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Debate Continues Over Construction Of Johnson Park Basketball Courts
By Keith Hagarty
The construction of two basketball courts in John F. Johnson Jr. Memorial Park stirred debate once again at this week's township council meeting, with some neighboring residents questioning the need for and cost to build the courts.
According to Councilman Angelo Stallone, the need for the basketball courts is evident in that the township already has had nearly 1,000 children sign up for the recreation basketball program.
"There is obviously a great need for basketball here," said Stallone.
However, just because so many kids signed up for the recreation basketball program does not mean basketball courts are needed in the park, according to Marty Spielman, of the neighboring Westlake age-restricted community.
"It's a program that runs indoors in the gymnasiums of the schools," Spielman said of the recreation program. "We already have programs in place for basketball. I think this is something that you really have to step back and say, is this worth almost a half-million dollars to put in two basketball courts."
Fiore Paving Co., Inc., of Oceanport, submitted the lone bid received by the town for the construction of the two basketball courts at a cost of $455,157. The courts will be surrounded by a 10-foot high chain-link fence, with park benches and lighting.
After reviewing the bid even further and discussing it in-depth with the company's owner, Councilwoman Emily Ingram said the $502,000 contract was front-loaded with a higher than usual percentage of the costs designated in the upfront site demolition costs. Front-loading a contract means more of the costs were placed upfront in the project to help cover all the immediate associated costs. However, the total bid was still well below the township engineer's estimate of $502,000, said Ingram.
"It apparently is common in contracts," he said. "But that doesn't change the bottom line of this contract, which was below our engineer's estimate."
Former Mayor Sean Giblin, of Cooks Bridge Road, chastised the council for accepting the bid, saying it's a bad sign if a contractor is basically saying they don't have the funds to cover the project unless they get them all upfront.
"What if you're paying upfront and the contractor backs out?" Giblin asked the council. "That makes absolutely no sense."
Not so, according to Township Engineer Dan Burke, who explained that since it is a short-term contract, the company would not get paid until the project is completed, but would accept a maximum of one progress payment request per month.
"From start to substantial completion should be about 60 days," Burke said of the project. "Front-loading a contract is extremely common."
In addition, Burke said the township has several protective measures automatically in place, such as bonding methods which ensure the town would not be left high and dry by "the lowest responsible bidder," as well as receiving glowing references from previously satisfied customers the company has already completed work for.
"We received nothing but positive comments from all his contract work," said Burke. "I am confident that the work will be done, and the town's interest will be protected as we proceed with this contract."
The park currently closes at dusk, with no one allowed in the park after such time. However, once the courts and lights are up and running, the council plans to revisit the township's ordinance regulating the park's hours of operation.
"Right now, the township ordinance says it's supposed to close at dusk," said Stallone. With neighboring Westlake residents complaining of teenagers already being in the park long after its official closing time and fearing the situation will only worsen with the new courts, Stallone recommends they contact the proper authorities.
"They're not supposed to be there," he said, "and if you see them there, then you should call the police."
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