Mar 27, 2008
Selectmen back Darien High School stadium lights
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Some Darien High School neighbors brought their concerns over the potential stadium lights to the Board of Selectmen this week. But that did not stop the selectmen from following the Board of Education in voting to accept the gift of lights.
Tuesday night, the selectmen unanimously approved a resolution accepting a gift of field lights at Darien High School.
The selectmen vote followed a unanimous acceptance of the same resolution by the Board of Education, who had voted at a previous meeting in late February to approve sending the lights forward for other town board approvals.
The resolution included additional lower lights for walking pathways as well as a new sound system, two items which were not previously part of the plan. The amount of the gift is up to $550,000. The final total may not be that amount, according to Schools Superintendent Donald Fiftal, but it allows for the costs of the additional features as well as possible rising costs due to any delay in the lights’ installation.
Board of Education member George Reilly delivered the approved resolution to the Board of Selectmen following the unanimous acceptance. While no one spoke out against the lights at the Board of Education meeting Tuesday, some neighbors did so at the Board of Selectmen meeting. A group of high school neighbors have raised objections to the lights because of the possible noise, traffic and litter issues.
Selectman David Bayne said the proposed regulations document he received was marked a draft. He asked if the Board of Education had enacted the regulations as part of the plan.
Reilly said the regulations were incorporated when the plan was adopted, “so they are involved.” But he said they are also still subject to review and change.
John van der Kieft of 75 Hanson Road said the lights will bring noise, traffic, parking problems, vandalism and a haven for teenagers looking to drink.
“They are incompatible with the character and quality of life accorded to this unique town... Lights make sense in the South and the Southwest where it’s hot and football is a way of life.”
Jane Wolcott of 14 Linda Lane said there were two issues that stood out — the unproven need for lights and the incomplete process of the project.
She said the subcommittee’s 32-page report had more on the operations of the lights than on the need for the lights.
“There was one paragraph dedicated to the impact on neighbors.”
Cheryl Russell of 18 Holly Lane asked Reilly when the sound system and pathway lights were added to the project.
Reilly said it was only presented in “the past week or so” when the details were brought forward.
“We were very excited when we found out about it,” Reilly said of the school board.
“I would say to the Board of Selectmen that the public knows nothing about this,” Russell said. “The Board of Education did not let the public know about this.
“This is not just about lights, this is about a lot of other things in Darien. And I’m afraid this is going to set a precedent here.”
Both boards received a proposal from Rusty Shriner for four 80-foot light poles in 2006.
The Board of Education’s three-member lights committee put together a set of limits for the lights this past fall that, in addition to allowing one conference event (which would not feature a Darien team), regulates the shut off time for the lights, which would be 8 p.m. for practices during the week, 9 p.m. for weekend games other than football, which would end by 10 p.m.
First Selectman Evonne Klein said her board’s approval is part of the gift acceptance process.
“The members of the Board of Selectmen have been following this process for two years, either on this board or on the RTM. The Board of Education asked us to put it on our agenda, as the next step in the process, and this is the process we typically follow to accept gifts.”
With the selectmen’s approval, the lights will now head to the Board of Finance. If approved there, the project will go to the Representative Town Meeting at its meeting on April 28. The lights also need to be approved by Planning & Zoning, including facing a public hearing, before moving forward.
E-mail Darien Times reporter Austin Amoroso at aamoroso@darientimes.com.
E-mail Darien Times reporter Susan Shultz at
sshultz@darientimes.com.
Previously on DarienTimes.com
Board of Ed gives field lights the green light
Feb. 29
EDITORIAL: Let them shine
Feb. 23
Darien High School stadium lights: Support outweighs opposition
Feb. 21
One more hearing before DHS stadium lights decision
Feb. 7
Board of Ed tweaks stadium lights’ limits
Jan. 24
EDITORIAL: Anywhere but here
Dec. 15
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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