Schools
Bond Issue Approved for Pleasant Valley Project
The $5 million bond issue and awarded contracts passed on a 6-3 vote. The school board was split on the decision to borrow money while cuts hit the 2011-12 budget.
A $5 million bond issue was approved at Monday night's Peters Township School Board meeting for capital improvements to the athletic fields. The board awarded contracts for the start of construction.
Approximately $2.5 million will be budgeted for the field renovation project, while the remaining money will be used for capital expenses in district buildings. The bond will be repaid over a 10-year period.
The approval of the bond issue came despite the opposition of a number of residents, living near Pleasant Valley, who had expressed concerns over noise from a planned speaker system and lighting.
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Others questioned if money from the bonds could be used to offset educational costs, however law does not allow bond issues to be used for anything other than expenses for the capital projects.
The bond issue and the awarded contracts passed on a 6-3 vote, with board members Mark Buzzatto, Sue Smith and Thomas McMurray casting "no" votes, while members Diane Ritter, Lori Cuervo, Cindy Golembiewski, Julie Ann Sullivan, Lynn Erenberg and David Hvizdos voted to approve.
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“We do not have unlimited resources,” said Buzzatto. “We are going to incur $5 million worth of debt. We have to pay off the interest on this, and the last three years we pay off the bulk. In that time, the turf on the field will almost be worn out before its paid for.”
Buzzatto said the board demanded that Superintendent Nina Zetty and her staff cut the budget to 1.5 percent. “That just wows me,” Buzzatto continued. “We won’t know what the educational impact of these cuts will have, and I’m concerned about that. This project blurs our vision. This project is going to have a real profound impact on our education.”
Golembiewski said the athletic field project is not so much a priority as it is a necessity and a fair decision.
“Every board member here should be commended to have the courage to make a tough decision, because this is a tough decision,” she said. “This will be the need of many of our kids. It is the worst time to spend money, but it is the best time to spend money if you look at the interest rates.”
McMurray said he could not support the bond issue while cuts were made in the budget that affect education.
The total amount of contracts awarded for the Pleasant Valley project was $2,184,950, which cover general construction, HVAC, plumbing, electric and paving. Bleachers for the field were not included, and the board said that it is believed that they can be purchased for a lesser cost than bids that were proposed.
Largest of the contracts awarded was to Amity Asphalt Paving for $1.496 million. DiMarco Construction will complete general construction for $220,000. S.E. Schultz Electric will be the electrical contractor for $396,700. Plumbing was awarded to J.B Mechanical for $52,600, and HVAC to Hranec Corporation for $19,650.
The board set guidelines that lighting will not be permitted on Saturday and Sunday evenings, and the lights and speaker system will be shut down at 10 p.m. There will be a zero tolerance policy regarding the light and sound system, and violators will be barred from using the field again, according to the board.
The project includes a turfed soccer/lacrosse/football field, restroom facilities, additional parking, a basic sound system, basic concession stands, lighting, bleachers and improved access to the field and Pleasant Valley parking lots.
