Vote NO on this recommendation!!

Isn't a track included in the original plan? Curious if the author is related to the chair of the Friends committee. Still voting NO.

Vote no, taxes, gas prices, food bills all going up. Sorry, but I do not have any more money.

Look past the cost and look at what it will do for our kids AND the town! Vote YES!!!

Sorry Johnny, we can't look past the cost when we don't have the money to fund the things we are being charged for previous Tewksbury projects. (Example: sewer, tax increase, higher water & sewerage bills.) If you don't have it, don't spend it! But maybe you are young and live by the motto, buy now, pay later. Vote NO!

Great job Christina!! I think more of your team meets should be expressing their thoughts and feelings. I agree with many of you that we are all stetched thin when it comes to our budgets. "Penny wise and dollar foolish" I believe is the saying...if it means saving money in the longrun (no pun intended) I'm all for it!

My husband, myself and my kids all graduated from TMHS. We were born and raised here and have also experienced all the increases over the years. Let's take some pride in our athletes, our new high school and our town and finish this project as townspeople. We all say there is nothing in this town for kids this age to do, let's give them our support and a "home" field. Vote yes on question 1 and invest in the future of Tewksburys kids.

I raised three children here in Tewksbury. That has nothing to do with my decision to Vote No on this recommendation. People just don't have enough money at this time to support a new field. This expense should have been part of the budget to build the new school; not an after thought. Almost sounds like pay for your sewer line to go down your street, and then find out there isn't enough money to properly complete the project. Tewksbury residents are tired of projects being started and then the Town coming back at a later date to ask for more money. These are trying times financially for most of this Town's residents. If you ask me, this is poor planning on whoever books a project to be undertaken. No money, honey, vote NO.

I agree with Mary! Give us some breathing room

Mary, I have kids in the school system and it is a sad state of affairs when I can't take them to support their town teams. You're right, it should have been part of the original plan. I think the mistake here is that it's being put to a town vote. It should have been snuck in when we borrowed less for the high school. It is people like you who will stop the town from succeeding and then will move to your retirement home in Florida. Vote Yes to see our town succeed!!

Johnny, I take offense to your comment on moving to a retirement home in Florida. First and foremost, I am not a senior citizen as of yet; and even if I were, I have one thing to say to you. You and I will get there someday. Let's hope we have enough money to even go to a retirement home. Maybe all the people that want this athletic field to be passed, should invest some of their own money to build it, or go on a committee to raise money to build the field. I am not saying don't build a field, it is just not the right time to do so. Maybe this should be a learning experience for those who run the Town to look FULLY into the projects they propose and fund it properly the first time around. Some of us JUST DON'T HAVE THE MONEY AT THIS TIME. That has nothing to do about the age of a person.

Have I heard correctly the highschool project will be under budget when completed? If so why can't we alot the extra money for the field?

As of 6/30/11 our town debt 152M + 61M interest not including the HS 34M + Int or the TM Capital plan 31M + Int Just what we know off

Paying all that interest !!
Killer here is will be paying for 20 yrs 2M + 1M int and the facility will have a usefull life of 8-10yrs
Doesn't make sense. Wake up people!

so spend away !

As I said before, just keep spending and then figure out how to pay for it! New way of thinking. I think it stinks!

My personal opinion: great points made all around. Our town has had a history of overspending on projects, such as the renovated Senior Center, sewer project, and etc. We should focus on our financial health. On the other side, however, I'm a high school senior, so I can see how the new athletic fields would benefit the student body. Kids don't have to rush to Livingston for practice after school and there would be more flexibility in game scheduling. Very tough decision to make. Like I said on an earlier article, I just hope that the debate over this can be civil.

52 year resident. I went to school her, my kids, now my grand-daughter. As I said I have lived her 52 years and with the last administration, and this one it seems like my taxes have gone UP 52 times. I guess just haveing the new school is not enough!!! New Police station, new library, Everybody Now pays for the sewerage, give us a break!!!!I was at the candidate forum the other night at the country club, the only 2 candidates that did NOT want the field because of costs were Richard Marcin, and Ken Miano. Mr Miano brought up the point of the South St firestation being closed so long and and extra money should be used to open that, instead of a track field and tennis courts. Makes sense as I live in south Tewksbury, ya know the end with the bridge down 2 years!!! The current top selectman Scott Wilson talked about all the hard decisions that they make with the best interest of the people in town....Please don't do me anymore favors, it's hard enough with the tax and water bills. Easy to talk about these upgrads when your a student and not paying for it, but you will someday when you start paying taxes. Another point how much money was allocated fo snow removel, how much was spent, and how much left over??? use that money for 4th of July fireworks, and painting at the Flemming school. Wish these people in charge would think outside the box instead of Raising taxes as the answer for EVERYTHING!!!

