Dem Candidates Lay Out 'Fiscally Responsible' Plan for Fields

To the editor:

Democratic council candidates Greg Newcomer, Brian Sattinger and Mark Hines are committed to ensuring that Moorestown families and residents have the recreational facilities Moorestown needs. On our fields and courts, our children learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship, develop lifelong friendships and pride in the results of their efforts. We are committed to the belief that our recreation investments should address the needs of children, adults, senior citizens and special needs citizens of Moorestown.

Moorestown has a long tradition of funding and developing recreation facilities, in a manner responsible to taxpayers. Over the last 15 years, Moorestown has invested in the facility now known as and invested in a new synthetic turf field at the complex. These investments were done in a fiscally responsible manner, through a step-wise process and bonding, and we are determined to continue that process. Moorestown did not build it or spend it all at once, but invested wisely over time, striving to keep our debt service low, and the use of our Open Space Trust Funds was never a consideration.

It is clear to most observers that . We firmly believe it is , nor is it a fiscally responsible practice. Greg Newcomer, Brian Sattinger and Mark Hines have been consistently against the use of our Open Space Trust Fund for more than 16 months, and have been community leaders in advocating against this action. We are greatly pleased to see .

Should the voters choose to place their trust in our team, at the start of 2013 we will start working with sitting councilpersons Stacey Jordan and Chris Chiacchio. Our plan is to lead a 60-day review process and act quickly to move the project forward. This will deliver the results Moorestown needs. We will rely heavily on the recommendations of the volunteers who have participated in the process to date, and develop a community consensus, which has been sorely lacking to date. With that input and review, we will take action on our plan, and build what is needed, in a fiscally responsible manner: step-wise and by the recommended financial bonding process. We are convinced the Moorestown community will embrace this approach, and we will then preserve our Open Space Trust Fund for acquiring and maintaining open space.

It is very admirable that volunteers came together and worked long hours to develop the recommendations for recreation facilities, which has been called the K.I.D.S. project.

Additionally, in recent months, , which will reduce the impact on taxpayers. We applaud this effort and consider it part of the finest Moorestown tradition of volunteerism and community effort.

Our 60-day review process is to satisfy the community that all relevant questions are asked and answered. Asking these questions does not reflect upon the work of the volunteers, but rather questions brought up by many members of the community. Within this review, some of the key questions would be:

• Costs
• Replacement costs for synthetic turf
• Maintenance costs for the new facilities, including synthetic turf
• Injuries related to past and existing field conditions, and analysis on reduction of injuries due to turf
• Analysis of field closures and the positive impact on this by synthetic fields
• Feasibility of grants (ADA compliance, for example)

We acknowledge much of this has been addressed already and those answers can be shared more broadly with the community. We are confident that with building consensus and reviewing the project, we can move quickly, in a fiscally responsible manner and realize the necessary elements of this project.

Moorestown, we are asking that you give serious consideration in the November election. Our goal is to build consensus in Moorestown, and deliver results. Thus our website, results4moorestown. The three of us are already extensively invested in our community, and we will continue those efforts while serving you on Moorestown council. We will build consensus, review the project on a quick 60-day timetable, and act to build the necessary fields and improvements, in a fiscally responsible, measured manner. It may not be as fast as some people want, but it will happen, without gimmicks and without raiding the Open Space Fund.

Greg Newcomer, Brian Sattinger and Mark Hines
Democratic Council Candidates
results4moorestown@gmail.com

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