Utilizing the estimated $143,000 Open Space Trust Fund monies for 2013, River Edge will look to use a portion of that amount to install a Strike Guard Lightning Warning system at Kenneth B. George fields, the Little League field and Veteran's Memorial Park in the coming year. 

The remaining funding would be allocated to park and field maintenance, various committees and set aside almost $40,000 to be used towards the eventual replacement lighting project at KBG.

"The main cuts are the [Veteran's] statue renovations and curb cuts [at Cherry Blossom]," Councilman Alphonse Bartelloni said. "This prioritizes what we already have since there is only a limited amount of money."

The $28,468 lightning detection system is the same exact version located in Oradell. A flashing light and siren would be installed on a utility pole at each of the three locations with the main transister and receiver system housed at Fire Company 1. The system issued a warning signal once a lightning strike is detected within a 10-mile radius of the borough.

Bartelloni suggested setting aside approximately $40,000 for the future lighting replacement at KBG field. During a prior Saturday budget meeting, Council President Thomas Papaleo had suggested the borough set aside Open Space funding for the next three years and then seek a matching grant to handle the lighting project. The lighting replacement project is estimated to cost up to $325,000.

The remaining funding would be divided as follows:

• $9,200 - Department of Public Works (DPW)
• $21,270 - Recreation Park Maintenance
• $18,670 - Recreation Field Maintenance
• $11,000 - Shade Tree planting trees in borough parks
• $5,560 - Extension of Little League fence
• $2,000 - Recreation Sap Removal from Tennis Courts
• $1,500 - 9/11 Memorial Gardens
• $1,500 - Beautification Committee
• $1,500 - Green Team
• $1,000 - Environmental Committee
• $750 - Historic Committee

"This really seems like a pretty fair split to me," Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo said.

The final available Open Space Trust Fund amount will be certified come mid-February. Until that point, any estimated allotments can be amended by the governing body.

During a Jan. 22 meeting, the borough received over $465,500 in funding requests for 2013 Open Space Funds. The majority of funding requests, totalling $410,468 were on behalf of the Recreation Commission. 

Previously voters defeated the Open Space Trust Fund ballot question in 2011 after much of the funding had been used to cover the salary and wages of three DPW workers who oversee park maintenance. Residents had a change of heart and restored the funding this past November after the total 2012 allocations of $22,000 were split between several groups. 

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