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January 22, 2009

The Harding Township Administrator sent a letter to Morris Township advising them that Harding Township would proceed with a Memorandum of Agreement that did not contain lights if they still wanted Harding to proceed without the lights. We are waiting for a response.

January 21, 2009

Thank you for your input!

A discussion was held with regard to the Memorandum of Understanding between Harding and Morris Townships for the Mt. Kemble Fields. Since the resolution was passed in November, the Township received four documents:

1. A letter from the Morris Township attorney addressed to the Harding Township attorney noting the passage of time, which was making the seller anxious and asking Harding to pursue the zoning change and the Memorandum of Agreement at the same time.

2. A response from Morris Township to the items on the draft spreadsheet to be included in the Memorandum of Agreement.

3. A letter from the residents asking to revisit the resolution based on the new composition of the Harding Township Committee.

4. Additional items to be included in the Memorandum of Agreement with e-mails from residents expressing their views.

While the Township Committee did not want to revisit the resolution that was passed in November, they did agree that circumstances had changed since the passing of the resolution in November. The two big items that were noted were the fact that we still did not have the deed restriction on the 25 acre parcel next to the proposed park that Morris Township committed to provide, and the lights had changed since the October demonstration and November resolution had passed. In the Morris Township response to the items on the spreadsheet, the Morris Township engineer noted that the original proposed lighting was misstated at the meeting. They gave Harding the quantity for only one field and they need lighting for two fields.

The discussion then centered around how to move forward. Several members wanted to get the deed restriction on the 25 acres done before moving forward. Another member said the Township Committee should decide if any Memorandum of Agreement that contained lights could be passed by the current Township Committee before spending anymore time and effort to draft an agreement that could not be passed. It was decided to poll the committee to determine their thoughts on the lights and how they would vote on any Memorandum that contained lights. Marshall Bartlett and Jim Rybka said they would be in favor of the lighting with restrictions, Ned Ward, Regina Egea, and Lou Lanzerotti said they would vote no on any Memorandum that contained lights.

Mayor Lanzerotti recommended that the Township Administrator draft a letter advising Morris Township that Harding Township would proceed with a Memorandum of Agreement that did not contain lights if they still wanted Harding to proceed without the lights.

January 7, 2009

We need your input!

As follow up to the November meeting where the Township Committee voted to move forward with lit fields at the Mt. Kemble Recreation Complex, a Memorandum of Agreement needs to be put into place between Harding and Morris Townships.

Items to include in this Memorandum are being collected over the next week. Please send your suggestions to us by using the comment form on the Calendar & Comment page no later than Sunday, Jan 18. I will add them to the list and get them to the Township Administrator in time for the next Township Committee meeting. A list of the items already suggested can be found at the Township office.

At the last Township Committee meeting, a group of residents opposed to night lighting read a letter requesting that a new resolution be introduced prohibiting the lights. The TC committee is considering this proposal and will respond at the next meeting. If you oppose the night lights or have any thoughts on this please let the TC know.

A public discussion of the memorandum items and the resolution request will be held at the next Township Committee Meeting on January 21, 7:30pm at Kirby Hall. You are all encouraged to attend.

November 19, 2008

Township Committee Meeting Notes

By a vote of 3-2 the Harding Township Committee voted to accept Morris Township's proposal including the lights. The vote: Bartlett- Yes; Rybka- Yes; Murray- Yes; Lanzerotti- No; Ward- No.
In the Morris News Bee article that the Memorandum of Agreement has not even been started yet, and Mayor Nace is already talking about adding artificial turf.

Person Standing Next to Proposed Lights (seven story high)
Same Type That are at Morris County Central Park (Greystone)

Morris Township’s Amended Plan

On September 3, Morris Township presented an amended plan for the fields.

· Grass fields

· No bleachers

· No PA system

· No concession stand

· Restrooms for men and women (on septic)

· Lights (seven story-72ft) on until 9PM, security lighting until 9:30PM

Comments from the Township Committee

Marshall Bartlett- supports with three conditions

9PM lights out OK
25 acre deed restriction needs to be put on parcel next to it
Full Planning Board review and an acceptable enforceable agreement including: lights, security, and water run off
He was concerned about the property owner’s rights to development. He mentioned the hotel that was supposedly discussed many years ago, however, the current zoning would not permit that use. The property is currently zoned residential.

John Murray- supports the plan

Discussed the type of lighting
Noted that it was already dark at 7:30PM and that it gets dark before 6PM in October when they would be in the height of the season.
Was concerned that the amount of public money being spent ($5 million) required the lights, otherwise Morris Township would not get an adequate return for their investment.
Noted that the ice rink in Bayne Park keeps the lights on until 10PM and occasionally until 11PM (see Ward & Lanzerotti comments)
Finally, he said he felt Harding should keep control for at least a couple of years. (Question from the residents- Does this mean annexation is back on the table?)

Jim Rybka- if he had to vote tonight he would vote no

He has concerns about the lights
Does not see the benefit to Harding
Wants to see the balloons and technology (the balloons were raised to the level of the lights and showed where the lights would go)
Indicated he may still vote “no” after seeing the technology and balloon test
Wants to hear public comment on Morris Township’s amended plan.

Ned Ward- if he had to vote tonight he would vote no

Wants to see the balloons and technology
Reaffirmed that Harding would still get 6 hours per month use
Mentioned that the ice ring in Bayne Park was used 3 days last winter
Ned also expressed concern about making any agreement decided on now permanent so it could not be changed in the future with different people in office (as an example, see John Murray, item 5)

Lou Lanzerotti- no with lights, yes without

Had gotten many e-mails on the subject, has replied to all
Supports ball fields and parks, but closing at dusk and no lights.
Three reasons for not supporting lights:

Intensity of use. This will be used for competition 7 days per week. The lights in Bayne Park are only 30ft high and there is no formal competition, just ad-hoc games. The ice rink in Bayne Park is not used in excess of 2 weeks per year
Sets a precedent for future projects.
There is no deed restriction on the 25 acre next to the proposed park. If the land is deemed open space that opens up the possibility of using it for active recreation. If the lights set a precedent, the Harding residents would be impacted by the development of the 25 acres and the requirement to install lights.

The decision was for Morris Township to set up the balloon test, and to arrange for the viewing of the Musco lighting they are recommending for the fields. These lights are currently installed at the new fields that were built on the old Greystone property.

The Harding Township Committee will notify and invite the residents to participate in both events, and would like to hear public comments after both events.

One final note- Morris Township did not acknowledge or make any comment about assisting Harding to get the deed restriction placed on the 25 acres next to the parcel where they want to put the fields.