Additional Track & Field Funding to Be Considered by Finance/CPA Committees

Report on the Meeting of the Amherst Town Council, May 20, 2024. Part 1

Interim Superintendent Doug Slaughter presented a request to the Amherst Town Council on May 20, for additional funds for the high school track and field project (video here). In making the pitch, Slaughter explained that on April 30, the Regional School Committee (RSC) had narrowed project options to two: 1B and 1D. Both would replace the track in its current location, expand it from 6 to 8 lanes, add ADA accessibility to the entire facility, and replace poorly functioning peripheral drainage that has become overgrown. 

Option 1B would rejuvenate the interior grass field while 1D would provide a completely reconstructed grass field including new subsurface drainage and  irrigation, plus an upgrade to LED lighting. There are already sufficient funds for 1B (cost estimate ~$1.7 million). Option 1D (cost estimate $3.4 million), on the other hand, relies on previously-authorized Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds of $800,000 and Free Cash of $900,000 that currently contain restrictions that would preclude their use for a grass field in an east-west orientation. With time short to secure permitting and prepare design and bid documents to allow for a completed project by Fall 2025, Slaughter had indicated to the RSC that he would contact the Town Council President and the Chair of the CPA committee the next day to request that they take the necessary steps to remove the restrictions.  

By the RSC’s next meeting on May 14, however, Slaughter had not yet contacted the Town Council or CPA committee. Instead he added a third option for the RSC to consider: option 3C. This option features a larger interior field and rotation to a north-south orientation. Citing a 2019 Athletic Fields Master Plan that proposed the reorientation, Slaughter, along with Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek, said they had asked the designers (SLR) to revisit this option and look into ways to bring down the cost. Revised field data and scope modification allowed SLR to present it at an estimated cost of $4.23 million. Slaughter recommended to the RSC to request an additional $756,160 from the Amherst Town Council to allow 3C to be pursued.

Some members of the RSC expressed reservations about asking for more money for the track and field project, particularly given the still-unresolved request for a 6% increase for the regional operating budget. 

In presenting the package of proposals to the Town Council, however, Slaughter explained that he views capital and operating funds very differently. “I thought it appropriate to…lay out options in front of you and let you debate and decide what additional funding you may wish to put towards this project,” Slaughter told the Town Council.

The motion before the Town Council was to refer the matter to the Amherst Finance Committee and CPA Committee to look both at lifting restrictions on the previously-authorized funds and to consider the additional request for $756,160. While there appeared to be general agreement among councilors to support option 1D (full reconstruction of the field), opinions were divided about option 3C. 

Councilor Cathy Schoen (District 1) cautioned that “We cannot hope that there’s somehow another $700,000 lying in wait out there, especially given that we’re going to have to confront the regional school operating budget, and we have other needs for the capital funds.” Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke (at large) said “We need from our town manager options on how to find that extra $700,000 for 3C” and “we can’t have a discussion at [the] Finance [Committee] unless we know where it could come from.” Councilor Andy Steinberg (at large) was concerned that the request for additional funding did not arise from the town manager. ”I’m not sure that it would even be appropriate for us to make a commitment of additional capital funds for this purpose without going through the process that is prescribed by the charter.” Councilors George Ryan (District 3), Ana Devlin Gauthier (District 5), and Pat DeAngelis (District 2) expressed support for 3C, to achieve a North-South orientation. Hanneke and Council President Lynn Griesemer (District 2) wondered about removing some features from the plan or making them alternates [to reduce cost] that could potentially be added later.

Several councilors questioned why Amherst was the only town being asked for additional funding. Councilor Bob Hegner (District 5) pointed out that the originally-projected ~$240,000 of CPA funds from Pelham, Leverett, and Shutesbury were initially rejected because of the prior inclusion of artificial turf, something which is no longer part of the project. 

Slaughter acknowledged that CPA funds could be sought from the other three towns for the new options and that including items as alternates could be explored, but cautioned that the timing of the typical CPA funding cycle could cause delays and would require the three regional towns to call Special Town Meetings. The councilors expressed frustration with this explanation, arguing that these funds should have been pursued earlier, and certainly should be now. 

The motions, to refer the requests for additional funding to the Finance Committee and to refer the request to remove restrictions on their funding (in order to allow for a grass field and an East-West orientation should 1D be chosen) to the Amherst CPA committee, both passed. The Finance Committee continues to meet frequently during the budget season but, as of this writing, this item has not yet been scheduled for a specific date.