Apr 10, 2008
Redding
Barlow athletic facilities: 'Soft costs' head to taxpayers
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by Joan Lownds
Hersam Acorn Newspapers
The blueprints of the plan for refurbished athletics fields took center stage at last week’s special meeting of the Region 9 school board. The drawings of the project, featured on display stands, showed a vision of bright new playing fields in various shades of green surrounding school grounds.
Will this vision, nearly two years in the making, translate into a reality? Now it’s up to the voters. They will get to decide whether the proposal clears one of its final hurdles at a referendum on May 6, when they choose whether an actual shovel will hit the ground or whether the plan remains on the drawing boards.
On the ballot will be a request for $375,000 in “soft costs” related to design, which would launch the project. The question will be listed below the one about the proposed school operating budget for 2008-09.
The school board voted last Wednesday to place the $375,000 request on the referendum “for the purpose of obtaining engineering, permits, cost estimate services and the preparation of construction bid documents for the athletic field improvements at Joel Barlow High School.” The school board has selected Milone & MacBroom to provide the soft cost services.
The referendum question approved by the school board also stipulates that the improvements to athletic fields are for “up to $5 million, funds which will be subject to voter approval at a future referendum.” The school board has voted to cap the plan at $5 million. However, the referendum question on the May 6 ballot requests only the $375,000 “soft costs.”
For these costs, Easton will bear a 46.4% share, or $174,000, while Redding’s will be 53.6%, or $201,000.
In capping the project, the board essentially adopted what has been referred to as “phase one” of the plan. “Phase one” is based on a proposal by Clough Harbour & Associates LLP, the Rocky Hill-based design firm hired by the board to work on the project. It includes two new grass fields in front of the school, a grass field where the old tennis courts are located, and artificial turf installed on both the current stadium field, slated to be used as the primary field for football, lacrosse and stadium events, and the field beside it at the southernmost point of the campus. Lighting and stands to seat 1,500 would be added. The current stadium field would be lighted, with a seating capacity of 500. Parking would also be addressed.
At the sparsely attended school board meeting, which drew only six residents, Peggy Sullivan, director of finance for Region 9, said the school board’s counsel, Glenn Rybacki, suggested the referendum question not include the $5-million figure for “phase one.” “He felt it would be less confusing without it,” she said.
School board members Cathy Gombos (Easton) and Thomas Logie (Easton) objected. “I am in favor of including the $5-million figure for transparency,” Ms. Gombos said.
The motion on the referendum question passed, with all in favor except Ms. Gombos and Mr. Logie, who raised the issues of focus and timing. “I voted against the motions because I believe that the May 6 referendum should focus on the operating budget for Barlow and the lower schools,” Ms. Gombos said.
But Dr. Allen Fossbender, superintendent of schools, said the need for the new playing fields warrants quick action. “The Region 9 Board of Education and its Facilities and Fields Committee have dedicated considerable time and thought to the development of a master plan for new playing fields, the renovation of existing playing fields, and the improvement of seating, lights, and parking. In order to accommodate the high school’s athletic programs and to make certain that student athletes play on well-drained fields with suitable surface, it is important that this work be done sooner rather than later. For that reason, it is appropriate that funding for the design and the related bid documents for the master plan is being requested at referendum on May 6,” he said.
Huntley Stone (Easton), chairman of the school board, gave a brief history of the project, which began with a collaboration of various groups within the Barlow community. These included the parent-run fund-raising committee Falcon Pride, neighbors to the school, school officials led by Pam Goodpaster, Barlow’s athletic administrator, and team coaches, who drafted a plan.
“The school board has invested nearly two years of effort in order to develop a Fields and Facilities master plan that is well conceived to meet the needs of our student athletes and the community. I hope that the citizens of Easton and Redding will take the time to make an informed decision about the next step of the process,” said Thomas McMorran, Barlow’s principal.
Han Van Oostendorp of Redding said that voters might be “leery” of approving the project since the economy is in “dire straits.”
Grant Monsarrat of Easton asked about the absence of Falcon Pride supporters in the current process. “Could you help us understand what has happened to Falcon Pride, the parent group that promised to provide independent funds?” he asked.
“Apparently, the interest has waned,” said Arthur Poltrack, a school board member (Redding).
“We may have passed that window,” said Tony Neidenbach, a school board member (Easton).
The referendum will take place on May 6 at Samuel Staples Elementary School in Easton, and at Redding Community Center in Redding.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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