LIVERMORE FALLS — Selectmen voted Tuesday to allow Spruce Mountain High School in Jay to use the town recreation field for 14 soccer games this summer while the school soccer fields undergo improvements.

The approval came with a condition that the games do not interfere with any organizations or people who normally use the field.

Town Manager Kristal Flagg told selectmen the school district would work around Area Youth Sports to make sure the games did not interfere with softball or Little League play.

The high school boys’ and girls’ teams each would have seven home games beginning June 17.

A soccer field could be set up so it does not affect the two playing diamonds on the Recreation Field, Larry Thornton of Jay said. He is associated with the high school program.

Selectmen Chairman Bill Demaray said he didn’t have a problem with the use as long as it doesn’t push out any people who use the field regularly.

The district will set up the field, line the field, set up the nets and make sure they are moved out of the way when they are not in use, Flagg said.

The town’s groundskeeper, who also is the custodian, only works 18 hours a week and has to do all the mowing and grounds-keeping, and clean the buildings, Flagg said.

High school Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Lee Hixon said he asked the district’s groundskeepers if they could mow the recreation field, but they want to keep the equipment on school grounds.

He said if the town’s groundskeeper could not mow the field, he and Thornton would do it with their mowers.

The games would be Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning June 17.

Hixon said the league the high school teams are going to play in is associated with the Lewiston High School league and includes Leavitt Area High School in Turner, Maranacook Community High School in Readfield, Saint Dominic Academy in Auburn and Mt. Ararat High School in Topsham.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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