Hmm, fire station or athletic field. Hmm, water and sewer bills or athletic field. Hmm, money towards academic programs or athletic field. Sounds easy to me.

Don't think you can compare the "inconvenience" to the student athletes having to shuttle around a bit to the real hardships faced by many of our residents struggling to make ends meet on a daily basis. Priorities, people!

Does any Tewksbury taxpayers know what is still owed on previous Prop 2 1/2 overides
and when they will be paid off??? Also what is still owed on bonds and when will they be
paid off?? How can we get this info?
The Manager should stop referring to prop 2 1/2 overides as 'dept exemptions' which is confusing to some voters.
It was difficult during this 3-4 recession to pay off the $3000 betterment for the sewer.
Now sewer added to my taxes when I can't even afford to tie in!
Selectman have approved upgrades on the water treatment plant, water main improvements, hydrant replacements, pump station modifications and the demo and rebuilding of the center fire station.
Our taxes are going to skyrocket; If we can delay the athletic project until finances improve, maybe we can raise the money needed with corporate and private donations.
signed, TAXED OUT

Have to agree that kids practicing or playing at Livingston St.is not an overexcessive inconvenience. I have to agree that we have been more than generous in supporting town initiatives to date. Johnny Appleseed certainly did not help the cause with his comments.Time for a break.

Christina - great letter from a student perspective. For those questioning why it wasn't included originally, I believe the group was trying to be conservative, and now that it looks like there is less spend then originally approved, trying to do the right thing at the right time, so as not to add more cost by doing later ( when many of the naysayers will fault the town for not doing now). Put that in the can't win category. Understand many impacted by higher taxes and time is tough, but it is the right thing and the time is right for construction impacts, low interest (to mr pratts point now is time while rates are crazy low). As many point out, you approved enough for this in the original $$, which if not spent, won't hit your taxes. Lets be prudent. Do it now. Vote yes on question 1!

"average home with see an increase of $20 per year for 10 years" ......average means some will pay mmore and some will pay less how is that determined? I don't want to pay at all no vote

Fair question. The $20 is based on the average appraised value of a home in tewksbury of $315,000. If yor home is valued less, the added cost would be less than $20 or the total of $200 over the 10 years. Doing my taxes as we speak, if you itemize may even net to less than that when filing state and federal taxes. The group also continues to look at grant opportunities to bring down the total, but some of the grants will only refund money spent such as the PARC grant.

Lets get our hands around what we need to do before we spend money on more luxuries. We know we need to spend another $50+/-mm on the town water system infrastructure, we can't afford to maintain our roads and bridges, etc...

We really need to be smarter with our money than this. It is like using an EBT card for candy.

Understand concerns - but it is the TIMING that makes this important. While you may consider a luxury now, the fact is much more prudent to have this expense while construction is already being done to track and field, and so as Christina ponts out the track team and other teams aren't impacted again. If this wasn't the case, may be your thought of this being a luxury and random selection of priorities could be argued, but in this case, I don't agree. It is a timing issue that spurs the action now.

if the project comes in under budget, and this doesn't come to pass. What happens to the rest of the left over money? Seriously? It's borrowed money, earmarked for the building of the high school as originally planned. It can't be used for anything else. So, does that extra borrowed money go back to the bank and reduce the amount we borrowed (thus decreasing the tax)? It 100% should. And if that's the case, that's exactly what we should make happen. Don't spend money we don't have!!!

For those who may think "artificial turf" is the greatest thing since sliced bread..... there is some very interesting data posted on TewksburyIssues....seems most of the places that have these type fields are duly restricted due to their sensitivity and damagability to EVERYTHING. Graduation held there? Forgeddaboutit! Check it out and you will realize they're no bargain....more like a money pit.
VOTE NO to QUESTION 1 on April 14th!

http://tewksburyissues.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10140&start=105

Very interesting Karyn. Can we print that up and send it home to parents? lol

Wilmington proposal to put in a fake field is being held up over concerns over run off of toxic chemicals into the wetlands? Isn't the High school sittting on wetlands? Check out Wilmington Patch.

