Page 6 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • August 27, 2014 Midland Park Council adds funds to Dairy Street pavilion project Midland Park will dip more deeply into its own Open Space Trust fund to underwrite the proposed pavilion at the Dairy Street recreation complex. The borough council at its last meeting agreed to allocate $60,000 more than anticipated to complete the project, part of an effort to add amenities and greater handicap accessi- bility at the town’s primary municipal recreation area. Borough Clerk/Administrator Adeline Hanna explained estimates for the pavilion project, including lighting, had come in at $110,000. A Bergen County Open Space and Recreation Trust grant of $30,000 had ended up being less than the $47,000 originally anticipated, she said, requiring a larger share from the municipality to complete the proj- ect. The county funds must be matched dollar for dollar from the local trust fund. Council members discussed doing the work in stages, perhaps putting off lighting and walkway completion to another year. The Wortendyke Park pavilion, erected a number of years ago, was done in stages, with lighting School referendum presentations are set The Midland Park Board of Education has scheduled two information presentations in September to discuss the school referendum scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 30. The public meetings are scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8 and Tuesday, Sept. 23. Both sessions will be held at 8 p.m. at Highland School. The board approved the wording for the $11.5 mil- lion public question to raise funds to remediate facilities needs within the district last week. Many of the proposed upgrades had been included in a previous $15.27 million referendum defeated at the polls in December, 2012. This time around, however, just $8.5 million of the total project cost would be paid by the taxpayers through a 20- year bond. The state will be providing a $2.859 million ROD grant, and the district will appropriate $150,000 from its capital reserve and other “local share funds” towards the overall cost. The state grant will cover 40 percent of the approved health and safety related expenses. According to the referendum question to be voted upon, the final eligible costs approved by the state (on which the 40 percent grant is based) are $7,149,518 (4,003,265 allocated to Midland Park High School and $3,146,253 allocated to Highland/Godwin). The proposal includes $4,360,289 not eligible for state support ($2,035,268 allo- cated to the high school, and $2,325,021 allocated to the elementary schools). According to trustee Robert Schiffer, the finance com- mittee chairman, the owner of a house assessed at $392,000, the borough’s average, would see an increase of $281 a year in property taxes over the next 20 years. Proposed improvements include fire alarm and security lighting upgrades, interior and exterior doors, flooring and ceiling replacements, electrical, bathroom and plumbing upgrades, and heating system upgrades (including a new boiler at Highland School). The proposal also includes new seating for Memorial Hall, along with lighting and stage improvements, and a new track and field improvements at the Sonny Santorine Athletic Field. The details of the proposal will be outlined at the two information sessions, and questions from the public will be answered. School Business Administrator Stacy Garvey said specific line items and other pertinent referendum information would be posted on the district’s website home page prior to the meetings, but the link was not functional at press time. installed last year. “Do it right the first time to avoid future problems. There will be no savings, then,” cautioned Councilman Mark Braunius. “Put the responsibility on one contractor; otherwise there will be finger pointing if something goes wrong,” he added. Hanna said the borough has $450,000 in its Open Space Fund and could afford to finish the entire job in one year. She also noted that the original estimate had gone up because it had been decided to use steel posts instead of wood. Councilwoman Nancy Peet asked what the cost of fur- nishing the facility would be. Hanna said tables and chairs are already available for summer camp and could be set up at the pavilion when needed there throughout the year, or they could be stored and locked in place. She said summer camp activities would take place in the new pavilion as well. Other anticipated users of the new structure include parents accompanying their children to the playground or sports events, and residents wishing to have a picnic or simply sit down and relax in the shade. There will be no charge to use the facility. The 40 ft. by 60 ft. pavilion is expected to go between the older playground and the Johnny Vander Meer Field storage shed and bleachers. The borough put in place a new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)-compliant play- ground at the Dairy Street complex last year with a $75,000 Open Space Trust Fund grant. Once the new pavilion is completed, a new pathway will connect it to both playgrounds and the bike/walk path near the fencing. This will provide a handicapped-accessible path more than half a mile long.