In a 4-4 vote Monday night, the Riverview school board declined to approve a $13,400 contribution to Oakmont for construction of a new ticket booth, as part of the new Third Street entrance to Riverside Park.

Although no board member spoke against the project, even those who voted in favor were concerned that the district had not been involved with the project from the early stages.

In an informational message relayed to the board earlier, director John Hackworth said there were several points to consider when voting on the motion. The board discussed many possible capital projects when developing the 2009-10 budget, he explained, and "chose to fund a few which were deemed to be high priority."

He said a new ticket booth at the park for high school events did not even make the possible project list.

Director Mary Kay Stein said she saw the booth as something particular to the district in controlling the flow of people at events. She said she also wanted to recognize the volunteers who have contributed to the project.

Mr. Hackworth said the board met with Oakmont Council two months ago to review the 99-year contract for use of portions of the park. Under the contract, either party can request permission to do a capital project, and a proposed project that benefits both parties can be jointly funded.

He said that both parties agreed at this meeting that the scope and funding need to be performed when a joint project is initially developed.

"Since Riverside Park is the borough's property," he added, "they can decide to do a project on their own without discussion, consent or funding from Riverview."

Mr. Hackwork added that the borough developed this project, and the board was given a presentation last week that included a photo of the existing ticket booth in a Dumpster and a request for $13,400 to construct a new booth.

Clearly, he said, the new booth was designed to be compatible with the new entrance and the older, simpler, less-expensive booth that had been meeting the district's needs had been trashed.

While director Arlene Loeffler said she agreed with Ms. Stein, she added that she would have liked to have discussed the project with the borough in a more timely fashion.

Board Vice President Edward Saxon believed the directors had participated in the project from an early stage and that it would not be good practice to step back now on a procedural issue, although he did acknowledge that "borough council continues to be a veritable circus."

Board President Anne Shearon said the directors were not informed early on, adding that the motion not passing should not be viewed as an unwillingness on the part of the district to participate.

She said she was torn on her vote because the opposing views were both correct and the project has gone pretty far down the road.

Ms. Shearon said Oakmont is sending mixed signals on the project and the district can't seem to get a coordinated approach from the borough. She expressed concern over whether the borough was acting as a single unit and whether those approaching the district to discuss projects were actually doing so on behalf of the borough.

She added that she could see the district participating in other projects.

Stating that the Riverside Grand Entrance project was strictly an Oakmont Borough project, Mr. Hackworth said the taxpayers of Oakmont and Verona should not be asked to partially fund it.

He said the district would use whatever booth the borough decided to install. The board has exercised excellent financial discipline in this year's budget effort, he explained, adding, "The request for funding for a project, which is already in progress, is highly inappropriate."

Ms. Shearon said that improvements to the park are a good thing, and the district is willing to participate. She added, however, that the borough has to involve the district all along and allow it to work such projects into the budget process.

Ms. Shearon, Lisa Ashbaugh, Joseph DiMario and Mr. Hackworth voted against the funding. Heidi Dolan, Ms. Loeffler, Mr. Saxon, and Ms. Stein voted in favor. David Kadylak was absent.