Synthetic turf field to get one final look from town
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

MANALAPAN - Although an expansion of the Manalapan Recreation Center is under way with the installation of a synthetic turf field as part of the project, municipal officials will take one final look at whether there could be health risks associated with the use of rubber pellets that will fill in the area between the blades of the synthetic grass.

Several natural grass playing fields and one synthetic turf playing field are among the improvements currently under construction at the sprawling recreation center on Route 522.

The most recent discussion about the synthetic turf field was generated after Deputy Mayor Michelle Roth told the other members of the Township Committee that recreation advisory board member Mike Hammer wanted to join the ad hoc panel the committee had agreed would continue to review conflicting opinions about synthetic turf fields.

According to Committeeman Anthony Gennaro, some studies suggest that the rubber infill pellets used on synthetic turf fields can melt under extreme heat conditions and emit a toxic fume that could adversely affect people who are using the field.

The ad hoc committee was to have been comprised of Committeewoman Susan Cohen, residents Steve Johnson, Butch Budai, George Rothweiler, Larry Sherman, Hammer and Gennaro.

When Roth announced that Hammer wanted to join the ad hoc group, Gennaro said he did not see why a committee should bother to convene if the construction work at the recreation center is not halted pending its findings.

"I would be happy to set up a committee if the (construction) contract is frozen. If it's not frozen I can't see what possibly can be accomplished. I'd be happy to set up a committee if something were going to be accomplished," Gennaro said.

Gennaro also said he would be rehashing information he has already shared with the other members of the governing body over the course of several months.

"I thought I handed everything out to everyone so I don't know what else I can do," he said.

Committeeman Richard Klauber said when he attended the League of Municipalities convention last month he reached out to representatives of New Jersey's Green Acres program in an effort to glean their position regarding the synthetic turf field Manalapan is installing at the recreation center.

Officials have previously explained that the synthetic turf field can be used in all types of weather and can accommodate more games than a natural grass field can. Klauber said he received a telephone call during the week of the Dec. 12 Township Committee meeting from a Green Acres representative.

According to Klauber, the individual followed up on his inquiry regarding the state's position on the installation of synthetic turf fields and determined that the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) had informed Green Acres that DEP research indicates "there is no legitimate health concern that they can see at this time."

Klauber said for him the bottom line is that the Green Acres program is going to continue to provide funding to municipalities that are seeking to install synthetic turf fields.

"Green Acres sees no problem with funding this type of artificial turf," he said.

Klauber said he appreciated the work Gennaro put into gathering information about the turf fields because he, Klauber, had also spent hours on the Internet researching the issue. Klauber said his research coupled with what the Green Acres representative told him were the reasons why he did not believe the construction of the turf field should be stopped.

"No health risk has been proven by anyone," he said, telling Gennaro, "The risk and health concerns you raise just aren't there."

At one point in the discussion Roth asked Gennaro why he voted last month with the rest of the governing body to permit the Monmouth County Improvement Authority to authorize and execute the $4.1 million bond purchase agreement for the recreation center project if he had health concerns regarding the turf field.

"I didn't want to hold up the expansion of the recreation center and the money needed to go on with the project," Gennaro said. "What am I supposed to do, hold up the transfer of those dollars because we're still discussing this one point?"

Cohen suggested that the ad hoc panel meet anyway to review all of the pertinent material regarding synthetic turf fields. Gennaro agreed with that suggestion. The ad hoc committee met last week and was expected to report back to the Township Committee.