Playing Hardball Over Softball

Many RTM members, led by Ed Bateson, argued before last night's vote on the girls' softball field that the town needed to continue to show "fiscal responsibility" and vote down the funding request. Bateson said that while he would love to give the girls a field, it is not the right time to do it. Many other members of the body, including Alexis Harrison, David Becker and Carolyn Richmond, spoke passionately about moving away from bonding.

But in the end, the vote came down to the decision that the field was the best use for the property, which was purchased for $1.8 million by the town in 2007.

Neighbors of the property spoke out against the plan, many not wishing to see additional traffic or the elimination of open space.

Kirk Manley of Hoyden's Lane said that the softball field was a "quality of life improvement" and not worth funding. Karen Sussman of Burr Street said it is "disrespectful" to spend money on a softball field when town employees are not receiving raises and the education budget is being slashed.

Supporters of the field said it was an equality issue and a necessary improvement.

Bryan LeClerc, who formerly served on the RTM, said the town should simply cut quality of life spending, including fireworks, parades and the Penfield Pavilion construction if they were going to turn down the field request.

Officials and coaches from the boys Little Leagues supported the field request, because town officials have threatened to change one of the boys’

fields to a girls’ field. The boys league officials said they are as strained as the girls for field space.

The field will be built on about two acres in the center of the nine-acre property, located across from H. Smith Richardson Golf Course and next to the course's driving range. Also included in the funding is a one-acre organic teaching farm. Parks and Recreation Commission Chairman Ellery Plotkin said most of the funding will be for infrastructure to turn the land, which currently is open space with an old house on it, into a park. That includes a parking lot and restroom facilities that will be shared with the driving range. 

Plotkin said after the meeting that he is pleased the RTM approved the field and that the commission will build a field that will make Fairfield proud.

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