm sorry, natural grass that's out um closer to the Hixon uh area. And we've
heard from some students also talking about lunches and being able to go outside and sit on the grass. And I think that that that's a nice balance and strikes the balance of allowing at least, you know, a quarter of the property, whatever you want to call it, as a space that still has some natural
grass rather than turfing the entire thing. So, uh, that is my straw pull. Councilman Greenberg, thank you. So, I've been going back and forth um agreeing that plan B was where
I was last time we um visited this and looking at plan D. So my question is um plan B has two fields
um for softball and I am wondering again we want to do this once. Is there a preference for having two versus one? Um, that was one question. But, uh, I do
like, as um, Mayor Column just mentioned, there is something nice about having a little bit of everything for everybody. Um, and the natural grass on plan D would be my second choice, but I also
I'm going back and forth, but my question is two versus one. And maybe that's for the director uh Winstead. Is there something is there a preference
or um just because that's the obvious difference one of the there's many differences but that is one of the bigger differences that I'm just wanting to know is there a preference from your position. So in the ideal world um right now because you know we en we turf is what
helps our outdoor sports in every aspect right so with having two fields yes that will meet 100% of needs but when we're thinking about um other athletic teams when we're thinking about serving our entire athletic program in addition to our students right so there are students
during the day athletics extends from the classroom plan D is um we'll meet those needs um in all aspects. So, and I yes, I would say plan B, but at this very moment, plan D meets all students,
serves our entire population from those students who are like Mr. Sanchez highlighted in PE classes up until the time they leave after school with me. That's super helpful. And so, therefore, I am behind plan D for all of those
reasons. Thank you. Thanks, Councilwoman. Um, more board of school estimate members. Uh, Committeeman Davis. Thank you, Mayor. I voted for Plan B last time, and that's where I, uh, seem
to still be. Equity is really important to me, and I think plan B achieves that. Uh I would support plan D if that's where the majority of the board uh lands for the reasons that uh previous many of
you have already uh already stated. But plan B is about achieving equity for our female athletes. Um we keep talking about that being a priority. We keep telling them we're going to do that and
we just have failed in doing that. Um and I'm really really pleased to hear tonight uh as you said mayor earlier announce for the first time that this is going to be a very collaborative process and transparency is going to be key but
also working with Hixon residents uh all residents and uh with the regulatory authorities and going through the planning board in Maplewood. I think that will achieve a better result and allow us to uh work out some of the
issues that um still need to be worked out as it relates in in particular storm water management, runoff management. Um you know, there were some real really good comments tonight and I really want to thank everybody who came out to express their concerns. Um Glenn Ridge
does have some really beautiful grass fields. I've seen them. Um, and I got to tell you though, it's not an applesto apples comparison. Um, I I I think our high the entire student body uh is a a
fraction of just the amount of students we have in our high school. So, we just have a lot more athletes and we have uh we need to talk about fields, athletic fields that are playable and reliable
and accessible in an equitable manner. So, that's where I'm at. Thanks. Um I think it was Deputy Mayor Herman and then Councilman Schnull. Thank you. Um I wanted to um speak to Miss Greenberg's question about the two
fields. Um the reason that the two is um an important aspect because there are stop. Okay. Oh, if if I stop my video, can you hear me better? Yep.
