Voters Approve Warrant Article For Fields

A proposed fields complex that would open in Lynnfield in 2015 took a step closer to becoming a reality Monday night as town meeting voters gave the green light to a warrant article that will pay for early engineering and site work.

Specifically, the warrant article will authorize $100,000 in existing funds from the town's sale of real estate fund to pay for engineers and consultants to handle preliminary tasks such as determining the current extent of wetlands on the site near the Middleton line off Bostik and determining the town's current fields usage as well as its future needs.

The measure passed by a 185-50 hand count at the end of the town meeting, and it was not without debate. Former Town Moderator David Miller stood at one point to ask current Moderator Arthur Bourque, the longtime former selectman who now chairs the fields committee, to recuse himself from that particular warrant article because of his involvement with that committee. Bourque consulted with town counsel Thomas Mullen, who replied that since the former selectman does not have a financial stake in the fields project, there is no conflict of interest. Bourque declined Miller's request to recuse himself from the warrant article. "I don't think he can serve two masters," said Miller, citing Bourque's role as moderator and field committee chairman.

The $100,000 will be returned to the sale of real estate fund when the town receives an expected $1 million in funds for public recreation as part of the deal bringing the Market Street at Lynnfield project to town. However, critics of the project, such as town resident Pat Campbell, pointed out that the long-term costs of the complex remain unkown. Selectman Al Merritt acknowledged that "this has the potential to be very expensive," but stressed that much of the project is expected to be funded with private contributions, grants, and the previously mentioned Market Street-related funds. "It's going to rely quite a bit on privately raised money," said Merritt.

Phil Crawford, the finance committee vice chairman who serves on the field commitee with Bourque (and Kyle Shinnick), pointed out that many grants will depend on the engineering work being funded, and he also noted that if needed, the complex could potentially be constructed in phases.

At next year's town meeting, voters will be asked to approve a funding plan for design and construction work on the future fields complex. The complex would feature a wide variety of athletic fields for town sports organizations as well as space for passive recreation, such as walking and bike trails, a canoe/kayak launch, and a dog park.

Prior to town meeting, the selectmen held their own meeting and decided to hold off on announcing the final two members of the five-member field committee.

Editor's Note: Further background information is available at these links: