Council Approves Appropriation Of Turf Grant
November 19, 2009 by Josh Morgan
The Town Council appropriated a state grant to be used for field turf Tuesday night, but the vote does not guarantee the installation of a new field at Cheshire High School.
In a 6-3 vote, the Council appropriated a $525,000 grant for synthetic turf at the Maclary Athletic Complex. The Town originally accepted the grant in 2008, although it was not immediately appropriated as a Field Turf Study Subcommittee was formed to investigate health risks and costs of installation. The Committee presented its report on Nov. 17, with the Council ultimately giving the go ahead for the project and for organizations and residents to begin the fundraising process.
Estimates for the field range from $700,000 to $800,000, based on conversations with turf installers across the country. Bob Behrer, chairman of the Field Turf Study Subcommittee, said an average cost for the Cheshire facility would be approximately $781,000 and, with the off setting grant, an additional $256,000 would be needed to finish the project. However, Behrer, as well as other turf supporters, said the goal from the beginning was to privately fundraise those funds so there would be no initial tax impact to residents.
“The whole premise here is that donations are key,” Behrer said. “We want to raise money in the community. That’s key in this endeavor. That was the case in 2006, as it was when we formed this Committee.”
Republican Councilor Tim White questioned how much of the money has been raised thus far, approximately 18 months after the Town Council originally accepted the grant. Behrer said fundraising efforts have not officially begun, as people were not willing to “put their heart and energy” into fundraising until there was a commitment from the Town.
“They don’t want to do that if it will get shut down,” Behrer said. “People are waiting for the green light. We can’t raise the money just to have to give it back. We need your approval.”
The resolution adopted by the Council gives turf supporters six months to raise the balance. Republican Councilor Tim Slocum proposed an amendment to the resolution asking that the appropriation of the grant be contingent on fundraising groups raising 50 percent of the remaining balance needed to complete the project. The amendment was seconded by Democrat Michael Ecke, and was approved 6-3, with White and fellow Republicans Tom Ruocco and James Sima voting against it. White, Ruocco, and Sima also voted against the appropriation of the money. Ruocco said he wanted to see the stipulation at 100 percent.
“I don’t believe we should take any chance of spending money on this project without it going to referendum,” Ruocco said.
As this was the last meeting of the Democratic-controlled Council, Chairman Matt Hall felt it was necessary to explain the timing of the vote. He said he wanted to hear from the Field Turf Study Subcommittee before the Council term ends in a couple of weeks. He said after the minority caucus introduced a resolution in October, to see if it was possible to reallocate the grant away from the field, he felt it necessary to hear the report. He added that it was important to let different groups in town try to raise the money before future decisions were made.
“The Council always has an opportunity to change its mind,” Hall said. “I just hope votes are based on the merit of the project.”
Democrat Matt Altieri, who was not re-elected, asked Slocum if he would agree to let the fundraising period last the entire 6 months, as a new super majority Republican Council is seated next month and could overturn the resolution. Slocum said he would not make commitments for the other eight members of the new Council, and also would not commit to the possibility of not being able to change his mind.
“Then you aren’t acting in good faith, in my opinion,” Altieri said. “All I am asking for is that you give the project a chance.”
Andy Falvey, a Republican who will be seated on the Council in December, said the field at CHS needs hundreds of thousands of dollars of work and felt the “turf was the best way to go.” Anne Giddings, also a newly elected Council Republican, said more research needed to be done on the turf, including a Department of Environmental Protection report.
Rob Daly, president of the Cheshire Grid Iron Club, said the project could be done at no initial cost to the Town. He didn’t understand why the Council wouldn’t give the group a chance to raise the money. Board of Education member Gerald Brittingham said he felt, initially, the project was very low on the priorities list, but after serving on the Field Turf Study Subcommittee, he became enthusiastic about the project.
“Give us the opportunity to take this project to the people in town. I think we can do this, I truly do,” Brittingham stated. “There is no better referendum than to go to the community for fundraising.”
CHS Athletic Director Steve Trifone said that the more groups that use the grass field now, the more damage is done. Trifone recalled countless occasions where home games had to be moved out of town and other events forced onto practice fields because of poor field conditions.
“If we had a facility that can house all of these games, it would solve a lot of issues,” Trifone said. “Not just at the high school, but with youth and park and recreation programs as well.”
The Committee’s report focused on initial costs, as well as future costs of the inevitable replacement of the turf. According to estimates compiled by the Committee, it would cost around $450,000 to replace the turf. Over eight years, it works out to be roughly $56,000 a year needed to plan for the replacement, but Behrer said, with savings in maintenance costs, the average dollars needed each year would be closer to $24,000.
Ticket sales and advertisements, such as banners, would also be collected, and set aside to be used for future replacements. Behrer said an account can be set up through the Town to hold that money, and future donations, to plan for them.
Behrer also said infectious diseases, such as MRSA, are not a risk on turf fields, but did acknowledge that the surface could be too hot to play on in the peak July and August sun, but the field would not retain the heat, and could be cooled immediately with water mist or even cloud cover.
“This project has merit and I think it’s worth doing,” Behrer said. “It’s first and 10 at the 20 yard line; just give us six months to reach the end zone.”