Bernards Township School Field Sound, Lighting Policy Pulled After Public Concerns

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A vote on a policy governing sound systems and lighting at district athletic facilities was pulled by the Bernards Township Board of Education(BOE) after residents' concerns.

The proposal before the board covered the Bernards Township School District(BTSD)-sponsored athletic and co-curricular activities.

It said the lighting schedule at Lee Field is controlled by the Athletic Director or AD assistant, and that "Every effort will be made" to turn lights off by about 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Sunday, and by 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, with overtime, delays, departure and cleanup listed as reasons lights could stay on longer.

The draft also said public address systems are generally used only for major events and competitions, not practices, and that access and volume are controlled by administrators.

It allowed school staff, or students or adult volunteers under their supervision, to use the system once unlocked.

The proposal also said students are never permitted to operate PA systems without school staff present.

For privately owned sound equipment used during BTSD-sponsored student activities, the policy said it "shall be conducted in a manner that is reasonable and considerate of neighboring properties, and shall not generate excessive, inappropriate and/or disruptive noise."

A resident who said she lives on Peachtree Road told the board, "I have strong concerns over, most specifically, the stipulation of an allowance for privately used sound equipment."

She also said, "We came to you asking for a policy that was measurable and a policy that was enforceable to make our lives and our yards livable."

Instead, the neighbor claimed the policy is "putting it back on the neighbors to have to police it because the standards are vague. The wording says that the sound equipment would be reasonable and considerate. Who's judging what's reasonable and considerate? You're putting that back on us as neighbors, and that's unfair."

The same resident asked that the private sound equipment language and portable lights be removed from the policy.

Another resident named Ray, who also lives on Peachtree Road, told the board, "The policy that's been put forth is neighborly on the surface, but the detail and the broadening of it makes it much worse than anything we've seen before."

He added, "please reconsider this policy and vote against it tonight."

Superintendent Nick Markarian said the proposal was limited to "Bernard's Township sponsored athletic co-curricular activities" and was aimed at district student events on school fields.

"I understand that what is considered reasonable is not necessarily going to be agreed upon by all parties. I certainly can appreciate that we are looking for a balancing point," said Markarian.

On private speakers, he said, "We do understand that there are times where kids may be using their own athletic fields and they may have portable sound equipment that they bring to an event."

He also said portable lighting had been included to recognize that it may be needed for safety at night, including behind the home bleachers at Lee Field.

"The policy does call for concerns regarding the use of the fields and activities therein by our students that those concerns are directed to the school principal. I can appreciate that it's not necessarily perfect," said Markarian.

Ultimately, the Board agreed to table the policy and revisit its wording before voting on it.

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