better. Okay. Um I wanted to speak to Miss Greenberg's question about the two fields. Um the reason is because there are two softball teams, varsity and JV. Um baseball has three teams. They have a varsity, a JV, and a freshman. Um and
our softball program is not able to have three teams even though we have enough players to field three teams because we they don't have um field space. So to make one field, yes, it's the bare minimum, um but it's not what our other
what the other um towns around us have and it still would leave one team without a home and still an inequitable situation with um baseball having two and um softball having one. So I just
wanted to point that out. That is that is why they were looking at having two fields. um back to give a little history lesson when um they were originally looking at putting a field on Ritzer there was going they were going to share one of the baseball fields at Underh
Hill and um that's when the baseball families um explained that they have three teams it would be very difficult and quite honestly I mean and and I'm not sure if everyone knows this but a softball field and a baseball field are completely different in terms of the
measurements in terms terms of the infield being grass or being dirt and in terms of also the pitcher mound having to either be removed for softball or put back on for baseball. So, it's incredibly different for difficult for them to share. Um, so that's why that's
one of the problems with M3 that has been in the past. Um, but just I wanted to give a fuller explanation to Miss Greenberg and to everyone else on why two softball fields is the ideal. Um, and then I also wanted to speak I Mr.
Daffis brought up Glenn Ridge and um, I wanted to point out the Glen Ridge varsity softball team plays on turf. So they do have some lovely grass fields, but their varsity team plays on turf. So wanted to share that. So my um,
so I again I mentioned this before, I am at plan B for those reasons. Um, however, the minimum that I believe should be done for our girls would be plan D. Um, but I really hope that we
could support our female athletes with the softball fields they deserve, which are in plan B. Thank you. Um, Councilman Schnull and uh, Councilman Schnull, just know that you're not counted in the straw poll right now because we have all of our
members, but your feedback is obviously welcomed. Sure. So, I I first got to challenge you in terms of our aging in terms of being on this. We we we came in together 2013. Uh, and in fact, I was the chair of the recreation committee uh, for the first year. I think your
camera might have been off, but now remember you left the board. You did. So, I might have, but I think my history goes back. Anyhow, point being, uh, historically what I am very familiar with is our recreation director and team
are constantly trying to balance. We just have finite limited resources. and their job and they do an amazing job whether it's the district or each of our municipalities trying to take limited resources and find ways to share um use as best as
possible and it's it's an incredible challenge and again I think they do an amazing job at that um and so for that reason I I actually think the right balance here is D um because again we're addressing I I like the way uh the
administration referred to this is not not only our um athletes but also our students, our fizzed uh students and our users of of the school. In ideal world, yes, it could be, you know, public space, but one of the things I know
would be most appreciated by our recreation team um would be able to use our fields as much as possible for our our programs. Uh to a large degree, we do have to take our fields out of use. uh we do it happily gratefully again
because those are you know those are our children our youth uh who are who are in the programs but we also ha we often have to reduce the number of programs that we can supply for our residents and adults so um it's constantly trying to strike the right balance uh and get the
most usage that we can out of these limiting resources so I think at the moment from what I see um it would be D I really appreciate what everybody has brought up here in terms of again the competing issues uh in terms of you know
health and welfare cost uh maintenance and again what I most appreciate is that this administration is looking to do this in a collaborative fashion. I am sure these issues will be raised discussed debated and ideally hopefully
in not too much time we'll be able to get this started and completed so we can all enjoy it. Thank you Councilman Schnull. All right. Um, Councilman Brown, I hate to put you in the hot seat and also acknowledging that you are the only professional
athlete amongst us or prior professional athlete. Uh, but right now we have right now we have two preferences towards D. Um, uh, two preferences towards B then D and then one preference towards C. Um,
so essentially if you end up with D or B, it will swing it one way or another, or you can cause a uh a three-way tie uh by um joining Mayor Adams. Um that's some pressure right there.
Yeah, it is. And I appreciate the pressure. I also appreciate all of the research that has been done so far. I guess when I when I initially came to the meeting, um I was thinking that u because of the equity issues, gender equity issues, title n issues, that um
option B would be our best option to um address what has been a sort of lopsided uh um opportunity for our boys uh baseball when compared to our girls softball. So, um, I still like that
option as as as preferable in order to address equity. Um, but I can appreciate where the concerns with the environment, where the concerns with safety come into play. I think there's been some there is really
no um set position on what the safety is. It seems like there, you know, are some some debatable facts that have been shared. Um, some that have been interpreted other some ways that might be um different in different circles.
