Sudbury Park and Recreation Commission targets three CPC bids ahead of October deadline

SUDBURY — August 15, 2022 — Sudbury Park and Recreation Commission agrees to pursue three Community Preservation Committee funding requests ahead of an October 7 deadline. Acting Chair Ben Carmel led the August 15 meeting in the absence of Chair Mara L Huston, reaching consensus on CPC articles for basketball court lighting and fencing at the Fairbank Community Center — estimated at roughly $60,000 for fencing and $150,000 for lighting — a new outdoor pavilion at Fairbank, and Phase 2 drainage and field improvements at Feely Field, with architect Warren Larson expected to deliver cost estimates in time for submission. Director of Parks and Recreation Dennis reported the town had lost anticipated state funding for the Fairbank basketball court after Governor Baker invoked a prior ruling directing excess revenues back to taxpayers, and projected a pool enterprise fund shortfall of $20,000 to $30,000 from the August 15 through approximately September 10 pool shutdown, warning that the Finance Committee would likely look to draw down the fund's roughly $400,000 in retained earnings to cover the gap. Members divided project ownership among themselves, with Robert C Beagan taking the basketball court lights and fence and Laurie Eliason pursuing an accessible van purchase that Dennis said could exceed the $100,000 already allocated through ARPA.