The Plymouth Common Council conduced a public hearing during a special meeting Wednesday evening. The public hearing was for three additional appropriations, two for the tennis court project and the final one for the Blueberry Festival.
City Attorney Sean Surrisi said the resolution is to appropriate $164,000 from the Cum Cap Development Fund and $165,000 from the Cum Cap Improvement Fund and place that money in the tennis court project fund along with the $750,000 already pledged by the City Council.
Councilman Jeff Houin asked if the city gave $1,089,000 and the school’s contribution of $500,000 and the $132,777 of private donations was enough to fully fund the project.
Surrisi said it will fund 10 tennis courts, moving the access road, repaving the parking lots and new lighting for the new courts and parking area. He continued, noting that the 4 pickle ball courts and arched stone entrance were omitted along with major renovations and an addition to the Freyman Shelter.
There was much discussion on the proposed additional including Dave Morrow, President of the Plymouth Park Board who gave a brief history and noted that the project has been in process since 2012 when he was made aware of issues with the surface of the courts.
Councilman Mike Delp noted that the park resurfaced the tennis courts in 2003 for $78,000. In 2011 the park department spent another $31,000 to make repairs to the tennis courts and he said, “they need repairs again now.”
Sarah Smith a member of the tennis committee said the delay in the project caused them to lose a donation of $25,000 from one individual and three separate $1,000 donations. She also said the USTA grant they were applying fell through because of the delay when the city decided to keep the courts at their current location.
Park Superintendent Mike Hite told members of the Plymouth Common Council that the Freyman Shelter reno project was part of the Regional Cities Initiative. The proposed project is $320,000. Regional Cities requires 60% private funding, 20% public funding and 20% regional cities. It was noted that improvement to the shelter are in the park’s 5-year plan.
Shiloh Fonseca, councilwoman asked what access to the new courts would be for the public use.
Superintendent Hite said, “The same access as today. They are always unlocked and the lights can be turned on.”
After some additional discussion Councilman Gary Cook motion to approve the additional resolution and Jeff Houin 2nd the motion. The board voted 5 to 2 in favor with Don Ecker and Shawn Grobe voting against.
