A policy setting rules for the use of athletic field lights expected to be installed and paid for by the High School South Booster Club drew concern during the WW-P school board’s first reading of the policy on June 14.
Residents questioned whether the language in the policy was strong enough to ensure that the booster club would be responsible for all of the costs associated with use of the lights — and not taxpayers. The questions came as the board was holding a first reading for a number of policies for the upcoming school year, including the field lights. A second reading and adoption is slated for Tuesday, June 28.
According to the policy, there will be a two-year moratorium on any outside group’s utilization of the athletic field lights, and there will be no weekend use of the field lights. Day events would continue as done previously, it stated. The policy must also be reviewed annually for the first three years, as circumstances may change, which, in turn, require changes to the policy.
The policy also states that the use of the lighting will be based on the scheduling needs of the principals, athletic director, and the administration. “This may vary from day-to-day, week-to-week, or year-to-year,” the policy states. “The policy will enforce a hard stop of 9 p.m. (Monday through Thursday) and 10:30 p.m. on Friday evenings with an override component as per the completion of varsity sports as per NJSIAA regulations.”
On evenings when there are no competition events, the lights must be turned off by 8 p.m., the policy also states. Summer use will be limited to August athletic competitions and practices, under the time lines set.
It was the part of the policy that included budgets that drew concern from residents. The policy states that “the planned usage for the fields for both competitions and practices must be done each season by the athletic director. This plan must include budgets to ensure that the financial and human resources are available for the utilities costs, security, and other related costs.” The plan has to be submitted for review by the administration and facilities committee prior to the beginning of each season.
Resident Sara Spangler Campanella and Linda Geevers, also a member of the West Windsor Township Council, argued, however that the policy simply stated that a plan had to ensure funding was available, but they did not specify where those funds should come from. The policy should specifically state that the booster club would be responsible for all of those costs, they said.
In addition, Campanella said that certain aspects of the policy — including the time frame and permitted hours of usage of the field lights — conflicted with West Windsor township ordinance. The noise levels that would be created by allowing the field lights to be used in the evening hours conflicted with noise level restrictions set by West Windsor, she added. The field lights have yet to be approved by the Planning Board, she added.
Geevers also urged the board to add language that includes neighbors in nearby neighborhoods in the review of the policies.
School board member Todd Hochman, however, said that the board will look into how the policy fits with township code, but also said that the policy was being presented before the lights were even installed so that the board could provide the administration with guidance on the issue.
Board President Hemant Marathe said that memorandum of understanding with the booster club states that the booster club is responsible for all of the costs.
“The purpose of this is not to regurgitate the memorandum of understanding,” echoed Hochman.
“I think it should be in the policy,” responded Geevers. “The more places it shows up, the more it’s enforced.”
However, Campanella said that in the memorandum of understanding, the only cost the booster club is specifically responsible for is the installation, electricity, and utilities. The memorandum of understanding does not specifically include other costs, like extra security for night games, and more. “Anything above and beyond was not included in the agreement,” she said. “That’s the reality of the agreement that you signed with the booster club.”
Board member John Farrell had a different concern. “I’m not sure we want to limit the events on Saturday,” he said. “Maybe in the future, the board wouldn’t want to eliminate football from Saturday usage.” And, in some cases, tournament games may go beyond 9 p.m., he said.
In April the WW-P school board approved an amendment to its agreement with the High School South Booster Club, a nonprofit group, to install lights at the high school athletic fields.
The amendment allows the booster club to install the lights at the first field, which is anticipated to be at High School South, before sufficient funding has been raised for lights at North.
Some residents near both schools have been opposed to the idea of installing lights since the board began looking at the matter last year. They cited concerns for decreased safety and quality of life in their neighborhoods as a result of the people brought into the neighborhoods for night games. Other concerns include that some of the costs associated with running the lights at the athletic fields will end up falling to taxpayers.
Board members, however, reiterated that the amendment to the agreement would not allow taxpayer money to be used to fund the project.
In December the board approved a memorandum of understanding to allow the club to preside over the process for installing athletic field lights at both schools.
The MOU grants the Booster Club the permission to install the lights in 2012. The agreement protects the school district against any charges — even for utility costs — with regard to use of the lights.
