Aldermen approve $1.5 million transfer for Stellos Stadium renovations

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The facade of Stellos Stadium on Oct. 29, 2024 Photo/Andrew Sylvia

NASHUA, N.H. – Following three consecutive meetings on Monday night, the Nashua Board of Aldermen (BOA) approved transferring $1.5 million from the city’s appropriated fund balance into its capital project activity fund to finance renovations at Stellos Stadium.

The discussion became necessary when the turf field at the stadium was deemed to be unsafe for further use after it failed a GMAX test, which measures the “shock absorption” of synthetic athletic fields.

The field itself will cost $848,676, not including drainage renovations, and other renovations relating to fencing, gates, the press box, and locker rooms, among other components are part of the renovation plan.

Stellos was built in 2012 and the current field had been approaching the end of its expected life, with Nashua School District Director of Athletics and Wellness Lisa Gingras recommending that the new field for approximately eight to 10 years. She told the board that currently the field averages 14 to 17 games per week on average, and efforts have been made to vary the sports that are played on the field to ensure no one portion of the field is overused during any short-term period. However, she also noted that on autumn Sundays, youth football will use the field for up to 13 hours.

Members of the board had a variety of questions on costs for the renovation, particularly regarding a $200,000 gift from the Stellos family toward the renovations, leading some on the board to wonder if that amount was part of the $1.5 million figure. Ward 2 Alderman Rick Dowd said that it was not and expected that no additional items would be added onto the renovation list following fears from Ward 3 Alderman Patricia Klee regarding transparency.

Part of the field from outside Stellos Stadium on Oct. 23, 2024. Photo/Andrew Sylvia

Alderman At-Large Michael O’Brien Sr. voiced his frustration with a lack of maintenance both here and in other municipal facilities across the city that transformed what might have been smaller projects into significant issues due to a fear of spending increases, with BOA President Lori Wilshire saying those decisions came largely as part of the city spending cap.

Ward 8 Alderman Derek Thibeault expressed his belief that the privately-run Bishop Guertin High School should pay a higher amount for its use of the field, with future contracts between Bishop Guertin and the city to be adjusted for inflation.

“We do not need to let them play there. I’m fine with them playing there, but they have to pay their fair share,” said Thibeault.

Gingras replied that Bishop Guertin donated $15,000 to help install wifi at the field.

Most of the discussion surrounding the renovations revolved around special covering for when non-sports events took place on the field, primarily for high school graduations. It was estimated that it would cost $300,000 to temporarily get such a cover and $421,000 to purchase one permanently. Without the cover, the usage of chairs on the field would have a significant impact on the field’s health, potentially expediting the need for a premature replacement.

Neither amount was factored into the $1.5 million total.

There was discussion regarding potentially investigating whether the covers could be purchased for Holman Stadium instead, although it was noted that the BOA could not dictate where the Board of Education decides to hold its graduation ceremonies.

Ward 5 Alderman Ernest Jette proposed an amendment to the motion approving the $1.5 million figure by removing language regarding the field cover as part of the renovations. While several members of the board felt that it would be misleading to keep the field cover language within the motion if specific funding was not included in the $1.5 million amount, Dowd voiced his concern that such a modification would trigger another public hearing, and the required notification time for that public hearing could delay construction time enough that the field would not be ready for usage in the spring.

It was also noted that the language regarding the cover could be removed by the Joint School Building Committee if needed and it could be addressed by the Board of Education in their next budget proposal.

Jette’s motion failed on an 8-6 roll call vote. Jette was joined in support of the motion by Wilshire, Ward 1 Alderman Tyler Gouveia, Ward 6 Alderman Chris Thibodeau, Ward 7 Alderman Tim Sennott and Alderman At-Large Shoshanna Kelly. Those opposing the motion included Dowd, Klee, Thibeault, O’Brien Ward 4 Alderman Thomas Lopez, Ward 9 Alderman John Sullivan, Alderman At-Large Gloria Timmons and Alderman At-Large Ben Clemons. Alderman At-Large Melbourne Moran was absent.

A subsequent roll call vote to approve the original motion for the $1.5 million was approved unanimously.


Stellos Stadium was closed to the public as of Oct. 29, 2024. Photo/Andrew Sylvia