Park and Rec pauses Feely Field Phase 2 pending townwide field assessment

SUDBURY -- October 15, 2024, Sudbury Park and Rec pauses Feely Phase 2 and lines up joint Finance Committee meeting on FY26 squeeze. Director Dennis told the commission Oct. 15 he has asked the Community Preservation Committee to hold close to a million dollars in Phase 2 funds pending a townwide field needs assessment by Gale Associates, while Phase 1 closes out roughly $100,000 under budget. Chair Ben Carmel and Finance Committee liaison Carl Freese, of 40 Concord Road, tentatively set Nov. 18 for a joint meeting. Member Mara Huston, citing her May budget walk-through, said Park and Rec receives the smallest annual town allocation of any department, smaller even than the cemetery, and warned that pushing salaries into the program-fee revolving fund would force fee hikes incompatible with affordability. Programming coordinator Christine reported the relocated middle-school ski club at Wachusett sold out in 20 minutes, filling two buses with about 100 students.