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Commission moves to encumber funds, adjust accessibility at McLeod Field backstop and bleachers
Summary
Needham Park & Rec commissioners voted to use revolving/bridal‑fund money to pay for new accessible bleachers and to locate an access path between backstop and seating to meet accessibility and safety concerns; the commission instructed staff to encumber funds before the fiscal year end.
Needham’s Park and Recreation Commission on Monday confirmed plans to replace and raise bleachers behind the McLeod Field backstop and to add an accessible pathway between the bleachers and backstop for safety and ADA access.
Stacy, the department director, told commissioners she had spoken with Town Engineer Justin Saviano and that the town’s plan places the access path between the bleachers and the backstop rather than seating flush against the backstop. "The pathway is going to go in between the backstop and the bleachers," Stacy said, and staff reported the design change improves accessibility and reduces risk to spectators from errant balls.
At the meeting commissioners directed staff to encumber funding from the department's revolving/bridal fund to ensure the project can proceed before the end of the fiscal year. The commission voted to encumber funds; meeting discussion recorded a staff comment that the request would “encumber 200” to be conservative, and staff said any unused encumbered funds would revert to the revolving account. The transcript records the intention to encumber an amount described in the meeting as "200" but does not specify units in the public record.
Staff said timing is tight because encumbrances must be in place by the fiscal close. The department intends to round up estimates intentionally to avoid returning an uncommitted balance at year end and to move forward with ordering materials. Staff recommended a fall installation for bleacher work so that construction does not interfere with the summer schedule; if unexpected delays occur the department said it could execute work in an early spring window instead.
The commission recorded the decision as an approved encumbrance and asked staff to return with final bid numbers and a firm construction timeline.
Notes: The meeting transcript records an affirmative commission vote to use revolving/bridal‑fund monies but does not include a roll‑call tally or a precise dollar figure beyond the meeting phrase 'encumber 200' (units not specified).
