Budget Presentation For Mosle Project Pushed Back In Mendham  

MENDHAM, NJ — Mendham Township announced its big plans to light up Mosle Field last month, with a second budget presentation scheduled for tonight, but the hearing was pushed back to a later date.

The Township Committee Budget Meeting will still take place on Monday, Feb. 27, according to township officials, but the recreation budget presentation has been rescheduled.

At tonight's meeting, there will be no formal discussion of the Mosle Field Project proposal and it will instead be held on Mar. 13.

According to Mendham Township Parks and Recreation Director David Guida, the committee recognizes that the entire community should have the opportunity to weigh in on this project. All residents are invited to complete this survey by Tuesday, Feb. 28 at 11:59 p.m.

The Mosle Athletic Field project includes a lighting proposal for $880,000 in upgrades to Mosle Fields, including new lighting on the football field, baseball field, and parking lot.

The project would cost around $880,000 in total and include new lighting on Mosle Field's football field, baseball field, and parking lot. Guida stated that the recreation department would ask the township to cover the entire cost of parking lot lighting and electrical services, which would be $180,000.

Read more: $880K In Lighting Improvements Proposed For Mendham Township Fields

This lighting enhancement would benefit the Twin Boro Bears football and cheerleading program and the Mendham Chester Patriots baseball/softball program the most immediately, as both serve over 500 Mendham youth athletes.

These leagues have also agreed to split the cost of their field lights 50/50 with the township.

A 12-year-old Mendham Township Middle School student spoke at a previous committee meeting about the fields' "terrible condition," claiming that the poor lighting and lack of dugouts on the baseball field make it difficult for kids to play.

Randy Lee, a local football coach in the township, also spoke before the council, saying firmly that, "the need is now, we are in desperate need."

Some residents were concerned about the project proposal, citing issues ranging from potential negative environmental impacts to increased traffic and financial implications for community members.

Diana Orban Brown, a local resident, even advised the committee to investigate the viability of additional funding sources before committing to the project. She proposed that a referendum question be put to voters before committing tax dollars to proposed improvements.

A question in the township-administered survey about the project asks residents if they would be willing to pay an additional $20 per household in municipal taxes to support the financing of a lighting project.

According to Guida, the down payment for the entire project would be $35,000, with the township ultimately looking at payments of $70,000-$80,000 per year for the next ten years.

The Mendham Township Recreation Committee will hold one more listening session about this project on Mar. 7 at 6:30 p.m. at the Brookside Engine Company to help facilitate conversations between the recreation committee and concerned residents.