Despite Issue With Process, GR BOE Approves Athletic Facilities Makeover

Despite stated concerns with the process from some members, the Glen Rock Board of Education on Monday night voted 7-2 to award a bid it expects will correct while significantly upgrading facilities.

Turco Golf Inc. will collect a $3,527,993 check allocated toward the project. The work encompasses a base bid to repair the track and correct drainage problems, as well as a range of alternate bids that most notably will turf several fields, re-sod the baseball field, add two new tennis courts to the complex, all topped with new bleachers and a press box.

“This is a unique opportunity for us,” said board member Carlo Cella, who touted many of the improvements the project will bring to the district. Beyond having the support of administrators, the operations committee and realizing greater usage of the fields, Cella said fundamental problems will finally be corrected.

“We get to resolve a long-standing field condition issue, we get to correct an environmental with drainage and stormwater runoff,” he said. “And we significantly upgrade our sports capabilities up to par with our surrounding towns.”

Although many board members said they were supportive of the various items included in the alternate bids – which will draw from the district’s capital budget unlike the base bid, one explicitly tied to referendum funds – they were dismayed their votes had to be all or nothing.

Trustee Sheldon Hirschberg said he supported a good deal of the initiatives outlined in the overall plan. But despite a drawn-out discussion process over the last six months, he still had unanswered questions related to the safety of turf. “Disrespected” by the turf manufacturer for not answering his questions, Hirschberg's concern on safety prompted a ‘no’ vote. 

“I really feel to give everyone the opportunity to make the best decision, this should not have been bundled,” said Trustee Terry Moore, who also voted against the project. “I think everything that’s on this resolution needs to be done. I don’t know if it all needs to be done right now. Those are some of the concerns right now. I think the process is bothering me more than what I see in front of me on this resolution.”

Separating alternate items for a vote was the original plan according to school board president Rona McNabola. It just wasn’t possible due to legal issues, she said.

“We found out afterwards when the bids had to be put together, that it had to be done this way legally for the people who are going to bid on it,” she said.

The low bid came in about $1 million under what was budgeted, leaving a balance of between $1.4 million and $1.8 million in capital funds, said Business Administrator Michael Rinderknecht.

The administrator said he’ll draft a contract with Turco Wednesday morning and arrange a pre-construction meeting. He expressed hope work could begin within the next few weeks, which will determine logistics of the and other activities.