Manchester Essex Playing Fields Committee
October 24, 2007
Manchester Town Hall - #7
7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Matt Casparius, Tom Kehoe, Hardy Nalley, Jeff Jones, Paul Goodwin, Greg Blagden, Sandy Bodmer-Turner, Sue Taylor, Richard Trembowicz, Mike Christopher,
Guests Present: Tim Gates, Eileen Walsh, Grace Walsh, Jeff Cochand,
Meeting Opened at 7:06 p.m.
I. Review of Minutes of September 19, 2007:
Hardy Nalley made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. 2nd by Sandy Bodmer-Turner. Approved by all.
II. Brook Street Field Status
Tony Giedt, Hardy Nalley and Tom Kehoe attended a meeting held by the School Superintendent regarding concerns with the Brook Street Field. The neighbors #1 concern was that the field looked primarily like a football field and not soccer or other sports.
Hardy Nalley also reported that he attended a Varsity Soccer game at Bishop Fenwick, who has a field similar to ours with the same fence, same lines and 4 stanchions of lights. He said that that field had 8 houses bordering the field and that the field looked very nice. The Brook Street Field has permanent lines for football and soccer and they will be painting temporary lines for lacrosse & field hockey. Temporary lines generally last about 6 months.
Matt Casparius reported that he had received an email from Ben Gary who told him that they have not received a new estimated completion date on the field and could not even make a guess of it.
Tom Kehoe informed the committee that they have been asked to look at the four sample signs that were sent to us by Northeast Field Turf and to make a recommendation to the School Building Committee. Greg Blagden had reviewed the samples and came up with a proposed draft. The Committee looked at the draft and made the following recommendations:
It was recommended that under prohibited items we change “Sports drinks, soda, coffee or any beverage other than water” to “Only water- No sports drinks, soda, coffee or any other beverage”.
It was recommended that we change under prohibited items Tables, Unapproved chairs, BBQ Grills to remove the word “unapproved”.
The Committee questioned whether we needed a statement on the sign about not using the field when the field surface temperature is too hot. Tom Kehoe said that he will talk to Mr. Letourneau for Northeast Field Turf for a recommendation. After this is done, the final draft will be sent to the School Building Committee and School Committee for approval.
Sandy Bodmer-Turner asked the group with the delay being so long, is there any pressure we can put on the School Building Committee or the School Committee. Richard Trembowicz answered that the School’s contract is with David White and that David White is responsible for managing his subcontractors. The school can only enforce what’s under the contract with David White and seek liquefied damages from him for the delay. Tom Kehoe made a recommendation that we get letter in the cricket with hundreds of signatures giving encouragement to the teams for how well they are doing despite the challenging circumstances created by Northeast Turf for not completing the field on time. The press is only way to get to them to notice by giving them bad publicity.
Sandy Bodmer-Turner wanted to work on writing a letter criticizing Northeast Turf about the delays and how a number of teams are going to be going into tournaments this fall but will have to give up home field advantage. We want to make sure that we do not place the blame on the school building committee. The Committee suggested that a letter be sent to the cricket highlighting the support for the teams, parents and fans for having to deal with these delay issues.
III. Future Fields Planning Process
Tom Kehoe had a conversation with Lisa Press and she knows how to request intern who could conduct a field space survey. Tom is waiting to schedule meeting with her to discuss the process.
IV. Memorial Field Conditions/Repairs
Paul Goodwin reported that Memorial Field is pretty beat up. Softball field was slice seeded and should be ready to go for spring but that the big baseball diamond is substantially damaged from Football and also from Clam Fest this past weekend. Paul reported that he did have plans to redo the field this Fall, but it depends on when High School sports & Manchester Soccer Club will be off the field. Greg Blagden reported that soccer’s last game is Nov 9th at Sweeney Park. Hardy Nalley reported that all High School sports will be moving back to Sweeney Park this week.
V. Next Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday December 5th .Jeff Jones will try for Essex Senior Center and will confirm with Matt Casparius who will inform the committee. The meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Motion to Adjourn: Jeff Jones, 2nd by Sandy Bodmer-Turner. Adjourned 7:56 p.m.
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