Who’ll Oversee Those Fields Of Dreams?

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Committee’s Feb. 22 meeting witnessed an unusual public discussion of two department heads and the full committee over coordination difficulties in getting recreational fields ready for the upcoming season. 
Robert Matthews and Robert Flynn, superintendents respectively of the township’s Recreation and Public Works departments, engaged in discussion with the committee to identify ways in which the two departments could work together more efficiently to prepare and manage the recreational fields.
Deputy Mayor Jeffrey DeVico repeatedly said that his goal was to stop the calls and finger pointing concerning the proper responsibilities of each unit.
That two department heads would need the governing body to resolve issues of jurisdiction and responsibility, or to promote cooperation, was surprising.
DeVico arrived with a proposal for a structural change that might facilitate better communications. He proposed that the grounds crew that has an almost exclusive focus on the recreation fields be moved from Public Works to Recreation. 
The proposal would allow Matthews to have one point of control over the available resources and thus place him in the position as the individual accountable for success or failure.
Interim Administrator Stephen O’Connor repeatedly asked both Matthews and Flynn if they felt such a structural change would improve the situation. 
He was never able to get a direct yes or no. The discussion ranged from structure to budgets to personnel while resolution remained elusive.
There seemed to be a consensus that additional personnel, leading to a crew of five rather than the current three, would significantly alleviate the problem. No plan was proposed.
Reports of meetings in which members of the two departments yelled at, and even walked out on each other, were hinted at by the committee members.
For this discussion, both Matthews and Flynn agreed they had no problem working together. Again Matthews was given an opportunity by O’Connor to say if he would like control over the grounds crew. His answer was “I both agree and disagree.”
Matthews said that the fields “Are not the way they once were,” yet he offered no specifics as to a remedy other than “We need to get to the bottom of it.”
Neither Flynn nor Matthews appeared to arrive at this discussion with the governing body with a plan to present that they felt would resolve the problems.
The only real consensus was a need for more personnel.
Reference was made to a request for a proposal (RFP) in the development stages that would outsource certain grounds work. That would free up township personnel to focus on priority areas like the recreation fields.
Committeeman Tim Donohue emphasized that the RFP was not an attempt to reduce township staffing. “This is intended to allow our crews to address our priorities,” he said. “If it is pure grass cutting somewhere in the township, outsource it,” he added.
Township officials displayed some frustrations. DeVico said, “We need to settle what needs to be done and who will do it.”
Donohue noted “Something has to change,” when talking about the need for “safe, well-maintained facilities we can be proud of.”
The discussion ended with an agreement that short-term issues involving getting the lacrosse and other fields ready would be a priority. The committee plans to revisit the issue of what is needed for the future at its March work session.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.