Midland Park October 17, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 The Midland Park Board of Education has decided to split in two the referendum question slated for a vote on Dec. 11. Board President William Sullivan announced the change last week during the first of the information forums scheduled to explain the $15.27 million facilities proposal. Sullivan said resident input and bond counsel recommendations had prompted the board to separate the maintenance items in the proposal from the request for upgrades at the “Sonny” Santorine stadium and the auditorium at Midland Park High School. The turf field, new track, permanent stadium seating and lighting and upgraded auditorium amount to $3.2 million of the total proposal. About 15 people attended the meeting, the first of three planned before the public vote. The others are Monday, Oct. 29 at Highland School and Tuesday, Nov. 13 at Midland Park High School. All presentations will begin at 7:30 p.m. and include a tour of each facility if desired. The public is encouraged to attend to get informed and ask questions in an informal setting, Sullivan said. Architect Frank Messineo of Solutions Architecture, who made the presentation, said the facilities renovation program will include environmentally responsible and sustainable infrastructure projects for all three of the district’s schools that can save energy, reduce operating costs and improve accessibility. He said a comprehensive study of the facilities had been conducted over several months to arrive at the priority and criteria which resulted in the current proposal. Messineo said that repairs and upgrades that had been put off for years would now be done using modern technology, including windows, roofs, boilers, unit ventilators, floors, ceilings, lighting fixtures and hardware. Bathrooms would be made barrier free, and partitions and fixtures would be replaced. The architect said, however, that all existing facilities are compliant with current state regulations, with the district having recently passed a state inspection con- Board to split referendum question into two parts ducted every three years. The athletic field would be enlarged to a standard 165-ft. width, and synthetic turf would be installed to provide for 24/7 use and low maintenance. Trustee James Canellas said the cost differential between a natural field and a turf field was “so small” that it made sense to pursue the artificial option. The natural field upgrades are estimated to cost $750,000 but need cutting and watering; the turf is expected to cost $1.14million. The proposed synthetic surface track would replace the existing cinder track, and the new bleachers would replace the temporary ones purchased last spring, which would be relocated to other fields. The auditorium would get new seating, lighting, electrical and mechanical system upgrades and new stage refinishing and stage curtains. One parent at the meeting questioned whether the amount being requested was enough. “Are we addressing all the issues that need to be addressed? Are we being shortsighted?” she asked, wondering whether funds would be allocated in the annual budget to take care of other issues. Schiffer said it is not possible to put aside moneys for capital improvements given the state-imposed 2 percent cap and free balance restrictions. Former trustee Richard Venditti asked whether adequate funding would be allocated in future budgets to maintain the new equipment and to train the maintenance staff. Venditti also cautioned the board to consider the neighbors when making stadium improvements that would increase noise, traffic and security concerns, particularly at night. He also suggested asking municipal officials to help with some of the costs involved in running the fields, which are used by recreation teams. Sullivan said a dialog is ongoing with town officials. Another parent asked whether long term planning had considered the future of Midland Park High School, given its smaller population (350 students). Sullivan said there had never been public interest to send the high school students elsewhere. “The savings are not there. That’s not to say we wouldn’t listen to a plan to go elsewhere,” he said. Since the proposal was first introduced in August, the board has revised down its projections to anticipate a 3.5 percent interest rate over 20 years, resulting in a tax increase for the entire package of $395.92 per year on a house assessed at $392,000, the borough’s average. The tax impact for each of the two questions was not made available. Trustee Robert Schiffer, who heads the finance committee, said the board had anticipated proposing a $16 million package, but had been able to reduce it by $800,000 due to savings from the mild winter and other contractual items. The district is still paying off the remaining debt on the $12.3 million referendum approved in 2003, for which the board received $3.4 million in state aid. No outside funds (continued on page 6)