By Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
UPPER FREEHOLD — An informal poll by the governing body at the Jan. 6 meeting shows support for changing recreation fees to $13 for residents and $26 for non-residents.
Under current ordinances, residents pay a $10 fee and non-residents pay $40. However, Township Attorney Dennis Collins advised the Township Committee at its December meeting that, under state law, for recreational properties purchased under the Green Acres program, the non-resident fee can’t be more than twice the amount charged residents.
Township Administrator Dianne Kelly said the Green Acres program did a full audit on properties within the township, and that was the only issue it found.
Committeeman Steve Alexander pointed out the township has been preserving land since the 1990s and was never audited before. He said Upper Freehold preserves a lot of land, and 16 percent of the Reed Park property purchase came from township taxpayer money.
He said the town Department of Public Works maintains park properties.
”In 2008, we thought we’d relieve the taxpayers by increasing the non-resident maintenance fee,” he said. “The state law means we have to lower the non-resident fee and jack up the resident fee.” he said
Mayor Stan Moslowski Jr. said it costs the township $240,000 annually to operate its recreational programs, which includes field maintenance, grass-cutting and fertilizing.
Ms. Kelly said there was no surplus in the budget for recreational purposes, and the fees haven’t been raised in years.
Mr. Collins said the township could charge different fees based on the sport.
In other recreation-related business, Township Engineer Patrick Jeffery said the Allentown Upper Freehold Dragons Lacrosse program contacted his office regarding installation of a cinder block throwing wall at Reed Park, which requires the governing body’s approval.
He said the proposed wall, which the lacrosse program will fund, would be 30 feet long and 15 feet high, approximately 1 foot wide and double-sided. A local mason would construct it, he said.
Ms. Kelly said she would find out if the township’s insurance company ever had issues with such a structure.
Committeewoman Lorisue Horsnall Mount said vandalism has occurred in other township parks and wanted to know the town’s responsibility for the wall’s maintenance and repair.
Mr. Collins said the AUFDL must give a bill of sale to the township after the wall’s completion, and it becomes township property.
