Before the lease was publicly discussed at the 3/18 Board of Education meeting, I had reached out (via email) to Township Administrator, Mayor and Council members to inquire about any due diligence that had been completed to support their public desire for a turf field.  Simply asking if any turf field company come out to review the land, the specs and provided a proposal for the job.  I still have not received a reply to this email.  Additionally, only baseless promises that a turf field ‘could probably work’ were provided during the citizens hearing at the Town Council meeting.

The citizens hearing concerning the resolution to approve the lease agreement was interesting, and enlightening.

One resident reiterated BOE Vice-President Khanna’s concern: the lease doesn’t mention a turf field or any athletic field, despite the massive marketing campaign that fell under these terms.

Mayor Angie Devanney responded by saying the Rec Department is confident the EPA will give the green light, and if not, there’s a “Plan B” in the works. Recreation Director Deb Varnerin backed the agreement, calling it part of a long-standing effort to benefit the town.

While the empty promises may be comforting to some, I would have much preferred some evidence that any actual leg-work had been completed PRIOR to the referendum on last years election ballot and certainly before the lease agreement had been presented to the Board of Education.

A former BOE member gave some background, saying the original ask from the Rec Commission was just about getting access to the land—not building a field. Years ago, the BOE said no to that request. Then, Mayor Devanney and former BOE President Mike D’Aquila held a “special meeting” at Lower Columbia, which brought the idea back to life. Only after the lease started moving forward did the idea of a turf field come into play. The former BOE member didn’t get to finish his comments due to time limits but said he’d be sharing more soon.

John raised concerns about the timing and transparency. He pointed out that the lease wasn’t available to the public until after voters had already weighed in and just weeks before the last BOE meeting. He emphasized that people weren’t voting on this specific lease—and that the schools don’t seem to be getting much in return. He also criticized the way the Township took over the BOE’s budget meeting.

BOE member Natasha Joly gave a detailed response, challenging the Mayor’s timeline and flagging contradictions in what was shared with tennis families versus the broader community. She also shared the contents of a letter the Mayor reportedly sent to select BHPS staff.  Joly also questioned the Township’s explanation about the insurance claim that’s kept the tennis courts closed. (see full remarks)

Foster, Poage, and Mayor Devanney talked about wanting to leave a “legacy” for the town—possibly hinting at a future campaign. They also said they were surprised by the community pushback. But residents made it clear: the issue isn’t the field itself. It’s the rushed process, the lack of transparency, and how community voices have been brushed aside.

The Mayor, Council, and Recreation Department have let down the Governor Livingston boys’ tennis team, their families, and anyone asking fair questions about how this lease came to be. And notably, no Council member or the Mayor actually disputed any of the claims made by residents or BOE members who expressed their concerns about the process.

In fact, the silence is what is most relieving to those playing close attention.

The lease and process surrounding one side getting exactly what they wanted when they wanted it might not be nefarious, but is it highly suspect, and undeniably unfair – especially to our students and their families.

Read More About the CMS Lease Agreement

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