by Winnie Hsiu
October 20, 2009 9:54 AM
Durfee High School is about to get a $200K makeover.
As first reported on an October 19 posting on the heraldnews.com (Fall River, MA’s online local news source), the new high school athletic fields would be upgraded by a concession stand, rest rooms and storage facility under a $200,000 transfer of funds Mayor Robert Correia planned to ask the City Council at Monday night’s meeting.
"The construction of this facility will greatly enhance the functionality of the new athletic fields at Durfee High School, and will allow the School Department to increase revenue via rental of the complex for groups," Correia wrote in a letter to the council, which followed communications from Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown and Wendy Correia, Durfee Sports Boosters President, both urging support for the project.
"We have explored possible partnerships with larger organizations with the need for facilities on a recurring basis, such as AAU sporting events or other large-scale tournaments or sports camps," Brown said. "It completes a world-class athletic complex that our students and community richly deserve," she continued.
Funding for construction of the 60 x 40-foot metal structure would be transferred from the John Doran Elementary School project; $343,120 remains in that fund, which is no longer needed, according to officials.
Correia will also ask the council to establish a committee for creating historic districts.
A Local Historic District Study Committee would make recommendations to the administration and City Council on a proposed historic district.
"The establishment of a LHDSC does not bind the city to create a Local Historic District, nor does it bind the council to accept any of the proposals brought forth by the committee," Correia said.
This request was issued by Correia following several meetings with the Preservation Society of Fall River, said City Administrator Adam W. Chapdelaine.
Correia is also asking for a $13,000 transfer from the reserve fund to pay a 20% share of a state matching grant for a large senior van. This minibus (which could hold 16-20 seniors) would be purposed for transporting seniors to medical appointments, according to Dr. Henry R. Vaillancourt, community services director. The state Executive Office of Transportation and Public Works would pay 80% of the cost.