$1M check presentation sparks heated dispute

A$1 million grant has Republicans crying foul just before an election that will decide which political party has majority control in South River.

Middlesex County awarded the grant for a new synthetic turf field at South River High School's Denny Stadium, which would be the center of recreational activity in town, according to county Freeholder Christopher D. Rafano, who presented the check to Mayor Robert Szegeti during the Oct. 22 Borough Council meeting.

Szegeti thanked the freeholders, saying that he welcomes Denny Stadium becoming a part of the community.

The event raised concerns from Board of Education President Regis Wyluda, who told Greater Media Newspapers that the board should have had input into the grant from the beginning, but was never asked what its needs were.

"I think the board should have been notified when the [grant] request was being made," Wyluda said. "That's why we would like to sit down and talk. The board had no idea this was coming."

The school board was setting up a meeting with Rafano and Szegeti, Wyluda said. Superintendent of Schools Ronald C. Grygo was informed of the grant on Oct. 16 and the board was informed Oct. 18, Wyluda said.

The Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution accepting the $1 million after a heated discussion took place among its members on Oct. 22.

Szegeti said the board has two years to prepare a design for the upgrade.

"The bottom line is we had an opportunity to receive a million [dollars] for the renovations and upgrade of the field, and the board has up to two years for the upgrade, so it's not like anything is being shoved down [the board's] throats," said Szegeti, a Democrat "They have the opportunity to go through the process."

Republicans on the council raised concerns about what they referred to as the surprise nature of the announcement of the grant, as well as its timing with the Nov. 6 election looming.

Republican Councilman Raymond Eppinger, who is running against Szegeti for mayor, called the check-awarding ceremony a photo opportunity.

"It was one of the worst examples of political pandering in South River history," Eppinger said.

Szegeti criticized Eppinger's vote to accept the money if Eppinger thought it was being awarded for political reasons.

"If it was so political that he didn't want to participate in it, then he should have voted against it. This is an opportunity for us to invest in our community," Szegeti said.

Eppinger said later that the Republicans are not opposed to the idea of the grant, but are concerned with the lack of communication with the school board.

Rafano said talks with his son's Pop Warner football coach led him to seek out the funds from the county's Open Space and Recreation Trust Fund. The grant has the support of the Pop Warner association, he added, and the new field will maximize the field's use among students and other borough residents.

Szegeti said at the meeting that in order for the council and school board to enter into an interlocal agreement, the council would have to vote on a resolution to accept the money before a set timeline expires.

"Now, if you guys don't want the grant, then vote it down," Szegeti told the council members.

Eppinger, who is the council's liaison to the school board, said he fears there will turn out to be strings attached.

"We have no idea what we are voting on, but that doesn't seem to matter around here," he said, adding that the total cost of the project, for the board and the borough, is unknown.

Szegeti said the board would assume responsibility for the field, including maintenance and establishing permitted times for its use. While the field will primarily be striped for football, it could serve other sports as well, he said.

Eppinger said the board should have approved the measure before it got to this point.

"There is no such thing as free money, Mr. Mayor," Eppinger said. "[The field] is going to cost the Board of Education hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Council President David Sliker, a Democrat, described the resolution accepting the grant as the first step in the process. He said the council will receive the money and sit down with the board to discuss the particulars.

"You can't just do nothing," Sliker said. "You have to take the first step."

Sliker noted that the board could ultimately turn down the money if it thinks that is in the best interests of the district. He said the cost of the project will be determined by professionals so that the board can make a decision.

Szegeti said the bid specifications drafted by professionals will help the board prepare for the project if it chooses to go ahead with it. He added that lighting for the field will be an optional item, depending on the interests of the community.

Democratic Councilman Anthony Razzano noted that coaches from the high school and the Pop Warner league publicly expressed their support for the project earlier in the meeting.

"Let's forget about the politics for a minute and remember that [this is] best for the kids," Razzano said.

Szegeti amended the resolution to ask that a feasibility study be done before the borough and the district enter into an agreement. Republicans supported the amended resolution.