Government

Athletic Field Can Be Artificial or Real Grass

Selectmen on Wednesday broadened the Athletic Field Study Committee's charter to allow it to consider various options for new athletic fields.

By Stewart Lytle
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October 25, 2012

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The Board of Selectmen Wednesday night voted unanimously to expand the charter of the Athletic Field Study Committee to allow its seven members to consider installing new natural grass for the field as well as artificial turf.

The committee was appointed after last spring's Town Meeting voted down a proposal to install an artificial surface to improve playing conditions and relieve stress placed on overused fields.

Selectman Glenn Kessler, who serves as liaison to the study committee, proposed the expansion in the charter because the committee members felt they were limited to studying only artificial field options.

The committee's recommendations are scheduled to be presented to selectmen on Valentine's Day. The field would be paid for by public and private funds.

The committee's goals also include looking at options to repair or replace the stands, recommendations for improvements that benefit sports including football, field hockey, lacrosse and soccer, and investigating grants and private donations.

The field committee has lost one of its seven members. Matt Bergeron has indicated he needs to resign from the committee because of work schedules, Kessler said.

Town Administrator Thomas Younger said he has not been notified, but would put up a notice on the town's web site.

Selectman Jill Sullivan said she had been approached by a resident who wanted to be considered for the committee.

The committee's remaining six members are Scott Faulkner, Doug Southerland, Chris Urbano, Linso van der Burg, Richard Feinberg and Mounzer Aylouche.

Originally, a total of 13 residents expressed interest in serving on the committee.

Editor's Note: A previous version of this story indicated that Chris Urbano had resigned from the committee. Chris remains on the committee and Matt Bergeron has resigned.

Related Topics: Board Of Selectmen

Thanks. We'll email you the next time we update this story.

William R. DiMento

10:04 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Any new field is a "want", not a "need". The new police station (disaster of a location)
may have been a "need".A new elementary school is probably a "need".A storm drain/sewer system that does not violate DEP and EPA laws and controls flooding is much more important than any of the above.I was thinking at the recent Town Meeting that the School Building Committee did such an excellent job that they should be assigned to be a "Flood Control" committee.They would be study the issue and prepare for the Spring Town Meeting. They would educate every Town Meeting member BEFORE the meeting.You folks seem to believe this Selectmen's Committee will skip over the "need" issue with the natural vs turf discussion.
What ever you do--it will go to a tow-wide vote

Lisa

10:43 am on Thursday, October 25, 2012

I agree, what's going on in this town? All the photos of the flooding I've seen in this town is disturbing and it seems to be happening every year. How are all the people who got flooded last Oct going to cope with next weeks storm? Flood controll should be first and foremost!

Elmwood Road

4:25 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

I write to inform the author of this article, as well as the residents of Swampscott, that I did not resign as Chairman of the Athletic Field Study Committee (the "AFSC"). Mr. Matthew Bergeron is the member that resigned from the committee due to his increased commitments at his job. We have requested that the Board of Selectmen appoint a new member to the committee.
We have also submitted a Status Report to the Board of Selectmen, through our Town Administrator, Thomas Younger, outlining our meetings through September 30th. Our next status report is due by November 1st. The 10/1 report should be posted on the town's website for the public's review.

As I stated when I was appointed to the AFSC, I am committed - and so are my fellow members - to finding a compromise solution to our poor athletic field conditions, particularly at Blocksidge Field. But that commitment will NOT ignore our real needs for upgrading our aging underground infrastructure, determining what is best for our elementary school buildings, or other pressing needs of our town. The AFSC understands that the town's residents (through its Town Meeting members) do not want to spend the large amounts of money that the original All-for-One Field Committee wanted to spend when it made its proposal at Town Meeting, regardless of whether it may have been within the town's budget to do so. We continue to work tirelessly to find affordable options and a compromise solution. Chris Urbano, Chairman, AFSC

Glenn Kessler

4:40 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Hi everyone,
As a Selectman I serve as liaison for numerous committee's including the athletic field study group.The "field" group is comprised of individuals who have a wide range of opinions as to what my good friend Bill DiMento describes as a "want", not a "need" regarding the athletic fields.
We are looking into all possible ways to see if the town can get something done including private funding and grants to go along with any potential public outlay of funds. I encourage any interested residents to join us at our meetings as we welcome your input.
I fully recognize that our town's infrastructure needs to be first and foremost in any deliberations, and ran my campaign partly based on this important issue.
Recently I visited with residents affected by flooding problems and encouraged them to come before the Selectmen to voice their frustrations. I assure you that I am very aware of the issue and will do everything I can to see that we, as a town, make this a top priority.
The committee chair, Christopher Urbano, is not stepping down; this was inadvertantly reported. Matt Bergeron had to resign due to work constraints.
I welcome your comments.

William R. DiMento

4:55 pm on Thursday, October 25, 2012

Good to hear from Glenn and Chris.
Let's start an ad hoc group to learn about the flooding issue? We could build a website detailing the nature and scope of the problem and have cyber discussions regarding possible solutions?
Why wait for gov't to address the study issue?
I have found our DP W folks to be very helpful.anyone interested?