Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • January 14, 2009 FLOW Area Field Turf to replace district’s athletic fields by Frank J. McMahon The Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education and Field Turf USA Inc. have executed a settlement of agreement which calls for Field Turf to replace the surface of the athletic fields at the two high schools in the regional high school district at a cost not to exceed $700,000. The regional high school district serves Franklin Lakes, Oakland, and Wyckoff. Ramapo High School is located in Franklin Lakes while Indian Hills High School is located in Oakland. The district originally paid Field Turf USA $1,539,711 for the installation of the two fields in August of 2001. However, based on the lead levels that were found to be present in the synthetic material last summer, the school district asserted a claim against Field Turf based on the warranty provided by that company for the original installation. Field Turf denied any obligation under that warranty and denied that the artificial turf used in the original project contained lead in any amount that would violate state or federal standards and they maintained that the artificial turf that was used is completely safe. The company and the school district agreed to settle the warranty claim in an amicable manner without resorting to litigation. Under the agreement, Field Turf will remove the existing artificial turf fields at both schools and replace them with its Duraspine field system, which is considered to be the most up-to-date version of the product available and the company will perform all the work necessary to properly prepare the fields for the installation of the turf. The new Helpful Hints Helpful Hints from ome “Clean your heating vents and registers and make sure air flow is not blocked by furniture or drapes. 27 Franklin Tpk, Waldwick Open Sundays 9-3 201-652-5666 Hank Says... system will also replicate the existing striping, numbering, and other decorations on the existing fields. Plans for the project are expected in February. Once they are approved by the New Jersey Department of Education and the local construction officials, the project to replace the fields will begin, although no work will commence during any time period that would interfere with the district’s use of the fields under its athletic schedules. The new fields will be installed no later than Aug. 1, 2009 unless both parties agree to a later completion date. The $700,000 cost of the replacement fields will be paid off over a five year period with no interest to be paid on the unpaid balance due although the district has the option to pay it off sooner. Field Turf has also agreed to provide its standard eight year warranty on the new field material and it warrants that the new fields will not contain any lead chromate or other materials or concentrations that would be deemed hazardous under either state of federal laws or regulations at the time of installation. It will also test the fields every two years to confirm that they have maintained the required (continued on page 12) JIM’S HOME REPAIR Master Carpenter Painting Sheetrock Basement / Attic Clean-outs 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE Doors Hung Tile Work Those Little Repairs NO JOB TOO SMALL OR BIG REASONABLE RATES 201-788-8052 $60/hr.