WEST MILFORD Next week, School Board Member Greg Bailey will ask the town council to consider passing an ordinance which would allow them to bond out enough money to resurface the high school football field with synthetic turf, specifically FieldTurf. How much money the renovation will cost has yet to be determined, although School Board President Midge Touw mentioned that the district had looked into it and the cost was around $650,000. Bailey’s idea sprang from a request from the PAL to partner with the district to improve the field above the football field for soccer. PAL was willing to invest $85,000. Bailey told the school board that instead of making another grass playing field that would require money and maintenance, he believes the town and the district should jointly make McCormick Field (the current high school football field) and all-purpose field with FieldTurf, which would allow for up to four sports and could be used almost continuously. The high school could use it during the school day, after school and on Friday nights, while the township could use it throughout the weekend. Aside from being able to use the field constantly, FieldTurf is low maintenance. The school board passed a resolution to allow Bailey, and whomever else Touw appointed, to make a presentation to the town council and open negotiations related to joint funding. Touw pointed out that although the district was unsuccessful in doing that particular upgrade, this time if successful would cost the district only half the money. While that’s true for the district, it would make little difference to the taxpayer. Councilmen Joe Smolinski and Carmen Scangerello were present at the board meeting, although Scangerello left before Bailey presented the resolution. Smolinski said after the meeting that he wouldn’t commit to anything prior to actually hearing the presentation and knowing what the numbers would be, but had a positive attitude about it and noted that “this is the most pro-kid, pro-recreation council ever,” intimating that there would be generally positive reaction to the concept. If the council agrees to bond out the upgrade in the manner in which Bailey proposes, then the question will not be put before the public on a ballot. Instead, there will be public hearings on the issue prior to a council vote during which residents will have a chance to voice any objections.