Adams Parks Commission Asks BArT for Field Compensation

The parks commissioners table a request to use sports fields by BArT charter school.

ADAMS, Mass. — The Parks Commission wants the Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School to provide compensation for the use of town sports fields.

BArT Assistant Principal Miles Wheat on Monday night asked for field use for the school's various sports practice and physical education classes.

However, the commissioners felt there should some compensation for the use of Valley Street and Russell fields.

"BArt has used the basketball courts in the winter and used two fields in the spring and fall," Commissioner James Fassell said. "There has been no kind of any donation on your part to the town itself, and it seems like you are a freeloaders."

Commissioner Jason Sniezek said BArT has used equipment paid for by other leagues in the past without considering a payment to the town or leagues. He said the extra use in the past have turned the fields into "mud pits."

"The soccer goals and the nets and everything up there I believe are paid for by the youth league so they are using other leagues' equipment for nothing," Sniezek said. "It is extra use digging up the field so it's more maintenance and we aren't getting anything out of it."

Fassell said the commission usually grants free usage to Adams and Cheshire youth leagues.

BArT, located near the busy Commercial Street corner with Park and Center streets, has no fields of its own.

When asked what portion of students at the school are from Adams and Cheshire, Wheat said a third.  

"We do have a sizable chunk of our population that are youth from Adams that part feels right," Wheat said. "The other thing is that we have been using Russell for close to 10 years and I feel fairly confident saying we have been good citizens and leave the field in mint condition."

Sniezek, who coaches Hoosac Valley golf, did not agree with this statement. He said BArT cross country running has caused issues in the past.

"They run around the golf course during our home matches when they run through the woods. I have had horrible experiences up there for at least three years in a row, and I made complaints and have heard nothing back," Sniezek said. "Whoever was involved with that has no idea what they were doing."

The commission tabled the request and asked Wheat to find a contract or agreement that exists between the town and the school. Chairman Todd Shafer said the commission can recommend a fee to the selectmen, who will ultimately make the decision.

Wheat said BArT can offer community service but any payment he would have to discuss with the board of trustees.

Shafer asked that BArT come to the next meeting with more specifics about what kind of service it can offer and the commissioner will discuss an appropriate fee and if they want to implement it.

He also asked the commission to go over the agreement between the town and the Agricultural Fair in regards to Bowe Field. He said the field is under commissioners' purview yet they know little about it. He was curious as to if the town could utilize it for youth sports.

Agricultural Fair co-founder Joseph Nowak said the field is not suitable for some sports because of how rocky it is. He added that he felt the field could be utilized and rented out more to bring in more profit for the fair, which has been seeing a decline in revenue.

"When we first got that field it was in bad shape ... we brought that field a long way and even though it feels like the fair is striving it really isn't," Nowak said. "It costs a lot to put on a fair every year, and ... going into our 41st year, we are just about solvent."

He said a kitchen facility may help bring in more request for rentals.

Shafer said he would be interested in looking at the possibility of building a field house at Bowe Field that could be used by both the community and the fair.

Nowak also asked if the mulch has been replaced at the playgrounds. The commission said it was taken out of the budget last budget cycle, but was approved for fiscal 2016.

Fassell said the mulch has yet to be replaced and the town may have to close some parks if the mulch does not meet a certain requirement for insurance reasons.

The commission agreed to check in with the Department of Public Works about the mulch.

With the $15,000 needed to create a master plan for the renovation of Russell Field approved at town meeting, Shafer said he would like take the next step and contact Director of Community Development Donna Cesan and see if she could attend a meeting to begin the process.

"I want to get moving on this, and I don't want this thing to flounder for six months," he said.

Sniezek said the protective net at Renfrew Baseball Field is sagging and no longer stops strayed balls from hitting houses in the neighborhood.

The administrative assistant said she believes the town has a new net but does not have the funds to hire someone to replace it.

The commission agreed to seek help from anyone with the proper equipment willing to donate their time. 

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