A subcommittee formed between the Old Rochester Regional (ORR) School Committee and members of T.U.R.F. (Tri-Town Unified Recreation Facilities) revealed on December 5 that it will focus on getting at least the “bare minimum” of its original $5 million athletic complex overhaul plan accomplished after the three towns expressed an inability to support the project in its entirety.
ORR School Committee Chairman Carey Humphrey told a roomful of students, parents, and other project supporters that feedback from the three town administrators indicated more of a willingness to support a pared-down project of just under $2 million that would include an artificial turf field at the main stadium, lighting upgrades, a new track, and also new lighting for the auditorium to benefit the drama club.
“This is something that, as a group of people, [T.U.R.F. has] been working on for a long time,” said Humphrey. “This is a widespread organization with a lot of support.” However, he acknowledged, “For this to ever pass, we need a lot of support in all three towns.”
Meetings with the town administrators last spring proved that support for this project proposal is a “very complex situation,” Humphrey described it.
“We started thinking about … what’s acceptable? What can pass?” Humphrey said. “What can we have confidence in our three towns supporting? It really comes down to all of us as a group working together to make this happen.”
The subcommittee’s approach is to present the towns with a “Phase I” project, which Humphrey said “meets most of the needs that we have,” and for under $2 million, “… with the understanding that the T.U.R.F. group will continue moving forward raising private funds to help with Phase II, which would be the completion of the rest of the facility.”
Although the group has hoped to acquire the “grand prize,” Humphrey said, “I think we all came away from that last meeting pretty exciting about the (Phase I) proposal.”
T.U.R.F. member Tom Flynn called the ORR athletic fields “the hub of the Tri-Town,” adding that the project has already received $100,000 in private donations and pledges.
“We know we got more work to do on that but the reality also of the project is … people want to see some movement.” Flynn hopes that town support for a Phase I might prompt private funders to pledge to a Phase II.
Phase II would include the second artificial turf field, an additional two full-sized grass multi-purposes fields and irrigation for those and the baseball diamond, a field house with bathrooms and concession stand,partial re-fencing of the tennis courts, irrigation and care for the softball field, LED lighting,spectator seating for the track and multi-use field, and a covered press box.
“When this project is said and done, it’s going to be transformative for the Tri-Town. … Everyone is going to get to use this facility” – a facility Flynn said would be “reflective of what we are as a tri-Town.”
The committee had no formal vote planned for that evening and did not disseminate the detailed proposal to the public, rather the discussion aimed at demonstrating transparency, Humphrey said, and a basic understanding of what they were proposing.
As Humphrey explained the process going forward, the School Committee will vote during its January 16 meeting and within seven days will inform the three towns of its desire to borrow the funds. The towns have 60 days to respond, which could prompt a special town meeting. “It all comes down to what each individual town decides,” Humphrey said.
“If all three towns approve it, it’s all set and the next step will be determined based on how quick that happens.” The problem the School Committee faces is, he continued, “What is the ramification if one of the towns doesn’t pass it?”
Humphrey explained, if only two of the three towns vote to support the plan, the third would still be forced to contribute its share of the funding. Each town can individually decide how to fund the project, which could spell uncertainty for the school district if any of the towns chose to fund it in the budget, possibly diverting funds from other budget areas.
“And we as a school committee have to think about it,” Humphrey said. “I’m assured … that we will get support from the three towns, but we still have to think about the worst-case scenarios.” He continued, “Each town has their own agendas for what they need and want … and it might not be this.”
Superintendent Doug White further explained the process, saying the project must pass Town Meeting and, if it passed, advance to a ballot vote for voters to decide on whether or not to acquire the new debt.
School Committee member Heather Burke said, while she is sensitive of the financial constraints of the towns, “I want to make sure that we’re not missing an opportunity to really transform the Tri-Town and what they offer their citizens. My concern is, if we go forward with Phase I, which, in my opinion, is a bare minimum … and if we go forward and ask for the money, are we missing the opportunity to do more by limiting ourselves at this point?”
Burke pointed out other towns making school and athletics-related improvements such as Dartmouth, Carver, and Westport, she said.
“I think this is a bare minimum we need to do for our students and our schools, but I want to make sure we’re not missing the opportunity to really give back to this community by improving the recreation facilities.”
Burke’s comments elicited applause before she could continue: “On the other hand,” she said. “Although this is a bare minimum, it’s better than nothing.”
The message, Humphrey said, is this: “If we go too far with this … we may get nothing. I want something.”
Burke addressed the students and residents present in the room and asked if they would be at Town Meeting to support the proposal, urging them to attend.
The topic will be discussed and subject to a committee vote at the next meeting.
The next meeting of the Old Rochester Regional School Committee meeting will be on January 16 at 6:30 pm in the junior high school media room.
Old Rochester Regional School Committee
By Jean Perry