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Oakland council approves county grants for historic survey and park upgrades; mayor breaks tie on basketball-court grant
Summary
The borough authorized two Bergen County grant applications — a $15,000 historic-site survey (50% match) and roughly $225,000 in park improvements (seeking about $112,500) — and approved a contested grant for two basketball courts after Mayor Eric Kamala cast the tie-breaking vote.
The Oakland Borough Council approved applications for two Bergen County grants on April 14, authorizing a historic-site survey and funding for recreational-field improvements, and it narrowly approved a third grant for two new basketball courts after a tie vote.
The council voted to submit a $15,000 application to the Bergen County Historic Preservation Trust Fund to support a borough historic-site survey. Eric Schaubach, president of the Oakland Historical Society, told the council: "I would like to encourage you to vote to submit this application. This is a very important first step in the process of preserving Oakland's history." The survey, quoted by the administrator, carries an estimated cost of about $30,000, making the county grant a 50% match; officials said the work would likely be undertaken in 2027 and that the survey would be an inventory rather than a regulatory designation.
Councilors also approved a second county application to the Bergen County Park Improvement Program to replace worn batting cages and add dugouts at the borough recreation complex. Recreation commissioner Megan Rotundo described safety concerns at multiple fields and asked the council to support the request: "Some of the batting cages need to be improved because they're older. One of them is completely shut down because of safety," she said. Staff reported total project cost estimates just shy of $225,000, with the borough seeking roughly $112,500 (a 50% match). Engineers and recreation officials said construction would be scheduled in the off-season to minimize disruption.
Discussion on a separate grant request for two new basketball courts was more contentious. Several council members questioned the location and whether the town should spend local funds on courts when school facilities exist; the roll call produced a 3-3 split. Mayor Eric Kamala explained his deciding vote: "Based upon the fact that this was a request that came from the recreation commission, I am going to support — I'm gonna vote in favor of supporting the basketball court." The mayor’s tie-breaker carried the measure.
Votes were recorded by roll call for the grant-authorizing resolutions. The historic-site survey and park-improvement applications were approved by council vote; the basketball-court grant passed after the mayor’s tie-breaking vote. Officials said final grant agreements and contract awards would return to the council for formal approval and that county review and permitting could delay project starts into 2027.
Why it matters: The historic survey will create a technical inventory the borough can use in master-plan work and grant seeking; the recreation upgrades aim to address immediate safety and usability issues at youth fields and to expand youth-program capacity. The basketball-court vote illustrated differing council views on how to prioritize capital spending and how grant-funded projects fit boroughwide needs.
What’s next: Staff said the county review process can take nine to 12 months for the historic survey and that funding and match sources for the recreation work would be identified in upcoming budget cycles. The council will consider the grant agreements and any required local-match appropriations at future meetings.
