District's Flooded Fields Cleanup to Cost Over $21K; Superintendent Initially 'Forgets' to Disclose Full Cost

The first flooding to the district's newly-turfed fields , drawing considerable ire from residents who chafed at the district's plan to build expensive turf fields in the 100-year flood plain without a manufacturer's warranty. Fields were after the Ho-Ho-Kus Brook broke its banks and rendered fields unplayable for over a week. Now, over a week later, the district's top administrator revealed the taxpayer tally, though it was only done after an unusual public comment prompted him to note at minimum a $21,000 price tag for Round II.

Dr. Daniel Fishbein, the Superintendent of Schools, spoke at the Monday night board of education public meeting on the progress of the fields. Fishbein originally provided a report on the fields, saying they were "playable right now" and the district had contracted work with its maintenance firm, GCA, and would be paying an additional $300 per day for the renting of cleaning equipment when asked by board member Laurie Goodman what the cleanup costs would be.

The superintendent said spare those two costs, there was no additional money spent when directly asked by Goodman, though he had said to The Ridgewood News late last week that LandTek, a contracted engineering firm, would be removing the massive wrinkles that jutt on Stadium Field.

Fishbein, when asked multiple times by Patch over the past week, did not address the question, instead remarking that district cleanup costs would "be done in-house" by GCA and "we are cleaning them [the fields]" in a series of separate e-mails.

But not so fast, resident Kelly Ebbels said. Ebbels, a current Staff Writer of The Ridgewood News, questioned Fishbein on the costs paid to LandTek during public commenting session, remarking she was "confused" with Fishbein's report to the board, which lacked any discussion on LandTek's involvement contrary to earlier discussions.

Only then did Fishbein disclose public cost – LandTek will be paid roughly $21,000 to reverse the wrinkles, and just the wrinkles, he said. "I'm sorry. There was a cost to LandTek. I neglected to say that," he said to Ebbels. "They were not involved in the cleanup" otherwise he remarked shortly thereafter, adding that the board was made aware of in their packets, which they had ready by Monday night.

Fishbein, at the conclusion of the meeting, said he meant to speak of LandTek's involvement in his original report to the board, had it written in his notes "but forgot." He said he was not trying to mislead the public when directly asked by Patch.

Neighbors of the high school fields have written extensive letters to village officials and media members alleging just that on the part of the district. Tom Kossoff, who has been among the most vocal, wrote a letter to the Board of Education saying the school board should "be ashamed" of themselves for allowing Fishbein to not submit taxpayer expenditures to the public, as well as misstatements when the board by its own admittance had the information.

"None of you had the courage and did not fulfill your sworn duties under oath to divulge the truth regarding BOE expenditures and to contradict public misstatements at a Public Meeting by one of your own," Kossoff said in an e-mail sent to the school board and media members.

"I think the flags should be flown at half-mast at all schools signifying the disgraceful manner the BOE has acted and the loss of credibility our BOE has now," Kossoff concluded.

When will fields be ready?

In his initial report, Fishbein said "the fields will be cleaned, I promise you that" to the board and added that FieldTurf representatives–the manufacturer of the multi-million dollar turf fields–came to visit and reported that they were "very pleased with the cleaning efforts." He also remarked that LandTek, tasked with ironing out the wrinkles, said the fields "were in no danger; they can all be cleaned."

Fishbein said, however, that all of the work to repair the fields after the March storm was not completed because there hasn't been enough dry weather. After the initial–uncompleted–cleanup, the superintendent said its GCA has observed how to clean the fields and is able to do so.

"This impacts everyone in the district," he said. Fishbein said the two fields being closed have a larger impact than what may initially meet the eye. He said B.F. is closed as its track "gets its final finish," currently delayed due to rain; and G.W. is closed due to construction.

"All this is putting a lot of stresses on our youth sport leagues," Fishbein said, adding the district is responsible for not just their own sponsored sports but youth leagues as well.

Fishbein said no participants are ever at a safety risk at its facilities. "We would never put our kids in a dangerous situation," he said. "As soon as it's dry, the fields will get a much better cleaning." He said he expects both fields to be fully opened for Tuesday.

"The fields are playable right now," Fishbein said, "and they're in no danger of being ruined. We get that information from FieldTurf."

Infrastructure problems?

There was a blockage on the PSE&G right-of-way bridge by Brookside Avenue that had to be cleared by the county, and the district and village have little authority over such efforts. "A pipe came across the stream and it was pretty significant," Fishbein said of the blockage, adding debris and fallen trees exacerbated flooding.

The last two big floods were the 5th and 6th largest storms since 1954, according to village records. The district has maintained these are not normal events.

Ridgewood Parks & Recreation Department Director Tim Cronin said the village would be doing its work in-house and there would be no overtime doled out to village workers.

A crane was used to clean out the stream observers told Patch late last week as part of the county's effort to clean the stream of debris. Trees as well as other debris "started clogging things up," Fishbein said Monday night, adding that the footbridge neighbors say may be a culprit in exacerbating flooding, has been checked by the village's Engineering Division–as is done after every storm–and things check out.

Fishbein said Village Engineer Chris Rutishauser said the bridge is OK for pedestrians and light vehicles traffic" and noted there was a study done two years ago. Fishbein also said the village's top engineer said the bleachers at Stadium Field will be fine, though neighbors have said there are concerns and a worker told resident and Patch writer/photographer Lucy Rieger that they'd flooded three times. "He [Rutishauser] said they were designed to withstand flooding," Fishbein said.

In an e-mail to Patch on Monday, Fishbein refuted the claim that the soon-to-be-constructed stands closest to the high school building will be higher than they had previously been. "They should be roughly the same height as existing with today’s safety fencing," he said, disputing a worker's report they were to be built taller.

"I really think that making sure the stream is clear of debris will help the situation," Fishbein said of the future. But, he said, "it's not going to stop flooding. We are going to have flooding," he said.

[Editor's Note: Fallen trees, debris and a PSE&G gas line had contributed to flooding below the bridge near Brookside Field; not a storm drain. The correction has been made.]