WBOE Offers a Consolation to WSA

At Tuesday night's Westfield Board of Education meeting, board president Gretchen Ohlig offered a consolation to the Westfield Soccer Association by indicating proposals to temporarily light Kehler Stadium would be entertained next year.  The following is quoted from The Alternative Press.

"After a letter to the board suggested that town approval was needed in order to erect temporary lights on their own property and subsequent hesitation was given after a court case referenced by the Kehler Neighborhood Preservation Association, the board stood by its original disposition.

“We’ve received confirmation that our position remains valid,” Ohlig said. “We do not, in fact, need the town’s approval to move forward. The town [of Westfield] concurs with our position. However, the delay has rendered the possibility of moving forward to vote. There is no point in us taking any steps this season.”

According to Ohlig, if the WSA or any other organization brings forth a similar proposal next year, it will fall first within the discretion of the "facilities committee and then recommended to the board."
      Whether or not the WBOE has received confirmation that their position remains valid in that they do not need the town's approval to move forward with approving the use of temporary lights at Kehler Stadium, the fact of the matter is....the WBOE refuses to waste any more time or budget resources on the dispute between the Kehler Neighborhood Preservation Association and the Westfield Soccer Association.

     The WBOE is currently discussing requiring organizations, utilizing board of education fields, to pay a fee similar to the fee required by Westfield town ordinance to use town owned fields.  Currently, that ordinance requires a $10 fee for each player of each sport