Please Vote YES for The Nest on May 2nd! 

Easton - Ballot Item #2         Redding - Ballot Item #7

Dear ERU Families -

We are writing to request your support during the upcoming referendum vote upon a resolution adopted by the Regional Board of Education which will be placed on the ballot as the following question:

“SHALL REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 9 APPROPRIATE $4,500,000 FOR COSTS RELATED TO JOEL BARLOW STADIUM NEST BUILDING & FIELDS IMPROVEMENTS AND AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS AND NOTES IN THE SAME AMOUNT TO FINANCE THE PROJECT?”

The vote will take place in Easton and Redding this Tuesday, May 2, 2023, between the hours of 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM.

Why?

As parents of athletes in our community, this vote directly impacts your family. Have your games been canceled due to wet fields? Does your child have late practice times due to limited turf availability (note: Barlow Boys Soccer typically practices as late as 9:45 pm, even during the school year)? Were your team’s fall sessions cut short due to decreasing amounts of daylight? The facility improvements included in this project will help to substantially alleviate these challenges.

Further, have you or a family member ever needed to use the restroom at Barlow Stadium? (Tip: Your only option is a Porta Potty which is not pleasant, nor easily accessible for elderly and disabled community members). Did you know that there is no drinkable water supply at the stadium for athletes to refill their water bottles? Does it seem right that our high school teams have no changing rooms and utilize unfinished and unheated storage rooms and sheds on game days? These challenges and conditions make this project a necessity. 

What is it?

The Joel Barlow Nest and Field Improvement Project includes an additional turf field (Field J), parking (Field H), lighting, concession stand, restrooms, team rooms and more! The Project was detailed by Mike D’Agostino, Chairman of the ER9 Board of Education at the Annual Easton Town Meeting on April 24, 2023. Please take a few minutes to view it here. Mr. D'Agostino's presentation begins at 1:19:17 in this recording. Discussion of this specific project runs from 1:27:18 - 1:37:11, followed by questions from those in attendance.

What do you need me to do?

PLEASE VOTE YES ON TUESDAY, MAY 2nd!

Residents will be asked to vote on a capital project appropriation and bond authorization, upon the recommendation of the Regional Board of Education:

1. That Regional School District No. 9 of the State of Connecticut (the “District”) appropriate the sum of $4,500,000 for

1. improvements at Joel Barlow High School, including

   1. resurfacing existing field (Field J) with synthetic turf, 

   2. paving existing practice field (Field H) to expand parking lot off Turney Road,

   3. installation of LED lighting for turf field and expanded parking area,

   4. construction of a building (“The Nest”), plans for which include accessible restrooms, team rooms, and concessions in the existing stadium venue, 

   5. bleacher sports seating, 

   6. other site improvements, including pedestrian walkways, safety fencing, and accessible entrance gates, 

   7. other work related to the project listed above, including, but not limited to planning, design, acquisition and construction costs, equipment, materials, architects’ fees, engineering fees, insurance, and project management fees, and

2. for interest on borrowings and other financing costs, and for administrative, printing, financing and legal and costs of issuance related thereto (the “Project”). 

2. That $4,500,000 bonds and temporary notes of the District be authorized to finance the appropriation.

3. That the Chairman of the Board of Education and the Treasurer of the District, or such other officer or body delegated by the Board of Education of the District, be authorized

   1. to require the District and its member towns to comply with applicable federal income tax requirements for tax-exempt bonds,

   2. to make representations and enter into written agreements for the benefit of holders of the bonds or notes to provide secondary market disclosure information, and

   3. to take all other actions which are necessary or desirable to complete the Project

4. That the bond and note authorization be submitted to referendum vote by the electors and citizens qualified to vote in the member towns of the District.

PLEASE VOTE YES (for Easton - Ballot Item #2 / Redding - Ballot Item #7) ON TUESDAY, MAY 2nd! 

The debt service is accounted for within Region 9’s current budget and no impact on real estate taxes is anticipated. Easton Redding United will contribute to this effort from our earmarked turf field fund and support fundraising activities to lower the cost to the District. We hope that you will join us in supporting the Joel Barlow Nest and Field Improvement Project.

Feel free to contact us if you have any questions. Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Bill Andrews Kimberly Swabsin Paul Winstanley

President Vice President Director of Coaching

Easton Redding United Easton Redding United Easton Redding United

[email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Easton Redding Redding