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Cheshire advocates press council to place high school turf replacement on November referendum
Summary
Residents and school athletic staff told the Town Council the 14‑year‑old turf at Cheshire High School has passed annual safety tests but is past its expected life; staff outlined replacement cost estimates and a proposed referendum ask.
Matthew Levine, a Cheshire resident, urged the Town Council to put a proposed turf-field replacement on the November referendum, saying the field is a “community field” used for sports, graduations and events. Town Athletic Director John Pericino told the council the existing Shaw's turf is in its 14th season, that Shaw's estimates typical field life at 10–12 years and that last year’s GMAX safety test averaged 135 (fields that average above 200 are deemed unsafe). Pericino said routine maintenance keeps the field safe now but that the field is “beyond its life” and less predictable as it ages.
The council and staff discussed cost, timing and funding. Pericino presented contractor quotes ranging from about $750,000 to $815,000 for removal and replacement that include a shock pad; he said removing the shock pad would reduce the price by roughly $100,000–$125,000. Town staff reported the turf-replacement reserve contains about $58,000 (June fiscal-2024 audit figure). Pericino said Shaw's and its installer were scheduling work for 2026, and he asked that, if put to referendum this fall, the work could be scheduled next summer to avoid disrupting the school year.
Council members pressed on safety and timing. Councilor Don Walsh asked whether testing this week would show the field could get at least one more season; Pericino said he expected the field to test safe for this year but could not guarantee subsequent years. Council members asked whether other facilities (the Bartlett field) could absorb activities in an emergency; Pericino said some activities could move but large events such as varsity football games would be difficult without bleachers and other accommodations.
Town Manager Sean Kimball explained the charter and referendum mechanics to the council: projects above $500,000 (net of grants or outside funds) trigger a referendum, and referendum questions must be filed by early September to appear on a November ballot. Later in the meeting the council tentatively agreed to include five referendum projects if the council finalizes amounts at its next meeting, listing the turf replacement at $800,000 as the working figure (to include contingency and use of the turf reserve). The council did not take a final vote on the project at the meeting; staff said they would present final numbers and the contractor test results at follow-up meetings.
Discussion-only items: safety test results, options for shock pad, fundraising by community groups, contractor scheduling and possible value-engineering. Direction to staff: obtain and deliver the GMAX test report promptly after testing (Pericino said the contractor would provide the report by the next business day) and prepare referendum/resolution language for council consideration before the charter deadline. No formal appropriation or bond vote occurred at the hearing.
The council kept the public hearing record open for other speakers but closed the hearing after public comment and moved into its special budget meeting. The turf topic will return to the council for final approval of referendum language and project amount at the meeting scheduled prior to the September 3 deadline for November referendum questions.
