BY DERRICK PERKINS
After a heated two-hour discussion, selectmen tabled a plan to install lighting at Griffin Park until Nov. 23.
Windham Baseball Softball League has raised $137,922 to illuminate the parking lot, center walkway and a Little League baseball field with 19 light poles. If completed, the lights would allow the league to schedule night games at Zimmer Field from May until October. The cost to the town would be about $20 per threehour game for electricity.
Selectman Charles McMahon, who also is president of the league, pitched the idea to the board on Nov. 9, but was met with opposition from homeowners, School Board and Recreation Committee members.
Elizabeth Bandioli, a resident of nearby Squire Armour Road, questioned whether opening the park at night – currently closed dusk to dawn – would increase existing parking problems along Range Road. She criticized selectmen for rushing the project ahead without seeking feedback from the entire town.
“We should be able to look at this and discuss it as a community,” Bandioli said. “Why would you not plan accordingly with what you want to do before you ask for a vote. Once (the lights) are in place there are no controls there.” Bandioli wasn’t the only resident who took the proposal to task. Neighbor Michael Jeffers said he isn’t against night games, but said lit ballfields would be a better fit at the new high school or elsewhere in town.
School Board Vice Chairman Michael Hatem echoed Jeffers, calling on selectmen, recreation officials and town athletic leagues to discuss as a group lighting one or more fields at local schools rather than Griffin Park.
“It seems to me that we have a joint board and talk about implementing a master plan,” he said. “I would appreciate some attempt to work together ... and sit down and see what the most effective way of doing this is.” Ralph Valentine, a Recreation Committee member, criticized the league for going to the board without first consulting his committee. The town is moving too fast and residents are being left out of the loop, he said. The proposal garnered some support. Lighting Griffin Park would cut down on vandalism and make it easier for officers to patrol after hours, said Police Chief Gerald Lewis.
“I am a proponent of lights. I think we need more lights in more places,” he said. “The lighting that is being proposed, I am in favor of it.”
Rather than vote on the lights, selectmen sent it to the Recreation Committee for review at their Nov. 19 meeting. Selectmen then plan to revisit the issue at their Nov. 23 meeting.