Waldwick August 10, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 5 The Waldwick school district is asking the town council’s permission to use Veterans Field for some of its middle school soccer team practices. The governing body has asked for a list of proposed dates before rendering its decision. The council would have to approve the request because play on the field is limited by ordinance to people 12 years old and younger. The ordinance was adopted in August, 1999 because at that time an adult team was playing on the field. Former Mayor Frank McKenna, present in the School soccer teams want to practice on Veterans Field audience, reminisced that neighbors complained that the high-flying balls were sailing into their properties. McKenna, whose home is directly adjacent to the field, said the request should be permitted. “The field is under-utilized now. For the money, time and effort that went into that field, a half a dozen practices would be a good use,” he said. According to Councilman Chuck Farricker, the high school’s athletic director had told him that the 13- and 14year-old girls’ teams would be particularly hit this year if the North Field behind the middle school is closed to allow it to recover, as expected. “That would leave only Traphagen, which leaves them shorthanded some days,” Farricker told the council. He said the school fields nine soccer teams plus the middle school teams. “No games; just practices, and no lights,” Farricker said. Veterans Field would be used when there are scheduling conflicts. He added that the athletic director is aware that the field has drainage issues and is undersized. Waldwick will try again to get federal funds to improve the condition of West Saddle River Road. The borough is seeking $150,000 from the NJ Department of Transportation Trust Fund for the project. An application submitted last year was not funded. If approved, the grant would fund rehabilitation of the .37-mile roadway from the Ho-Ho-Kus to the Saddle River borders. The entire project is expected to cost about $200,000, with the borough paying the difference from its capital improvement fund. Work would include milling and Borough eyes grant for West Saddle River Road project paving as well as curb replacement. Barrier free curb cuts would also be installed. “It’s heavily traveled. It needs some work,” said Borough Administrator Gary Kratz in recommending the project. The road had been paved with NJDOT funds in the late ‘90s, but since then has been dug up numerous times by the borough’s own sewer and water utilities as well as PSE&G, ATT and Verizon. In other business, the borough council at its last meeting approved vacating the water main easements it has on two properties along the former DePippo Farm, now Willow Court, because it does not need them. The property owner will, in exchange, allow a utility easement along the opposite side of the property at 7 Willow Court to connect directly to the newly-installed cul-de-sac. The easement will allow for a much shorter access to the utility lines to service the new housing development. Attorney Craig Bossong said that the water easements along the DePippo property were obtained and recorded in 1960, but that no water main was ever installed and no other utilities are located there.