The Marblehead School Committee discussed an updated proposal Wednesday to extend lighting at Piper Field through 9 p.m. during fall and spring athletics and to regulate public-address use after neighbors raised concerns at a planning-board hearing.
The nut graf: Administration said the updated application reduces the maximum requested hours compared with an earlier proposal, limiting lights to 9 p.m. and splitting use roughly between mid-August through November and mid-March through May; the district will present visuals and a time-by-use breakdown to the planning board.
The superintendent told the committee the updated proposal asks for lights until 9 p.m. for roughly 105 nights in fall and 75 nights in spring, for a total potential season window of about 180 nights. He said lights will be used only when needed and will be turned off at the end of contests to limit impact.
On the PA system, administration said use is currently limited to the national anthem and play-by-play for home football games and that music beyond the anthem is not proposed. The superintendent said the district can "modulate the volume" and limit PA content to minimize neighborhood disturbance.
At a prior planning-board meeting neighbors cited additional issues unrelated to lights, including trash after games and inappropriate behavior near fences. The superintendent said he will coordinate with athletic staff, boosters, coaches and the police department to address those concerns separately from the lighting application.
Ending: The district plans to present a visual slideshow and the updated schedule at the Tuesday planning-board meeting and will continue outreach with neighborhood representatives to address non-lighting concerns.