After addressing replacements for the two Gidley School ball fields that will be inaccessible as the property becomes a construction site for the new police station, the Select Board concluded that Town Meeting members could vote on allocating funds as early as June.

Selectman Shawn McDonald said he would like the town to put $100,000 toward replacing the the tee ball and Little League fields. His plan includes using capital improvement plan funds to build fields at the back of the Crapo Field plot on Russells Mills Road

The police chief and the advisory committee in charge of overseeing the police station development had initially produced a $500,000 figure for replacing the fields, which included regrading, fencing, and state wage regulations.

However, at a March 6 meeting between the advisory committee, Finance Committee, and Select Board, McDonald suggested that neighbors and businesses would eagerly chip in time, equipment, and supplies because of strong relations with the nonprofit running Crapo Field, the Dartmouth Youth Activities Association (DYAA. He estimated a total $100,000 cost to the town.

McDonald said he would like voters to approve the expense at the October Town Meeting. However, if funds are left over from the $785,000 demolition of Gidley School, voters could be asked to allocate those monies toward a new field this June.

A June vote would be more favorable, McDonald said, because seeding could start in the fall, and the new fields would be up and running by Spring 2018.

Select Board members approved the McDonald's suggestion to put it before Town Meeting.

Selectman Frank Gracie said he would like to move forward with replacing the ball fields whether the $13.4 million police station project passes Town Meeting or not.

The Gidley ball fields have caused frustration for Dartmouth Youth Activities Association (DYAA) representatives and Parks Department officials, who said the town cannot afford to lose access to the fields when construction begins. The six-week, school demolition process began on March 6.

The advisory committee did suggest putting a pathway from Tucker Road to the fields so that the public could continue using them.

McDonald said that having families around the police department both during construction and when the station is up and running was hazardous. Tucker Road traffic, crowded parking lots, speeding police vehicles, and prisoner transport were all concerns.

McDonald also suggested using the Gidley fields for solar panels. Designers are hesitant to put the panels on the roof because installation could weaken the building structure.

"We could make a larger array to fund that building," said McDonald.

Gracie approved, adding that the town should look into grant funding. Selectwoman Kelli Martin Taglianetti also approved that the police chief and advisory committee look into the option, but added that the solar panels might age faster than the building.