Westfield Town, School Board Enter Shared Service Agreement For Fields

WESTFIELD, NJ — The Town Council approved a new Shared Services Agreement with the Board of Education for the maintenance of sports fields, specifically Roosevelt Intermediate School athletic field.

"This is the first step in a long-term field maintenance plan between the Town and the school district that will allow for the town to eventually take over the maintenance of all the Board of Education fields, delivering better outcomes and financial efficiency for our residents," said Mayor Shelley Brindle at the March 25 Council meeting.

Under the shared service agreement:

• Term: The agreement will commence on April 1, and will continue until terminated by either party with 60 days' written notice
• Scope of Services: The Town will conduct regular maintenance of the Field, including but not limited to mowing, field lining, seeding, and general upkeep required to ensure the Field remains in a safe, playable condition
• Costs: This is a shared service agreement with routine maintenance costs managed and borne by the Town. Any expenses outside of regular maintenance will require mutual written consent
• Liability and Insurance: Each party shall maintain responsibility for its personnel, actions, and insurance coverage. The Town will hold adequate insurance for all services provided.

"When we talk about taxpayers and tax dollars, from our perspective its what percentage of the tax dollar is under the Board's purview, what percentage is under the town's purview," said Board President Robert Benacchio at the March 25 Board of Education meeting. "From a taxpayer's perspective, it's their dollar and they want to make sure that different government entities are using that dollar in the wisest possible fashion, so shared services is yet another way we can do that."

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