Natick Panel Boosts Turf Field Funding to $1.1 Million
Finance Committee · Meeting of September 22, 2026
Natick Finance Committee splits off a turf field vote and adds $250,000 to bar crumb rubber. The panel, chaired by Todd Gillenwater, unanimously recommended $1.1 million for the Cole North Field turf and infill replacement, up from an original $850,000, after member Donna McKenzie, a citizen petitioner behind the town's turf-moratorium effort, said she "can't in conscience vote for it when I don't know what kind of infill it's going to have." Member Richard's amendment requires non-carcinogenic infill such as cork, coconut core or Envirofill instead of crumb rubber. The committee also recommended $381,746.92 for the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund, $3,556,000 in capital-stabilization spending on buildings and vehicles, and $3.9 million in road, water, sewer and golf-course borrowing, while taking no action on the fiscal year 2027 omnibus budget, unpaid bills or stabilization-fund transfers pending state certification of free cash and new growth.
Member David Coffey said a safer surface would spare the town a "raft of lawsuits."
In the full story:
- Who Was There
- Organizations And Documents Referenced
- The complete report — 3,766 words
Source: the Finance Committee meeting of September 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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