Politics & Government

Safety Measures for New Turf Fields Approved by Borough Council

Surveillance cameras will help police keep on eye on MRC.

The Madison Borough Council at its first regular meeting of the year unanimously approved a multi-pronged safety plan for the synthetic turf fields of the Madison Recreation Complex.

Officer Joseph Longo in a presentation at said that the plan, estimated to cost about $35,000, would include five health- and crime-emergency elements.

As reported, a callbox would be used to connect with borough police since, as Longo explained at a previous meeting, 911 cellphone calls from such a remote location often connect to emergency service providers outside the borough.

Also presented earlier, a defibrillator would be installed for use by trained personnel in the case of heart-related emergencies.

Plans call for the installation of two remotely-adjustable surveillance video cameras, to be monitored directly by the police department’s communications desk. The cameras would view both of the new fields and have the capability to cover the rear of . Longo in his presentation showed a number of news articles about nearby towns that have suffered damage to turf fields due to vandalism. Quotes are being obtained from four vendors for the camera system and installation of fiber optic cable.

An ambulance access roadway will be built, with construction services donated by Michael Morris Associates of Harding.  Longo explained that paving costs are included in the contract for the complex parking lot.

Signage is planned, both to deter potential vandals and to help keep ambulance access clear.

After some discussion the Council agreed to cap spending for the measures at $3,500, all of it to come from previous appropriations for the MRC.

In another presentation, Borough Assistant Administrator Jim Burnet told the meeting of major capital projects involving road reconstruction and sewer upgrades. A total of $2 million in funded projects include resurfacing on Academy, Pine, Beech, Cedar and Rose, as well as phase two of work on Woodland Avenue. The Green Avenue project is also included; bids are due on that by Feb. 2.

Work will also get underway on sewer projects, Burnet said, included the sewage main beneath Park Avenue.

Council member Vincent Esposito said that on Jan. 5 the borough made another electric power purchase from Exelon Corp. A total of four purchase contracts are now in place, two with Exelon and two with PSE&G. The most recent purchase, at 49.97 cents per megawatt hour, compares to the current cost of 93.95 cents under the Constellation contract. The pacts are expected to save the borough more than $1 million, Esposito said, but not until the present power purchase contract with Constellation Energy expires in June, 2014.


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