You want Lights? You need to tell the BOS at meeting on 19th, 7:30 at town hall.

As you may or may not be aware, the Ellington United Sports Boosters have been actively attempting to bring lighting to the back athletic fields and tennis courts at Ellington High School for the better part of two years. This effort began in earnest when the state moved to disqualify schools without illuminated fields from hosting state playoff games. Ellington High School is on the list of schools that cannot host such contests. Because of this rule change, as well as the belief that night games enhance a feeling of community, attendance and school spirit we have strongly advocated for the installation of field lights.

Earlier this spring the town submitted two state grant applications. The first was for an expansion of town hall and the vault within the town hall. The second is for the lighting of the back athletic fields and tennis courts. However the state can award only one project a grant per year. The town has informed the state that its priority is to expand the town hall. If this grant remains the town priority and if awarded by the state, an additional $250,000 will have to be approved by the people of the town. The lighting project would be 100% covered by the grant that has been applied for and would cost the town nothing.

The Ellington United Sports Boosters have asked for the opportunity to come to the Board of Selectmen on May 19, 2014, to be placed on the agenda and to be heard as to our belief that the people of the town support the lighting project over the town hall expansion and wish the Board of Selectmen to reverse its stand as to which grant to prioritize. The First Selectmen is refusing to allow the Boosters to be a part of the agenda on May 19th. We the Ellington United Sports Boosters find this position to be unacceptable. The people of Ellington should be heard as to which project is the priority of the people. A refusal to hear the opinion of the people is contrary to the mission of the council.

The Boosters request that anyone who supports Ellington youth or Ellington high school athletics, any parent of an athlete in town, anyone wishing to level the playing field so that Ellington offers the same opportunities other communities offer, come to the meeting to be heard when the floor is opened up to Citizens’ Forum. We ask that all that wishes to end the delays to illuminate these facilities come to the meeting and express a desire for the council to prioritize the lighting of the fields. Please come to say that our athletes should have the honor of playing on their home fields and not at Fermi High or Enfield High. Please come and tell the council that the students at Ellington are your priority and thus should be the council's priority as well. We need your support on the May, 19th at 7:30pm in the town hall meeting hall.

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