Turf Field Committee to continue as Hannaford Field
Committee
The town's Turf Field Committee has a new name, will have at least one new
member, and has new direction to report recommendations directly to the School
Board.
The Town Council on June 4 voted to continue the ad hoc committee, established
last June to oversee development of the new artificial turf field behind
Cape Elizabeth High School. Councilors renamed the group the "Hannaford Field
Committee", and stipulated that one member must live in the neighboring Elizabeth
Park subdivision.
The committee, composed of citizens and elected officials, was originally
appointed to work with KidsTurf, a
citizen organization that came forward with the concept, plans and fund raising
for an artificial turf field at the High School.
Decisions surrounding the field generated controversy this spring, however,
as plans moved forward for establishing permanent lines on the turf. Extension
of the committee was seen as a way to improve communication among citizens,
staff and elected officials.
"A significant change in the charge is that new future improvements as outlined
in the charge will first be recommended by the committee to the School Board,"
said Town Manager Michael McGovern in an email to current committee members.
"It was unclear before if recommendations first went to the School Board
or to the Town Council," he said.
After School Board approval, recommendations surrounding the field will then
be forwarded to the council, in a form also approved by the School Board.
Current committee members Wendy Seltzer, chairman; Andy Strout and Graham
Smith have so far indicated they will continue on the committee. Judy Rowe
will be stepping down, to be replaced by a resident of the Elizabeth Park
neighborhood. That member will be appointed by the chairmen of the School
Board and the Town Council.
Elected officials serving on the committee will be School Board members Linda
Winker and Peter Cotter, and Town Councilors David Backer and Cynthia Dill.
Here is the text of amendments to the committee's purpose and charge:
Name of the Committee
The name of the committee shall be the Hannaford Field Committee
Committee Structure
One of the citizen members shall a resident of the Elizabeth Park neighborhood.
Any vacancy on the committee shall be filled through an agreed upon appointee
of the council chair and the school board chair. . A School Board member
or Town Councilor whose term as an elected member of the School Board or
Town Council expires after their appointment to the Hannaford Field Committee
shall be replaced on the committee by a then sitting member of the School
Board or Town Council, with such replacement made by the chairman of the
School Board or Town Council respectively.
Committee Purpose
The committee’s responsibilities, as
originally stated on June 12,
2006, are replaced by the following:
The committee shall review any proposed addition or construction of an accessory
structure or improvement to Hannaford Field, including but not limited to
a concession stand, bleachers and a coaches box and shall make a recommendation
to the school board as to the appropriateness and methods for funding any
such structure or improvement. If the school board approves the Committee’s
recommendation, the recommendation, in the form as approved by the school
board, shall then be forwarded to the town council for further approval.
Duration of Committee
The Committee’s term of existence shall expire on December 31, 2008
unless its term is extended by the Town Council. .
The Purpose and Charge of the Committee, as established by the Town Council
at its June 12, 2006 regular meeting, is unchanged except as expressly stated
above.
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