Council approves $385,000 to remove unsafe Memorial Field bleachers after debate over school cost share

Concord City Council on April 13 approved a $385,000 appropriation to remove and secure aging bleachers at Memorial Field, following heated public testimony and more than an hour of council debate about safety, procurement and who should pay.

City Manager staff told the council that inspections showed visible structural deterioration — including corrosion and material fatigue — creating an 'elevated risk of injury' and that the stands did not meet modern building and accessibility standards. Staff recommended option two: remove and store the baseball center-section seating and fully remove the football grandstand, press box and visitor bleachers. The proposal carried an estimated price of about $85,000 for the baseball center section and $300,000 for the football grandstand and press box.

Why it matters: Councilors and the public said the decision reflects competing obligations — protecting public safety now while sorting out longer-term planning and who should shoulder costs as part of the Memorial Field master plan. Petitioners and several residents argued that the Marramac Valley School District (MVSD) uses the fields heavily and should pay the full cost of athletic facility improvements.

Petitioners, numbers and use: Speakers representing a Penuk-led petition said the group had collected more than 540 signatures and presented city data showing MVSD accounted for roughly 53.7% of permitted Memorial Field time, with use of the football field reported at about 88% and soccer/lacrosse at about 83%. One petitioner asked the council to require the school district to fund all athletic-facility work under CIP 557, citing precedents where districts paid for improvements even on shared land.

Safety, liability and staff recommendations: Concord High Athletic Director Steve Larie told the council that he welcomed city action. 'My most important objective is the safety of our student athletes,' he said, urging removal and mitigation of risk. Parks & Recreation Director David Gil and Turner Group consultants explained that the press box is a freestanding structure and that a temporary ground-level shed would house electrical and PA equipment if needed. General Services Director Jeff Hold said the city obtained three quotes through its on-call contractor process; Milestone served as the general contractor and used subcontractors for work.

Opposition and procurement concerns: Some residents, including Roy Schwiker, criticized the plan as single-source contracting and urged broader competitive bidding for the $300,000 scope. Other councilors urged speed on safety grounds, arguing that roping off decrepit stands is insufficient to prevent risky use — particularly by teenagers — and that delays could increase costs.

Council action and next steps: A motion to table the appropriation failed. The council then approved the $385,000 appropriation by recorded vote (10–5). Councilors said the expenditure is necessary to protect public safety immediately; several also instructed staff to begin conversations with the school district to negotiate cost sharing and other options. The joint ad hoc committee of city and school representatives is scheduled to meet April 29; staff noted that outcomes from that discussion may inform subsequent decisions on long-term Memorial Field improvements.

Context and community concerns: The debate also overlapped with separate public testimony and council discussion about large-scale tree removals at Memorial Field. A resident, Wyatt Porter Brown, said crews had removed dozens of white pines (he initially counted 63; councilors later referenced 255 stumps) with limited public notice and urged use of licensed tree assessors and care for mature specimens. Councilors and tree-committee members noted the city’s Sustainable Tree Program and called for clearer communication and stronger assessment protocols going forward.

What’s next: The appropriation authorizes immediate removal work to mitigate safety and liability. Negotiations about cost sharing, potential phased reconstruction and the Memorial Field master plan will continue through the joint committee and subsequent council actions.