Um, I know that the verse turf there is an option out there uh that it's more of um like quirking that they put in the art artificial turf. I've done some research on. I don't know if that's even something we're considering, but to be
honest, because of the equity, I like B. I I think that if there was a concession, I do understand where D would be a concession and and address some of the concerns with artificial verse natural and alleviate some of the concerns with um the environment and um
the the one thing that I'm I'm struggling to get over whether it's um I choose B as our first option and D as a second option or vice versa. right now. I think that's where I would settle is that B is still my my best option. Um, as I contemplate all of them because of the equity issues, but I I could see
where D could be a very good option. Um, the one thing that I really appreciate is that the residents on Hixon are going to be impacted by this. And so when you hear those concerns, you hear the um you know impact on quality of life and and um you know there's someone who who
alluded to possibly impacting um the property value. I appreciate that that um more now than I did prior to this call. And I think being collaborative and making sure we get the input and also doing it whatever we decide to do,
option B or D, doing it in a way that speaks to that concern that the Hixon residents have um would be um an absolute mandatory way to go about this. Um but if I if I was if not if since this is a straw pole, I think option B
is still my top choice with a very close photo finish. Option E is my second choice. Okay. Um, Deputy Mayor Herman, is your hand still up?
She just didn't put it down. I just didn't put it down. So, I think because again, this is a straw poll. We um if it's okay with everybody, you know, there's a lot of work to be done. Again,
I I want to re-emphasize that this is a meeting. It's starting a process. thrilled to hear that there is going to be the courtesy review at the planning board. There's more work for the board of education to be doing with this. Um so what I would suggest is obviously
share the straw poll with members of the board of education. Um and there was some questions and dialogue happening here about the equity component, the title nine, um you know, making sure that the girls have, uh similar
opportunity as the boys. So, um where the majority stood was B with a close preference to D. Um and if that can be communicated to the board of education um as you do future deliberations and
then come back to us is that know that um it is very close and if there's a mix that's okay but the majority is leaning towards uh the B option and I'm sure both the board of ed liaison uh will communicate that over.
Mayor, I'd like to add that this board of ed should also consider what many of the residents stated as E which is trying to maintain exist Ritzerfield thinking of that because we're doing
that right now with Deart right because twice on referendum a majority of Maplewood residents voted against artificial turf for Deartfield and there's a reason there's many reasons for that but one of the things we've committed to is making sure we not only
have the training, but we we invest every year on maintenance for Deart once we rebuild it next year. So I would just ask the board not not that it all happened but I think it's a valid concern by me most of the residents who
spoke tonight in that a natural grass field has never been given an really an honest chance because it it's not been maintained in any way shape or form as a
level um mowed watered when necessary. It just there's no maintenance schedule and and frankly if we go if the board decides to go forward with um of you know mostly
either B or D then I'd want a maintenance schedule included in that for artificial turf because it needs it especially in the summer when you have to use a lot of water to cool it down. So there's a lot of options here that weren't really discussed aren't
presented to us as an option. So, um, and then when you come back, if the board of ed votes to go with B or D and you come back to the board of school estimate, um, unless there's a maintenance component or some information about how you're going to either maintain natural, even if it's D,
which has a little bit of grass left or how you're going to deal with issues like Project Adventure, like going over and having possibly interfering with fencing, those are things that need to be in real world um activities there
need to be talked about and considered seriously considered. So I would just say you know I'd like that to be part of what comes back including like a realistic amount of money it's going to be for the 24 year not necessarily just
the um you know proposed 12-year life when we know that Underh Hill hasn't had a 12-year life. So that's my last comments. I was going to be brief, Sheena, but what I what I said before, but since everybody talked a lot more, I
just wanted to get those points in. So Okay. So, is there anything additional that the district needs from the board of school estimate at this time? I don't believe so. Okay. And so in terms of next steps, let's go back to I
