Park and Rec approves memorandum of agreement for Warner Field during Pollard project

The Needham Park and Recreation Commission voted unanimously on July 24 to approve a memorandum of agreement (MOA v3) that defines how Warner Field will be used and restored during construction of the Pollard Middle School project.

Katie King, who presented the MOA and the related Article 97 discussion, said the document clarifies which town bodies are responsible for installation and ongoing maintenance and updates language to reflect both the Permanent Public Building Committee (PPBC) and the School Building Committee (SBC). King told the commission the edits were primarily clarifying and highlighted in yellow for reviewers.

A commissioner motion to approve the MOA was made, seconded and adopted by roll call. Cindy Chasten, Jim Rosenbaum, Dina Hannigan and Michelle (last name in minutes: Geddes/Guddis) each voted “Aye.” Chair brought the motion forward after describing the changes that respond to commissioner questions about contractor parking, the offline period and maintenance oversight.

The MOA language includes provisions that contractor parking and laydown will occur on Warner Field during phase 1 of work and specifies that responsibility for repair and maintenance will involve the School Committee, PPBC and Select Board under the direction of the town manager. King said the offline period for the field “will not exceed 5 years” in the edited draft.

The commission asked for a cadence of regular check‑ins; King agreed to provide logistics plans and to deliver quarterly updates (or sooner if logistics change) through department staff to the commission. The document as approved will be used to guide contractor staging, site security and restoration planning and to support the town’s next steps in the MSBA and state review processes.

The meeting minutes record that the motion passed unanimously and that the commission then proceeded to a second motion concerning state Article 97 approvals.