It appears from all of these discussions, that the town is about 80%-20% against the project. (unscientific poll for sure) But I still would like to know, how much would just the tennis courts cost? It appears there actually IS a need for the courts and I would be more than willing to vote on that project alone if it were a reasonable cost. Is there an estimate for this?

My rule of thumb is to NEVER vote yes on a Prop 2 1/2 override question. Municipalities need to stay within the budgets that they already have been allocated.

The school does not need tennis courts or a new track and frankly, I don.t see why I have to pay for your kids school. I already got stuck for paying the town's mistake on the sewer fiasco (I have a septic system) why should I have to pay for UNEEDED luxuries for the school?

Some people here are saying that this athletic complex will cost them more. At the present this is true. If you just look at the cost of artificial turf versus natural grass : http://www.polyturf.com/docs/ws/LifeCycle-Costs.pdf (I know these aren't Tewksbury's numbers, but this is an unbiased resource), the multi-purpose field proposed in Question 1 would be a sound investment. If anyone read the letters to the editor last week in the town crier one resident soundly remarked that the cost to us (+/- $20/year) is the cost of not going to the movies. It is also the cost of not going out to eat, or buying some superfluous luxury (ie clothing/makeup/hairdresser). We all know that it is extremely difficult to see taxes raised, but this project will cost less now. As Ms. Petherbridge said, if we leave it to the future i will most certainly cost more. If we look long term this is a sound investment and a great asset to the community.

I don't think our town realizes how lucky we are to be getting this new school. Stop asking for more. I would love to see money put into the music and arts programs, but have seen them cut constantly over the decades. We are lucky to be getting what we are getting. Enjoy it and stop asking for more! In a few years, we can revisit what the new facility need, but for now, just enjoy what you were given. Vote No on Question 1. Enough already.

For everyone complaining (and with good reason) MAKE SURE YOU GET TO THE POLLS TO VOTE NO ON APR. 14th....you KNOW the opposition will! Just saying.

Why has this come down to a do it now for cheaper or future for more? It never HAS to be done at all. Artificial turf is not necessarily the answer. In my opinion it is the wrong choice to begin with, and seems to cause a lot more problems than it actually solves. This town is in a financial crisis. Our academic status needs to come first over sports and athletics. The current field proposals were fine but then the Taj Mahal of fields was dangled and of course everyone would prefer that but now is not the time.

We have no funds for the "all-purpose athletic complex". We spent all our money on Taj Mahal1, the Library, the South St. Fire Station that is closed, the new High School and the Giant 80 million, no, make that 100 million dollar sewer money sucker... no, make that money maker...

Residents, listen carefully when the prospective Selectman give their opinions tonight at the Town Hall at 7:00 PM. They are our future votes as to whether or not we spend more money for frivolous things, or must needed things. Thank goodness we don't have a Town Council as of yet. They will spend our money like it is going out of style and we will have no say in the matter. (Keep the Open Town Meeting!) Keep your voice! This is one more reason to listen carefully at the meeting at Town Hall.

Just a quick note of thanks for whom ever keeps removing my postings....

I've lived in Tewksbury all of my life. I played soccer and ran track in high school and it was fun. I was also in the NHS, became an engineer and have two masters degrees. I attribute my success to hard work in the classroom - this whole sports culture has me scratching my head.

In five years my property taxes have risen $1500. Enough is enough!

Vote NO on 1!

I am going to vote NO on Saturday. I am on a fixed income its hard enough to pay the taxes,higher water and sewer bills now you say just another $20 and you are not even sure about that are you? What happens if it's $50 do we just pay the town $20 you said it was going to be. We needed the school 20 years ago I'm glad we will have it now, my kids played sports for the high school we never complained about the fields. What are you going to do if you have to cut teachers and raise sports fees how you going to explain that to us. The school system needs to concentrate on education there aren't to many jobs that are asking if you played sports on their application. Make do with the proposed field you agreed upon the athletes will do just fine. Concerned Tewksbury resident.

I am also Voting NO on Sat...The High School is gorgeous...but really now? Play Football on Grass/Mud like they have for years! The Elementary schools are a mess...NO ON QUEST>1!

