Warrant closes for Feb. 1 Special Town Meeting

Date: 1/16/2012

Jan. 16, 2012

By Chris Maza

Reminder Assistant Editor

EAST LONGMEADOW — The Board of Selectmen have closed the warrant for the Feb. 1 Special Town Meeting and despite efforts to allow others extra time to submit petitions, only one article will be voted upon.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the East Longmeadow High School auditorium with the sole item of business being a proposal to secure $115, 000 for the upgrade of the high school athletic field’s lighting system.

School Committee member Joseph Cabrera, who was acting as a private citizen, brought the petition for the Special Town Meeting and the warrant article, which has been recommended by the Appropriations Committee and the Capital Planning Committee, to the selectmen. Cabrera secured 500 signatures for the lone warrant item, and expressed his motives to Reminder Publications.

“The petition is being brought by 500 people,” Cabrera said. “I am just the one who will read the motion.”

Cabrera has been pushing for a town vote regarding the lighting project, which was made necessary when the existing light structures were moved back during an improvement project on the athletic field and the surrounding track. As a result of the movement of the lights, the school district and School Committee were informed that the existing lights no longer provide enough illumination.

While the industry standard for high school sports facilities is approximately 35 footcandles, Lighting on East Longmeadow’s field averages just 23.5 footcandles after a 72-point light test.

Improved lighting for the field is not an accessory, but a necessity for the athletic complex, Cabrera asserted. He also noted that his warrant article would not call for bonding or a Proposition 2 1/2 override.

“We ask for lights, not water canons, we do not request the town to borrow money, which would increase taxes,yet to take $115,000 out of $2.9 million in free cash and $1.6 [in] stabilization [funds] which will not effect our bond rating,” he said.

The School Committee has added the lighting project to its list of capital projects to be approved by the Capital Planning Commission as part of the fiscal year 2013 budget process in hopes of presenting it at the Annual Town Meeting in May.

Cabrera explained that he believed a Special Town Meeting would allow parents who may not be able to attend a lengthy annual town meeting an opportunity to weigh in on the issue.

“Often a family has difficulties getting a sitter for many hours,” he said.

Allowing the project to move forward in order to afford spring sport participants to take advantage of the new lights and scheduling issues for the fall season were also a concern of Cabrera’s.

“Tthe fields should be ready for boys and girls lacrosse and spring sports,” he said. “Furthermore, in order to schedule football games for next year the dates need to be available. Unexpected delays could cause another lost season for fall sports.”

Cabrera also stressed the importance of the lights as a source of revenue for the district and the high level of interest in East Longmeadow High School sports as the major reasons why the project should be completed in the most expedient manner possible.

“Last Friday, the Cathedral [versus] East Longmeadow [boys] basketball game took in 1,700 at the door and many were turned away due to lack of room, not to mention the concession stands,” he said. “The spring sports are gaining tremendous attention and events like East Longmeadow versus Longmeadow games would not only allow the parents to watch their children but revenues would increase the school’s revolving account.

“Money is being lost, students have a diminished total experience and the town has a new house without windows. In my opinion time is of the essence for the town to decide with transparency,” he continued.

Cabrera said using town money as opposed to adding the lighting project to the school district’s budget would allow the schools to focus on their primary mission of educating children.

“As you are aware I have always voted against money from the school budget to pay for the leasing of the lights,” he said. “We need to many educational and safety items such as buses and books.”