Maynard committee endorses $3.4 million warrant article for new bleachers, press box and accessibility upgrades

The Maynard School Committee unanimously endorsed a draft warrant article authorizing a $3.4 million debt exclusion to pay for new bleachers, a press box, restrooms, concessions and ADA perimeter improvements at Alumni Field.

At the meeting, staff outlined options for 750‑ and 950‑seat configurations and explained cost differences (the committee settled on the 750‑seat template and a $3.4M request that includes design charges and contingencies). The proposed package reduces some scope compared with larger estimates and aims to balance capacity, accessibility and cost.

Committee members discussed project timing and the municipal approval path: a favorable vote at town meeting would still require the select board to call a special election (within state timelines) for the debt‑exclusion ballot question, and CPC and finance‑committee review remains pending. Committee members also discussed whether a smaller press box module could further reduce cost and asked staff to confirm existing press-box dimensions.

The motion to endorse the draft article directed the school committee chair to act on the committee’s behalf to amend article language if required by legal counsel. The chair then read the motion and called the roll; committee members recorded affirmative votes (Hillary Griffiths, Mara Hogan, Mary Branley, Alexis Fishbone and Natasha Rivera). After the roll call the motion was recorded as passed and staff said they would circulate sponsor comments and the draft article to the finance committee and town counsel for their review.

Next steps: the chair will transmit the endorsed article to the town finance committee and town counsel; the committee will continue to monitor CPC and town‑meeting timing and return with updated sponsor comments and any legal edits requested by counsel.