Checking out some claims made by FOTCAC on their site, my head aches. The docs they post are filled with gaps. I didn't go looking for this, just read further about what they posted. Info on corporate sponsors, private sponsors and grants is "coming soon". When? The grants they list are either unrelated or unavailable. The PARC grant is a reimbursement program so we’d have to appropriate money first and there are real eligibility questions. The data on turf also is questionable. The study they cite in support clearly say that results are inconclusive. The doctors who conducted it use research mostly from 20-25 years ago, and “may have a conflict of interest.” Another supporting doc was put forth by one of the largest turf manufacturers in the world. Unbiased – really? Another slide states costs in 2001 $–not 2012. Why should I support a group who presents me with data that is either inconclusive, outdated or skewed by conflict of interest? I’ve asked members of that committee to respond to these discrepancies but have gotten no answers. Beyond that, how is it possible for someone to believe that THIS will improve our schools in the way that is most needed? Here's what I learned recently on that issue...

When posters argue that our students NEED a better sports complex and they need it NOW, here's one big reason why I disagree. The recent school improvement presentations done at the SC meeting by principals from the Ryan and Wynn cast a glaring light on how we are failing our students esp. in math. At the Ryan, 49% and 45% (Gr. 5 and 6, respectively) of regular ed. students are below proficient in math. For Ryan SPED students, 95% and 91% (Gr. 5, 6) were below proficient! The Wynn is worse. In Math, 48% and 50% of reg. ed students (Gr. 7 and 8, respectively) are below proficient. 94% and 100% of Gr. 7 and 8 of Wynn SPED students are below proficient in math, and 80% of Gr. 8 low income students are also below proficient. I am both mortified and disgusted by this data and can't believe there has not been a public outcry about it. Finally, to say this vote is separate from our academic situation is ludicrous. Many of the FOTCAC folks (not just their president) are connected with school and other town efforts/committees. To think they (or other residents) would put their time and effort behind a debt exclusion for a "better" football stadium vs. a debt exclusion directed at necessary resources to help our neediest students get the education they are entitled to is what I would call finishing wrong, NOT finishing strong.
JMHO...

Finally, on the topic of need v. want. One could argue that we need an art program in 7th grade when there is absolutely nothing for the whole year. Or that we need a world language program to replace the one now that doesn't even begin until 8th grade and only offers 1 semester of French then. One could say that we need a full-day kindergarten program that's free for all because research supports the benefits of that experience for early literacy development. One could say that we need working computers in all classrooms, and, dare I say it, lower class sizes? I agree that having more tennis courts would be great and having them at the high school would be nice too. There is no request to support tennis only. Had the request been just for tennis courts, maybe things would be different on my part, but it's not and they're not. To me, children NEED a strong educational program with teachers who have the resources and supports in place to teach each one basic skills (math and ELA at the minimum) so their learning can finish strong and their future options are broader. To me, when test results show as much failure as was just presented, we are clearly not focusing on the right priorities. And, beyond that, our community (young and old) NEEDS to feel safe, in their homes, on our roads, in our buildings and in the event of an emergency. These priorities still rank higher than tennis (or a "better" sports complex) for me.

Very well stated and written, Busy Mom!! If you ran for the position as Selectman, you would have my vote, and the vote of many other residents. The most important thing that the residents can do now, is " COME OUT AND VOTE NO" on this sports complex. Thanks for taking your time to write what you have said above!

I totally agree with what you are saying FOF. That is why I think people who say that voting for this complex has no relation to the state of academics in our schools are totally off base. In spite of the fact that there are no actual names posted on the FOTCAC site as to its members, I am well aware of who many are. And many, if not all of them, are connected to school initiatives/committees. They absolutely could have used their energy to get the town behind monies needed to fund the resources (materials, training, teachers, etc.) that might boost our academics, or focused on our aging buildings and playgrounds among other things. I feel tremendously disappointed and frustrated that they have chosen to market this as being so critical "for the kids" when the evidence shows we are failing so many of them. I'd write a letter against it if I didn't have concern for the impact my perspective would have on my own children. I just hope people will get out and vote.

Being a member of the Boys track team I would love a nice stadium but a track is a track. This program won many state championships on the crappy old track. A track will be at the new tmhs no matter what. Vote no.

I never stated there wasn't going to be a track put in. I was simply stating that if Question 1 does not pass now, it is more than likely artificial turf will eventually be put in. When and if that happens, teams will be displaced yet again. It is aggravating and stressful to travel to other places to practice. Now is the time to put in the athletic complex. It will cost less and help Tewksbury in the long run. I appreciate all of the responses.

Pimpin aint easy