Athletic Fields Sub-Committee 7-5-2012 Minutes
Madden Room – South Windsor Town Hall
1. Call Meeting to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:24 p.m.
2. Roll Call
Members Present: Gary Bazzano, Town Council
John Caldwell, Superintendent of Parks
Brogan Canty, student athlete
Ray Favreau, Director of Parks & Recreation
David Hodge, South Windsor Panther Football
Karen Isherwood, Volunteer Civil Engineer
Mike Mundo, parent of youth athlete
Jim Ray, parent of youth athlete
Chris Wanner, South Windsor High School Athletic Director
Dana Weber, South Windsor Girls Lacrosse Club
Keith Yagaloff, Town Council
Members Absent: Matthew B. Galligan, Town Manager
Bob Goldman, South Winsor Soccer Club
Eric Lajoie, South Windsor Boys Lacrosse Club
Al Maximino, South Windsor Little League
Others Present: Cindy Beaulieu, Town Council
3. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting
None
4. Public Participation
None
ITEM:
5. Items for Discussion:
a) Re-Prioritize the Plan with a balance of needs and stakeholder input
a. High School Stadium
b. 11 acres on Nevers Road
b) Identify costs associated with the re-prioritized plan
c) Agree on a final plan to proceed with
Mr. Ray Favreau, Director of Parks & Recreation reviewed the “Estimated Total Cost Range for Athletic Fields project proposal” to bring to Council on Monday, July 9, 2012. All of the suggestions from the last meeting have been input into the proposal under the column labeled “Proposal”, as shown in attached Exhibit A. The proposal includes synthetic turf at the High School Stadium Field with no lighting. There is enough funds to put conduit under the field should in the future lighting be wanted. On the 11 acres, Nevers Road the proposal includes synthetic field on the large field with lighting on that field, natural turf for the two smaller fields, a gravel parking lot, connecting the current sidewalk by the Community Center and continuing along Nevers Road to service those fields,
drainage issues, lighting at the Nevers Baseball field and realigning the Ayers Road Softball Varsity field. The proposal total is $2,782,400.00. Ms. Isherwood suggested taking $100,000 out of the proposal for the sidewalk and the drainage because the estimate of $350,000 includes the sidewalk for 530 feet and drainage around the field decreasing the proposal total to $2,682,400.00. Committee members discussed what the Town said they could help with on this project.
Mr. Bazzano explained to the Committee that this proposal will be brought to the Council for their input. Committee members each voiced their view on the proposal.
ITEM:
d) Financing the project
a. Public referendum
b. Creative financing
1. 63-20 lease-purchase
2. design-build
Mr. Bazzano explained that he had Mr. Galligan do work on the private financing. The private financing will not cover the High School field because that is High School property and they would not be in control of that property. The financing for the High School would have to go to referendum. Mr. Bazzano explained how the 63-20 lease-purchase concept would work. On a 15 year lease-purchase, this project would cost approximately $150,000 to $200,000 per year but this is something that the Council would decide on whether this project would go forward. If this concept where supported then the High School field would need to go to referendum and could possibly go with the package for the Community Bond Referendum.
Committee member discussed different ways to package the components of the plan between referendum and 63-20 lease-purchase. The 11 acres should be a lease-purchase, the High School Stadium field should be financed through a referendum. The other two projects of lighting the baseball field and reconfiguring the softball field need to be discussed further.
Mr. Hodge suggested that if the Town is going to do a lease-purchase on the 11 acres, a concession stand and restrooms be added to the plan. After discussing this further it was requested that Mr. Favreau add this item to the plan that will be presented to the Council.
Ms. Isherwood stated that after discussions with the Town Engineer it was suggested that the parking lot be paved at the 11 acre site. Mr. Bazzano stated he hopes the Town can contribute their expertise with some of the work that has to be done.
The Committee concluded that the High School will be financed through referendum, the Nevers Road complex will be financed through a lease-purchase adding the concession and the parking and taking out $100,000 for sidewalks and drainage, and the softball field realignment and baseball lighting will be discussed further with the Town Council on finding a way to finance these items.
ITEM:
6. Unfinished Business
None
7. New Business
None
8. Set Next Meeting Date
None
9. Adjournment
At 7:15 p.m. Mr. Hodge made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Caldwell seconded the motion; and it was approved, unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Deborah W. Reid
Council Clerk
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