The Stadium Project

The Memorial Field at the Institution for Savings Stadium

The Agenda

The Current Facility Project Planning and Design Cost and Funding Environmental Impact The Approval Process Paying for the Project Recent Approval Process Changes Completing and Using the Stadium Engaging Popular Support

The Status of the Facility

The Bleachers: condemned The Track: unsafe for competition use The Field: too small for soccer and lacrosse

cuts up in wet weather - downtime

no power supply

Planning and Design

• fenced, synthetic turf field to provide for football, soccer, lacrosse and field hockey to MIAA standards

• six lane track with eight lane straightaway• 1,500 capacity bleachers on the home side of the field -

visitors bleachers removed to enable field to be widened without encroaching onto the wetlands

• relocated and improved, low glare lighting• amenities building required to provide sufficient restrooms

to meet code; includes concession stand, secure ticket office, and team room

Cost and Fundingo Cost: $4mo Institution for Savings has earmarked a donation of

$525,000, and offered an additional $75,000o Fund raising has produced about $110,00 so faro $175,000 available from gate receipts to cover the project

development costso It is estimated that revenues generated by the facility will

more than offset the periodic costs of resurfacing the track and relaying the field carpet

o The lighting will be energy efficiento Interests rates are currently low o Cost per town over 20 years: about $70,000 per annum

Environmental Impact

• a safe, well lit playing surface• no encroachment on the wetlands• slower field surface run off• no grass fertilizer/chemical run-off• energy efficient lighting

The Approval Process

• The School Committee: approves the plan and design, and votes to “incur debt”. Once the committee takes that vote the towns have sixty days in which to hold a town meeting to make a funding decision. If no town meeting is held the funding is automatically approved.

• The Towns: have responsibility for deciding

whether or not to fund the debt and, if so, how to meet the costs.

Paying for the Project

o Gate Receipts: planning, design and permittingo Donationso The towns may decide either to fund their

share of the costs through their general operating budget or ballot their citizens for approval of a debt exclusion

o A debt exclusion is where taxes are raised for a specific purpose and for a specific period of time.

Recent Changes• The original plan was for the School Committee to vote to incur

debt in March with a view to the towns making their funding decision at Town Meetings in May

• However, current budget problems have resulted in a different

approach • Newbury and Rowley decided very recently to hold debt

exclusion ballots in May – prior to the School Committee vote to incur debt. Rowley – May 4. Newbury – May 22

• The School Committee is expected to vote to incur debt in the

early fall prior to special town meetings of all three towns.

Completing and Using the Stadium

Completing the ProjectIf the process goes as now planned the project would go out to bid in February (a favorable time), with construction taking place in the spring for a summer/fall 2016 opening Who will use the stadium?Triton football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, track and field, cheerleaders, and marching band/color guard Other organizations who choose to rent the facility

Engaging Popular Support

• District employees may not use district resources or facilities to promote the project directly.

• The success of the project rests on the willingness of stakeholders in the community to network through friends and relatives to ensure successful ballot outcomes.

Questions and Answers

Go Vikings!