School Rehab Committee Lowers Field Budget

Editor's note: A previous version of this story erronously reported that a concession stand had been added to the budget. The updated article and headline reflect the current status of a concession stand as not in the SBRC's budget for the high school athletic field.

To save money the School Building Rehabilitation Committee will keep a scoreboard and part of a public address system as primary alternates once everything else in the budget is covered.

Brad Dore, the lead architect, said that if the committee wanted to take the price of the PA system and scoreboard off the price tag to save money, they could subtract $43,500 from the total cost of the project of $2,679,702.

He added that for between $3,000 and $5,000, they could have a “very basic PA system,” which would just have two horns on top of the press box.

After realizing at a previous meeting that the field project was exceeding its budget, Andy Lawlor, chair of the committee, said, “We need to get this project moving.” 

In the end, the committee voted to approve a lower budget of $2,641,202 – a difference of $38,500.

In February, the committee voted to leave a concession stand out of construction plans, a move opposed by boosters.

The scoreboard and PA system are bid alternates with the scoreboard set as the top alternate. Committee member Derek Moulton endorsed the construction of the concession stand because it would create revenue. As of now a concession stand is not part of the budget.

“Someone will fundraise for the scoreboard, as much as it pains me to say,” he said.

Lawlor also announced that Dedham Civic Pride would donate five trees to the complex. He said they would take on the responsibility of watering them for the next two years.

Brad Dore, the lead architect, said that if the committee wanted to take the price of the PA system and scoreboard off the price tag to save money, they could subtract $43,500 from the total cost of the project of $2,679,702.