Members of the Chelsea High School Class of 2019 are drawing closer to realizing their goal of holding an outdoor graduation ceremony on the new high school field.
City Manager Tom Ambrosino has submitted a request to the City Council asking for approval to spend $170,000 from the City’s Stabilization Account on a protective mat for the newly installed turf field at the high school.
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“This removable, plastic covering will allow for greater use of the field for non-sporting events, including allowing for an outdoor graduation for the Chelsea High School Class of 2019,” Ambrosino wrote in his letter to the Council.
Currently, the city is undertaking a $3 million-plus renovation project at Veterans Field on the Chelsea High School campus. According to Ambrosino, the first phase—which includes artificial turf replacement and a new track—is expected to be finished this fall. Spring will bring the second phase, featuring lighting improvements and restroom facilities.
The new turf comes with an eight-year warranty that becomes invalid if the field is used in certain ways, such as accommodating large standing crowds, hosting people wearing spiked heels, or placing chairs with four legs on the surface. According to the City Manager, these limitations would essentially prevent the field from being used for any events outside of sports.
“One method for eliminating this problem is to purchase a removable, protective surface for the turf, which is how the problem is handled in many large artificial turf stadiums across the country,” stated Ambrosino. “However, we did not budget for such a protective surface in this project.”
The school requested that Ambrosino seek Council approval for the additional expense through the School Capital Stabilization Account, which Ambrosino noted had been created specifically for this type of School Department capital spending.
During its Monday night session, the council decided to refer the matter to its Finance Subcommittee for review.
Chelsea High Senior Manuel Teshe, who had spoken before the Council earlier this month regarding senior class fundraising for an outdoor graduation, received positive news from the City Manager’s proposal.
“Mr. Tom Ambrosino made me feel like people were listening to us after all the work we did,” Teshe remarked. “We felt alone, and now we appreciate the chance that the City is even considering it.”
Before Ambrosino presented his request, Councillors Ray Avellaneda, Leo Robinson, and Yamir Rodriguez had introduced an order directing the City Manager to investigate purchasing an event decking system. Following Ambrosino’s proposal to use stabilization funds for the mat purchase, Avellaneda withdrew the order.