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Politics & Government

Soccer Association Offers Township Financial Contribution for Veterans Field

The president of the Southampton Soccer Association outlined contribution ideas for Veterans Field at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday.

The president of the Southampton Soccer Association outlined ideas for the clubs participation in the completion of Veterans Field during the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, March 6.

"We're in the final stages of a very exciting project," said Bill Clark, president of the association.

While there are people who are going to love the fields, he said, there are people who "are going to do something stupid." The fields have already been "turfed" by someone on a motorcycle, Clark said, which sparked the idea for one of the soccer association's suggestions.

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Clark said the soccer club has three priorities, amounting to roughly $60,000, that it would like to contribute in order to protect and better the fields.

First, in order to ensure the field is protected, the club would like to put a fence around the perimeter. Clark said that the double-railed, 4-foot fence will serve a number of purposes.

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"It will be a deterrent to destroy the fields, it will provide complete access for sports members and the community, and it will be one way to keep balls in play off the road," Clark said.

The club's estimate for installation is $30,000.

The soccer association would also like to provide all of the equipment for the new fields, including nets, team benches, flags and more, at an estimated cost of $15,000.

Additionally, the club wants to be responsible for maintaining the property inside the fence, which includes fertilization, seeding, weeding and mowing. The club's estimated cost of the upkeep is $15,000.

The board was supportive, with the exception of Lola Biuckians's disdain for chain link fences.

"You have no idea how I feel about chain link. Chain link is for reform schools and prisons," Biuckians said.

The association priced chain link because other soccer clubs use it and it would be the "most durable and lasting," according to Clark. However, he said they would price out other fences at the board's request.

Putting aside the fences material, board member Walter Stevens said that he agrees that it is important to have a fence in order to protect the fields.

"[The field] is a big filet mignon with someone with a four-wheeler," he said.

A few legal issues arose during the conversation, including ownership of the fence and the possibility of needing a variance from the zoning board for the fence's location. Also, the soccer club has $10,000 in escrow, but would like the township to release those funds to go towards a memorial fund for the veterans field.

Township Solicitor Donald Williams will review these issues and prepare the necessary documents to move the process along before the next supervisors meeting.

After Clark's presentation, the board voted unanimously, 4-0, to award three contracts for sign materials for the field, and for the construction of a restroom and concession building at the field. Board member Marguerite Genesio was absent from the meeting and did not vote.

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