DEP to Investigate Claims of Field Maintenance Failures at RHS

The Department of Environmental Protection will be taking a first-hand look at the Ridgewood district's athletic facilities to , a department spokesman said Monday.

Neighbors the district has not adequately cleaned the turf infill at Stevens and RHS Stadium Field; erected a fence that catches leaves and debris, exacerbating flooding; blown rubber pellets from the turf into the brook; and created hazardous air conditions, among others. They've heavily criticized the district, calling the fields an open-ended cost at a time when money has never been tighter.

The DEP sent a letter to Ridgewood Public Schools Feb. 17 detailing the neighbor complaints and requested an in-person meeting with the district or a maintenance plan submitted within 45 days.

"Right now this is not a major issue," said Larry Ragonese, spokesman for the agency. "The letter that was sent by the DEP has no notice of violations, fines or penalties."

Ragonese said several representatives of the agency will be meeting Business Administrator Angelo DeSimone on Thursday, March 8. They'll be reviewing the conditions of the field and closed pedestrian footbridge to determine if the facilities are being maintained in accordance to the permit the district was granted by the agency in 2010.

"That's really all it is," Ragonese said. "Right now we're just advising them."

Residents (which was part of the referendum) in the first place. Resident Stephen A. Shea said in 2010 that due to the proximity to the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook, an "inadequate" storm water management plan, and "inefficiently" anchored crumb rubber, the DEP should have quashed the plan.

Others shot back that  when the village already suffers a shortage. Project engineer Michael Disko, of M. Disko Associates, stated in March of 2010 that flooding concerns were legitimate but said flooding velocity at grass fields had far greater potential than turfed counterparts.

At last Monday's school board meeting, doubt was also cast on the , as administrators have .

Documents show that on Feb. 23., the district submitted a freshwater permit request to the DEP to repair the RHS footbridge, which has been closed since Thanksgiving after engineers determined .

"April 1 is still a possibility" for reopening Ragonese said, adding that it largely depends on the findings March 8. "We're going to take a good look at the permit. If we can expedite it, we will."

DeSimone said Monday night at the school board meeting the DEP told him there would be no public hearing on the matter.

Costs to repair the bridge remain unclear at this point. DeSimone previously said one other plan explored would require tremendous changes to accommodate for handicap accessibility.

Superintendent Daniel Fishbein said in an e-mail Tuesday although the bid specs don't include plans to raise the level of the bridge – which many believe cause dam conditions in flood events – repairs should reduce flood impacts. Bids are expected to come back March 28.