Turf field contract awarded
BY VICTORIA HURLEY-SCHUBERT
Staff Writer

MARLBORO - Some of the township's athletic facilities are about to get a facelift.

On May 17, the Township Council awarded a contract to Precise Construc-tion of Freehold to construct a multipurpose synthetic turf playing field at the municipal complex, Wyncrest Road. Precise Construction was the third lowest bidder among seven firms that submitted estimates for the job.

Precise Construction was awarded the contract after the two lower bidders were rejected because in the estimation of township professionals those two firms did not meet the project specifications set forth in the request for proposals and because of a lack of installation experience.

The synthetic turf field will be on the left side as visitors enter the municipal complex on Township Drive after turning off of Wyncrest Road.

Bonding not to exceed $800,000 was approved to fund the project. Council members floated the idea of using money from the sale of a liquor license to fund the improvements, but eventually decided to save the money to ward off any increases in mandatory spending because of changes in state law that will cap municipal tax increases at 4 percent starting next budget year.

Seven bids for the synthetic turf field were submitted to Marlboro and opened on April 5. Bids, and the total amount proposed for the project, were received from:

+ The LandTek Group Inc., Amity-ville, N.Y., $848,036.

+ Bob Viersma and Sons Inc., Allamuchy, $852,047.

+ Precise Construction Inc., Freehold, $858,490.

+ Applied Landscape Technologies, Montville, $922,221.

+ Atlantic Lining Co. Inc., Lawrence-ville, $998,600.

+ Green Construction Inc., South River, $983,552.

+ Dumor Contracting Inc., Elizabeth, $1,060,835.

The bids were reviewed by the township attorney and by the engineering firm that prepared the specifications for the turf field.

Officials have said it is expected that state funds provided through the Green Acres program will be used in this project.

Mayor Robert Kleinberg has said officials are looking to improve Marlboro's recreational facilities to make them better, safer and more accessible to residents. He said the turf field will provide increased accessibility, versatility and durability. The turf field will also give the township the ability to start new recreational programs such as lacrosse, according to the mayor.

Kleinberg said he and the council are looking into ways of paying for the recreation upgrades without raising municipal taxes.