Board tables recommendation to request town place turf and track referendum on ballot after extended facility discussion

The board considered a motion Feb. 27 to ask the town council to include a referendum to fund replacement of Scarborough High School's artificial turf and track resurfacing. Board members and staff clarified the turf and track are town-owned facilities managed by community services and discussed whether the project should be split into separate ballot items and about the timing of construction.

Community-services staff described safety testing and mitigation options. "The GMAX test passed, but it was on the edge," a staff speaker said, explaining that some test areas did not meet thresholds and that mitigation would be required to play through the season. The staff member also explained that mitigation would likely be a substantial cost and described uncertainty in mitigation estimates because the companies cannot reliably predict repairs until they begin work.

Members also discussed whether dividing the project into two bond items would be more expensive and would complicate logistics, and whether a successful June referendum would delay construction until the following spring and possibly require contractors to add a premium. Several board members pressed for seeing the detailed mitigation report and for clarifications about season-by-season safety testing before asking the town to place a referendum on the ballot.

After discussion a motion to table the recommendation until after executive session passed. The board later voted to enter executive session to discuss town and school property and professional staff contract matters.