It's about time SOMEONE listed to the voters of Tewksbury

I would be willing to consider a pared down version of the proposal, but it looks like there's not a lot of time for them to re-evaluate. A scoreboard really is needed, IMO. Perhaps the senior class this year (or next) can pull fundraising together so it can be their class gift.

That is the right thing. I voted YES, but the majority did not and that needs to be respected. This topic needs to go to bed now!

I would be interested in learning how much the scoreboard alone is, and a proposal for just tennis courts. I still don't understand the benefit of turf. It seems the long term expense is higher. What is the point?

I'm glad the voters were HEARD and respected. I'm sure the abutters will appreciate the respite. Now let common sense prevail.

Melissa,
While a class gift would be a great idea I have a feeling a scoreboard might be out of their price range. Parents/students have to pay a lot to do senior week activities, including prom and that is with the 4 years of fundraising they do just to subsidize these activities. I doubt there will be enough left over to afford a scoreboard but it was a nice idea. Maybe some corporation will want their name on it and they will purchase it.

Dirk, now that the vote is over, I'll say why I think the turf matters here. If you go with a grass field, you probably will just be able to use it for boys and girls soccer. No way the football team can play there with 500 seats ... I think Doucette has like 800-900 seats .... with the turf (even if the football team stays at doucette) you can have boys and girls soccer, boys and girls lacrosse, band, early season baseball and softball practices .... and much greater community use access, including youth football, soccer and lacrosse. You also have the possibility of outdoor graduation ceremonies. Just much more versatility. Now, if the there a cost? Yup, absolutely. And ultimately any town has to make the decision as to what level of quality they are willing to pay for when it comes to schools, athletic fields, etc.

Nice to see my vote counted and isn't going to be tossed aside while this project is forced on the tax payers.
Last I looked,we have a Football field right down the street from the High School,and it even has a track going around it.
I even remember seeing Soccer fields and Tennis Courts somewhere down by Livingston st.
All these things have served us well over many decades. Do we really need to replace them,or are some people just experiencing "Field Envy" because of what N.Andover did?
A lot of people wanted to tear down Fenway park years ago. Look at it now.
Just sayin'.

Could Keith, our faithful Moderator explain the process for getting a warrant at town meeting? Do we need selectman approval or can a citizen drive do it? Also, is it too late for May? I'd like to get the pared down proposal for the tennis courts at least on the ballot, but I think a piece-by-piece proposal is warranted as clearly many of the no votes were focused on the overall price tag, the lights, or the turf, but perhaps a reasonable compromise could be reached.
BTW, I know I could look it up, but I know Keith will be faster!

It's truly upsetting this ballot question got shut down. I don't understand why people would shut down such a good thing that can bring so many benefits to the town. However, I will leave someone who has thought out those benefits more than I have to discuss them. I would like to discuss the apathy Tewksbury residents have towards their politics. Approximately 5,000 people voted when our town is composed to 28,000+ people. Whether you are in favor or not of the new sports complex, people aren't voicing their opinions in the only effective way they can which is through their votes. I want a new sports complex, and I assume/hope most of Tewksbury would want one, but they are just too lazy to vote. Anyone who is registered should vote, that is the only way a Democracy works and the majority ends up content.

weren't they supposed to pursue grants, private donations and corporate sponsors in the first place? why is this "now" the focus?it is hard to take these guys seriously

Bee Free ... the error here was in my wording ... the group has been pursuing grants and private donations and corporate grants from the outset. I should have said that they will continue to focus on that.

I wonder if it would be easier to get a corporate grant for just the tennis courts, or just a scoreboard. Maybe different corporations provide for different pieces of an upgrade. What has the response been from companies in town?

Plato - I agree with you. The voter turnout was disappointing. I spent about 4 hrs at the Senior Center and most of the voters were 55+. I did not see many younger voters or families with school age kids. Over the next few months, I guarantee you will hear people griping that the sports complex did not pass (yet those people never took the time to vote). I wonder if the article would have passed if we had 50% or 75% participation?

I am also bummed out that they withdrew the article. That means that it cannot be modified or pared down (as many have suggested). It is now too late to start a new warrant for TM and get any work done in time.

BTW - I rode my bicycle on the Minuteman Bike Path last night. As I passed the Arlington High School, I noticed they have a sports facility with artificial turf. It really was impressive. The facility was gorgeous and there were several dozen residents walking around the track. I hope Tewksbury can have such a facility someday.

It's a shame that the Friends didn't have a contingency plan in place (ask for the whole thing with good hopes, but be prepared to be denied and ready ask for less). They put all their eggs in one basket.

There has been quite an interesting shift in the tone on this board towards the "Super Complex" as it was named for a few weeks. It appears as though some who argued vehemently against it, are now open to certain aspects....just not everything. I think if an electronic scoreboard and/or tennis courts and/or lights and/or field turf, were to be installed, it would still require an investment from my fellow residents. It's unfortunate that we missed a critical window in terms of timing. The grants, the donations, the additional funding that came in would have offset the bond that was required for the installation of these items. There is a great possibility that this bond would have been paid off well in advance of the 10 years and saved our taxpayers a significant sum of money while being able to enjoy all of these amenities.

Jim Wentworth

What grants, what donations? We were asked to fund this complex, and overwhelmingly said "no". If anyone really believes that this complex, if funded would be open to the public, just ask to use Doucette. This complex would totally be under the auspices of the school department. I just think that people are trying to explain away the vote. The voters said "no" and that is it. This is not the first time that Tewksbury voters said no, and will not be the last. The exception to the rule is the overwhelming response that the new high school construction received when it was on the ballot.

While everyone here has been talking about the total cost of the complex as the main issue, my concern was the maintenance of this facility. I haven't seen anyone lay out what the cost of running this would be (water/sewer, electric, employees, etc). Who would foot this bill if there wasn't enough money from ticket sales etc; and of course who will pay for the inevitable repairs that would need to be done by the time we pay this debt. If they had such a hard time getting sponsors to subsidize this complex who's to say they will get enough to run it? To me it was more than just the cost of the facility. It seems like everyone got excited when there was left over money from the high school and never sat to think this through. If someone knows where this plan is please let me know.

Also, there is a big difference between the $380-$400k for tennis courts and lights than the $1.95M for the whole package. In my view, it would be far more likely to secure corporate donations for a trimmed down version of the plan.

Hi
friends of get out of debt- fogood
Send your extra money to town hall to pay off debt

I will never vote for anything toward improving athletic facilities - not until this small-minded town puts the big money into the arts. This town is sorely lacking in culture. When people ask my opinion about moving to Tewksbury, I tell them, "it's affordable but the school system lacks, it's a struggle to get support for students w/special needs, and very little emphasis toward the arts. It's a big sports town, but nothing else."

Can we all stop with the insults. I agree 100% that we need to ALSO fund the arts in our schools at a higher level, but calling your fellow citizens "small-minded" is not likely to convince of the merits of your argument.
Bill, have you ever considered requiring people to put their real names on these posts so that we don't have anonymous mud-slinging going on?