July 23, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Midland Park Board of education proposes facilities referendum The Midland Park Board of Education last week unanimously approved asking voters for $11.35 million for improvements to the district’s school buildings as well as site upgrades. The public referendum will go up for a vote at a special election on Sept. 30, one of two dates set by the state still available in 2014. The board needs to have a funding plan in place by mid 2015 in order to receive a $2.85 million matching grant from the NJDOE’s School Facilities Grant Program for Regular Operating Districts (RODs). The grant will cover 40 percent of the $7 million in Level 1 (related to health and safety) facility projects approved by the state last year. “The board of education is to be com- mended for identifying the importance of accessing approximately $2.8 million in grant funding from the state to complete needed facility upgrades in our schools. We look forward to bringing more information with regard to the scope of the project to the public in days to come,” said Superinten- dent of Schools Dr. Marie Cirasella. According to school trustee William Sul- livan, who headed the committee charged with studying the funding options, the full scope of the work will be discussed at public presentations to be conducted after schools open in September. He said some of the items being considered include fire alarm and security lighting upgrades, interior and exterior doors, flooring and ceiling replace- ments, electrical, bathroom and plumbing Goffle Road closed this week The railroad crossing rehabilitation proj- ect at Goffle Road in Midland Park is sched- uled to begin this week. Goffle Road will be closed to traffic at the railroad crossing from Thursday, July 24 at 7 a.m. through Friday Aug. 1at 7 p.m., 24 hours. The existing railroad crossing will be removed and a new concrete railroad cross- ing will be installed with continuous rails to provide a smoother ride and new asphalt approaches. Midland Park Police Chief Michael Marra said he expects some traffic tie ups due to the nature of the intersection, but said he anticipates motorists will follow the detours and there will be no problems. He said that was the case during the Sicomac (continued on page 16) upgrades, and heating system upgrades (including a new boiler at Highland). Sullivan said a turf field is not included in the proposal, but seeding, leveling and irrigation of the Sonny Santorine Athletic Field is included along with a new track. The proposal also includes new seating for MPHS Memorial Hall, along with light- ing and stage improvements. Work will be done at all three schools in the district, he said. Sullivan said that of the $11.359,807 mil- lion an approved referendum would autho- rize, about $8.5 million would be bonded over 20 years; $2,859,807 would come from the ROD grant; and between $400,000 and $500,000 would be appropriated from the board’s capital reserve account. Trustee Robert Schiffer, the finance committee chairman, said 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. The district is still paying off the remaining debt on the $12.3 million ref- erendum approved in 2003, for which the board received $3.4 million in state aid. A $15.27 million referendum to upgrade facilities and athletic fields was defeated by voters in December, 2012, and many of those upgrades will be included in this latest pro- posal, Sullivan said. Some needed work has been done since then with funds from the capital budget or surplus, including secu- rity and communications upgrades. Roof replacement was completed with funds approved through a second question in the amount of $995,075 in the 2013-14 budget year, and funds from the 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14 capital budgets. “I realize some people will think this is too mauch; others will say it’s not enough, but we have to take advantage of the state grant and move quickly,” Sullivan said.