Date: Fri 06-Dec-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

Jenner-Stadium-Lights

Full Text:

Blue And Gold Club Says `Light Jenner Stadium'

B Y D OROTHY E VANS

If we put in lights, they will come.

That's what the 93 members of the Blue and Gold Newtown High School sports

booster club are confident will happen if they can raise $80,000 to light

Jenner Stadium.

Club members believe that building state-of-the-art light towers and a

concession stand would greatly enhance the field for night football games, as

well as for soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and even band competitions.

"We want the board's approval to move ahead with permits and pursue fund

raising," said Newtown High Principal Bill Manfredonia.

And they want to begin now - laying pipe and conduit - while construction work

is ongoing for the high school renovation and addition project, to save money.

Board members heard a "concept proposal" from Blue and Gold representatives

and Mr Manfredonia Tuesday night at their regular workshop meeting.

The ambitious project would involve the construction at the field of four

light poles, each bearing 12 light fixtures, and building a concession stand

where the press box now stands.

"This is a project that's going to benefit thousands of children in this

town," said Michael Kelley, president of Blue and Gold, who presented the

proposal, along with Blue and Gold member Rich Valerie.

Mr Kelley said a "massive fund-raising" effort would be launched by the club

and predicted that there would be townwide support.

He also said that although the project might cost more than $130,000 if it

were undertaken independently, he felt confident his group could bring it in

for $80,000.

To accomplish this savings, Mr Kelley said the club would accept gifts of

service and materials, such as concrete blocks for the concession building and

electrical contracting services, from interested parents or local businesses

supporting the project.

"We're not asking for money," he said.

But the club was definitely seeking the board's endorsement of the concept

Tuesday night, so they could move ahead with fund-raising as well as begin

meeting with town boards such as Planning and Zoning.

They want to take advantage of the "brief window" now open because of ongoing

construction at the site.

"A lot of things are going on now that we can take advantage of. Holes being

dug and cement being poured," said Mr Valerie.

Board Cautious

While Superintendent of Schools John Reed agreed the proposal had merit and

would benefit Newtown students in many ways, he was adamant that he needed "a

lot more information."

"This will be a publicly watched project. Let's have no surprises," Dr Reed

told Mr Kelley.

His greatest concern was that all details concerning the project should be

worked out ahead of time and funneled through the architect, Rusty Malek of

Kaestle Boos, the architectural firm responsible for the high school

construction project, with the oversight of O&G Industries.

Mr Malek, present at the board's workshop meeting, had been talking with the

Blue and Gold club earlier concerning the installation of a sewer line and

electrical conduit to support the proposed lighting project.

He agreed that nothing must be allowed to interrupt present construction

schedules for the current high school project.

"The concept is a good idea. The dilemma I have is the process," Mr Malek

said.

"We've got a project underway," he stated, but added his firm could

immediately help the Blue and Gold proposal in two ways, thereby "saving

time."

For approximately $15,000, Mr Malek said, pipe for the sewer line could be

extended five feet out from the new addition, and a conduit for the electrical

cable could be "stubbed out" from the back of the school and capped.

"That gives the potential for flexible planning for the future," Mr Malek

said, such as construction of the concession stand where water would be

needed, or building and wiring of the light poles.

The board agreed that these measures should be taken as long as Mr Malek would

oversee the extra work and the club would reimburse the board for any related

expenses as they were incurred.

Board member Charles Nanavaty wanted to know who would maintain the lights. Mr

Kelley replied that Blue and Gold would assume that responsibility, adding he

had received support from the Band Parents Association for the project.

He felt that once the project was completed, expenses could be offset by the

increased usage of the field the lights would allow, thereby giving them a

"bigger gate."

Board member Amy Dent was concerned that all gifts for the project would need

to be in the form of "cash or finished services" to avoid legal problems.

"We have statutory and charter obligations because we're a municipality," Mrs

Dent said.