Fighting Lawsuits Has Tripled Athletic Field Costs, Report Says

A plan to expand a multi-purpose athletic field into woods at the far end of Bernards High School has more than tripled in price from the original $100,000 to $316,000 because of lawsuits and modifications demanded by a citizens' group opposed to the project.

The increased figures were part of a Nov. 20 Board of Education meeting, according to a report in The Bernardsville News. Engineering fees, legal costs, and answers to state environmental approvals have all caused the original cost of the field project to balloon, the report said.

The extra costs came about from lawsuits filed by Active Citizens for Responsible Sustainability (ACRES), a local group that has feared the water damage that would done to their homes in the field renovation project.

Jeanne DePodwin of Old Colony Road, who with her husband started ACRES, were fighting the cutting of trees and other construction issues that might have impacted flooding on their properties.

While the original ACRES lawsuit in Superior Court was rejected, the group has continued to be involved in the project. The next step in the athletic field project will be a plan review by the Planning Board on Dec. 19, scheduled for 7:30 p.m., the Bernardsville News said.