After more than a year of working on a memorandum of agreement with the West Windsor-Plainsboro Soccer Association regarding use of township fields, the memorandum is heading to the Township Council for approval on December 17.##M:[more]##
The soccer association wanted to see what type of guarantees — including monetary — the township could give the association regarding continued use of township fields, before it invested large sums of money in them (The News, November 2). The association suggested that if the township, for whatever reason, needs to take away the use of the fields in the future, it would be compensated for the money it spent on them.
There are three particular locations that the association has looked into renovating. One is the Zaitz Park on Southfield Road — which is already used exclusively for soccer — where the association would like to install lights. The second is Conover Park on North Post Road, where lights already exist, but the association would like to improve the field surface and possibly install an irrigation system.
And the last is Duck Pond Park on Meadow Road, a recreational site that has not yet been developed, where the association wants to create soccer fields. While estimates are still undetermined, it could cost around $2 million.
During the December 10 council meeting, recreation and parks division manager Ken Jacobs updated the council on the drafts of the agreement that have been circulating between the two parties for the past few months, saying that the “termination fee,” or the wording of the draft that outlines what happens in the event the township changes use of the fields, or the financial relationship doesn’t work out, had been ironed out. Business Administrator Chris Marion said the total amount of money the township would pay the soccer association if it were ever to do so varies based on factors set forth in the agreement.
The memorandum also sets responsibilities for both parties when it comes to their respective field maintenance duties.
Also added into the draft are the fees for facility charges if the soccer association is to enter into any agreements with outside associations. Language was also added that would require the association to inform the township of any additions, deletions or improvements done to township-owned facilities.
Councilman Charles Morgan raised concerns with language in the agreement that would automatically renew the agreement every five years, and Township Attorney Mike Herbert agreed, saying a phrase should be added that would require the two parties to meet about 12 months in advance to reassess the agreement.
“The only thing is the soccer association will be putting in a lot of money over the years, so if there’s going to be discussion about renewal or not renewal, then it’s somehow got to be coordinated time-wise with the budget because it could be a significant amount of money that we have to pay the soccer association for the improvements that they’ve made,” Councilwoman Linda Geevers said.
Council President Will Anklowitz suggested adding a phrase that includes allowing the township to see financial data from the soccer association.
