City Little League Project Prepared to Go Forward at High School
By TOM CARDINALE
 Asbury Park Little League President Danny McKee talks to supporters at a rally for the league Fri., Dec. 14. |
It seems the Asbury Park Little Leagues problems with school officials may be on its way to a resolution after a meeting between league and school district officials and state fiscal monitor Mark Cowell this week.
They said as long as we meet these requirements we can proceed with the project, said Little League President Danny McKee.
The meeting comes on the heels of a rally Friday, Dec. 14 attended by a crowd of residents and supporters of the little league.
The requirements include the use of contractors pre-qualified by the Department of Treasury and listed on the Department of Labor registry. McKee said, however, that his attorney, Tom DeSeno, is looking into whether the little league is required to fulfill this requirement. DeSeno is currently working pro bono on behalf of the league, McKee said.
For this phase of the project there is no public money being used, he said. So the question is whether we need to abide by all these guidelines, which would add cost.
McKee said the use of contractors from the states pre-approved list would add cost because his current contractors have agreements with vendors to obtain supplies more cheaply and the cost of labor with those companies chosen by the state would be higher.
Im sure its going to add cost but if thats what it takes, McKee said.
The other requirement the board is requesting is soil tests, using a pre-qualified company, to ensure the soil can support the lighting structures. Those test would then have to be approved by Musco Lighting, the manufacturer of the lights.
If there was any question in their mind that there was an issue with the soil, theyd stop, McKee said of Musco Lighting. Theyre not in the business of putting up lights that fall down.
The soil test had been an issue initially between the Board of Education and the league earlier in the project before the board had halted it.
Well see what happens, McKee said. Theyre going to come up with a complete list of what we need to do. This isnt a whole lot different from where we were when the school board approved it in October.
Still, McKee is optimistic that progress is being made towards the completion of the project.
I think the fact that they saw that were dedicated to the project and want to get it done, McKee said of the reason for the quick turn around by school officials. We kept after it. Its great. I dont want to say its a victory – we came to an agreement. They saw it was the right thing to do and now well move on.
McKee said he still hopes to have to project ready for Opening Day 2008.
Im going to do my best, he said. Theres almost no reason the lights cant be installed before Opening Day. I would hope that happens in January.
McKee said he feels the support of the city was instrumental in reaching this agreement with the board.
I want to thank everyone who supported the little league, he said. You cant do something like this by yourself. You need support.
McKee said throughout the ordeal, which he called draining, he has kept in mind the mantra of a former president of the Lincroft Little League who died in the attacks on the World Trade Center and whose wife donated $10,000 to the Asbury Park project in his honor.
He used to say, Its all for the kids, McKee said. I try to keep that in mind.
Board member Garrett Giberson, who called the meeting this week to discuss the Little League, said issues were resolved through civilized conversation.
The bottom line is this project could not have been possible without the cooperative efforts within the last couple of weeks. We have certain questions we need to have answered and once we have clarification on those legal questions everyone will be on a level playing field, he said. I just have two words – play ball!
The league will now await the list of companies from the Board of Education as well as a decision as to whether or not they must fulfill certain requirements before proceeding towards the completion of the project.
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December 21st, 2007 at 2:06 pm
As one who grew up playing baseball, and was fortunate enough to
play it at a higher level I have to say that it is of the utmost importance that the kids that play baseball get every oppertunity to play .
It shouldn’t be about dollars & cents and all the other obsticles that prevent thme from having a decent place to play.
I have been to the facillity and have given clinics there for the kids and the turnout has been super and for the time that those kids are there, they not only have a place where they’re learning about the game, but are not only safe, but they’re enjoying, & learning as well .