EPHS Synthetic Field Finally a Go

By Bob Rodericks

The on again off again saga of a synthetic athletic field behind the high school seems to be on for good. The Bayside soccer organization had offered to build the maintenance free turf field behind the high school. The school committee and city council were in agreement for this plan which would provide the entire city with a much needed soccer facility. Tony Vieira, the high school soccer coach at the forefront of a recent coaching controversy locally, is the leader of Bayside also.

The city solicitor raised legal questions which had delayed the process. Part of the problem was a city sewer line across the property. In an agreement today the sewer line will be relocated and Bayside will donate the field and improvements to the city. The city will lease back land to Bayside for one dollar pervyear. This will also resolve a tax issue which had arisen.

"This is a win-win for our city," said councilwoman Tracy Capobianco. Capobianco is the at-large council representative. "I want to thank everyone for making this work for our city. It greatly benefits our youth. This is another way to keep our kids active and participating in healthy and safe activities. I particularly thank our school committee for their perseverance with this project," said Capobianco. "I know hard they worked."

School committee member Joel Monteiro had been a strong supporter of this project and didn't think city involvement was helping. "It all worked now in the kids best interest".