Woodstock board seeks estimates for ball field repairs

WOODSTOCK — Board of Selectmen Chairman Ron Deegan told fellow members Tuesday evening that the Whitman Field backstop, grandstand and dugout need to be repaired for safety reasons.

Deegan said he was driving by the field on Route 26 and “saw some things that probably aren’t safe.”

“It seems as if the fencing system is starting to fall apart,” he said. “There is piping sticking out near the field’s backstop, and a child could get injured if he or she fell into it.”

He said he visited the field with Town Manager Vern Maxfield and Hank Foreman of Hank’s Home Repairs to see what’s needed.

“There’s some carpentry work that needs to be done on the grandstand and one of the dugouts at the field,” Deegan said. “We need to fix those things or we’re going to lose them. Rot is starting to set in. The grandstand also needs to be stained.”

Maxfield said Wednesday that Forman will provide an estimate on the cost of fixing the grandstand and dugout.

Deegan said he received an estimate for fixing the fencing backstop from Mike Thompson of Double T Fence in Oxford. He and Selectman Mike Nadeau suggested Maxfield also get an estimate from Quality Fence Co. in Rumford.

In other business, Maxfield said he was hoping to have the town’s new electronic sign installed by the end of July. The sign would direct residents to the Town Office and list upcoming meetings or news electronically.

“The original goal was to have it installed by the Fourth of July,” Maxfield said. “However, that day has come and gone. Now we’re shooting for the end of the month.”

The town road crew will install the sign, he said.

m[email protected]