WHICH SIDE OF THE FENCE ARE YOU ON?
On May 26, by a 4 to 2 vote, the Sayreville Borough Council passed a consent agenda item to approve $37,100 to National Fence to erect a fence around the skate park located in Kennedy Park.
This issue was introduced and discussed at the previous agenda meeting. As part of the Covid-19 restrictions, all playground equipment and high-touch areas, like the skate park, were closed. Sayreville decided, unlike other municipalities to keep our parks open, but concerns arose when a number of people tore down the police tape and continued to use the skate park. Closing of high touch areas like the Skate Park and playground were mandated by the Governor’s office.
Because of the Covid 19 pandemic, cities and counties will be provided funding to offset money spent in managing the pandemic, where in some cases, 75% of the money spent on Covid 19 related expenses would be reimbursed. Because of both the continued use of the skate park violating Covid 19 restrictions and the belief that the skate park has been a problem in the past, a fence was brought up as a possible solution. At the original meeting, I personally had no opinion on whether the fence would solve any problem, pandemic related or otherwise, but voted to obtain estimates. I find there is no reason not to know what different approaches, even those you may not follow-through with would cost which would always be part of the consideration.
After more thought and consideration, I felt that a fence was not the approach that I would support either as a short term solution for Covid 19 nor as a long-term solution to whatever the “issues” were – especially since I know of no specific incident and could not determine if a fence would even address those incidents.
If I thought a fence would solve a problem, I would consider it as an option. At this time, I do not believe a fence solves any problem and because of this, I voted against it.
What side of the fence are you on? Please let us know.