don't have it in front of me, but um take me through uh where we are timelinewise. Uh so we're looking at making a decision at well I'll let uh board president uh Nubia Dval Wilson comment on that. Uh
next meeting right Nubia would be July have a resolution that will be voted on. So when we say next meeting, I believe that's the July meeting, not the June meeting. Um so in that July meeting, we will have a resolution and that
resolution will be the dollar amount that we'll be asking the board of school estimate to approve. Um it will include Ritzer as well as the auditoriums. Nothing will be separable, all one package. And then from there um
we will between that time and and and now we should all look at our calendars to see when we can meet again because we know all of you are very busy have multiple meetings. So as Mr. Bing said it would be in August or September we would hope at the at the latest
September to reconnect and have that formal vote. Thank you. Um I apologize is that um while we were doing the straw poll um we did not go over all the requests for the auditoriums. Um so let's I if we could just do this
with a show of hands. I I truly believe the district has made the case for this. I think we've saw students and parents attend numerous district meetings. I think these are also hazard issues that we're dealing with. Um, I realize we didn't discuss it, but if that's going
to be included in the resolution, um, is everyone supporting the added work and scope for the auditoriums at the high school and middle school? Mayor, I'd like to ask that the auditoriums be separate and apart from Ritzer. Why?
It's just going to be one whole package. This is part of our long range facility plan. Yeah, that we don't separate, excuse me. That's what limits the ability of somebody to be in. They're two distinctly different projects and I
don't see why they can't be two different resolutions because what you're doing is is forcing people who may not be in favor of whatever ABCDE for Ritzer but are in favor of funding the auditorium improvements. And that's
that's a pickle that I don't want to be in. I I know board president if if it's okay with you I know that um sometimes we have different types of meetings from the board of education but from the municipal side is that we do allow severing and I know at the last meeting
we ended up doing that in real time because we weren't given uh the opportunity. What Nancy is saying essentially is that you know she's on a different side than the majority of us. Um but locking her to reflect a vote that she voted down the long range
facilities plan or the additions is not fair to her if she's supporting the auditorium um work versus uh the field. So I would appreciate um if we could have one for Ritzer and then one for the auditoriums. My suggestion is to take this
conversation offline um and we can talk about that later. As of right now it's just one resolution. This is all a package. We need to get this done. It's way overdue. And so currently, as I said before, the board school estimate is to approve the budget
and not with what projects are within the budget, but we appreciate the collaboration. So we can discuss that more later offline. But if you all do support our auditoriums, that'd be great to know on this call and then we can take that conversation offline after this. Doesn't sound real collaborative.
President, I just don't know if now is a time or place to discuss those logistics. It's almost 9:00 and this was already discussed. Well, I know we're going to need to because procedurally through Robert's rules of order, it is a board of school estimate meeting and Mayor Adams is going to be running that
meeting. So, she entertains a motion to sever it. Otherwise, it just goes back and it'll delay even further with the board of education. So, it's best to just provide the two. Um, the votes are obviously there. I I think the board of education will be thrilled to hear it, but we don't we don't put our members in
a corner to make them look bad. If if that's what needs to happen in order to get these votes through, then so be it. But originally, that wasn't what was discussed. Okay. All right. Anything else? Um, Deputy Mayor Herman, is your hand
up? Yes. Yes, I did. Thank you. I just wanted to ask that if the school district sends back plan D, I would appreciate if they would also provide some more information and a timeline on when a second softball field. Um, I
spoke about other plans down the pipeline and some other ideas and I would appreciate if he could provide some more um details on that um if that were to be the plan um sent back. Thank you. Great point. Thank you. We can make we
can also make sure that that's added to the FFT agenda. All right. It's a last shot for anybody. All right. Great. Thank you so much. Everyone may have a motion to adjurnn.
Moved. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say I. I. I. Any opposed? All right. Good night everyone. Thank you. Night everyone.