Tolland Council Endorses Operational Agreement for Artificial Turf Field at THS

The Tolland Town Council has approved a working agreement for a project to convert the high school stadium field to an artificial surface.

Both the council and Board of Education had the agreement on their respective meeting agendas last week, but just the council endorsed the agreement.

Here are the highlights of the agreement:

• The town has acknowledged applying for and receiving $700,000 from the state for the construction of lights and laying down artificial turf.

• The agreement points out that "certain sports clubs," have pledged up to an additional $300,000.

• Construction is slated to begin this spring and be completed by the fall.

• The design, bidding, awarding of construction contracts, and oversight of the project will be the responsibility of the town and a building building committee appointed by the council.

• Upon completion of the project the town will assume responsibility for scheduling, maintaining and overseeing the operation of the field through a subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, whose members will be appointed by the Town Council.

• The agreement is for 5 years, revised from the original 15 years.

• School sports will be given priority during the fall and spring seasons.