Engineers debate costs of converting Glen Rock field to turf

The Faber field turf conversation continues tonight at the borough council's fourth information forum.

Repeat broadcasts of the entire proceeding can be accessed via television through Glen Rock TV.

Voters will decide on the municipality's $3 million synthetic turf bond proposal in a Nov. 4 referendum.

A special Oct. 1 work session began with an hour of public turf discussion. A major element was a disagreement between engineers over the council's cost estimates for the installation of roughly 4.4 acres of synthetic turf in the conceptual field plan.

The exchange involved borough consulting engineer Michael DeSena of Stantec, and Jerry Dorost, a Glen Rock resident and longtime field engineer who had questioned the preliminary cost assumptions at a previous meeting not attended by DeSena.

After a private meeting of the two, the dialogue continued in public last Wednesday, following that day's posting of a more detailed itemization of estimated costs on the borough website. (Details of the expanded cost breakdowns for both synthetic and natural field installations can be accessed through the link titled "Revised Faber Field Budget Explanation" on the borough home page at glenrocknj.net.)

Despite the additional detail and DeSena's Oct. 8 responses, Dorost maintained his position that the borough was underestimating the installation and maintenance costs of synthetic turf, while overestimating the corresponding costs for the natural grass alternative.

"I guess we'll have to just agree to disagree," Dorost said, twice telling council members that he "didn't envy them having to decide" which of the professionals was correct.

DeSena began his remarks by noting that he and associates had reviewed the original cost estimates, isolating some 27 previously bundled costs including all turf and related components - noting the higher costs accounted for in sections of the field requiring more sub-surface stone to ensure stability and drainage performance. Other itemized costs included excavation and earthmoving, drainage infrastructure elements, benches, removal and replacement of fencing, baseball accessories, foul poles, sports lighting, soccer goals, a multi-use scoreboard and others.

He said the total remained at $2.735 million for the synthetic turf as proposed, "a figure we remain comfortable with." Officials have previously noted that the difference between that and the $3 million to be bonded allows for various ancillary expenses, including engineering and bond-related fees, as well as contingencies - a cushion Dorost also said might be too low.

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Engineers debate costs of converting Glen Rock field to turf