Guilford Hires Consultant To Study Synthetic Turf Field Failure

GUILFORD, CT - The Board of Selectmen has voted to hire a New Britain company, at a cost of up to $40,000, to analyze why synthetic athletic field at Guilford High School has been pulling apart.

At its most recent meeting, the board voted to hire Kaestle Boos Associates of New Britain to conduct the study.

Parks and Recreation Director Rick Maynard told the selectmen that the field was completed in December of 2016 and was used last year.

A few months ago, Maynard said, people began noticing a separation in the turf and that the shock pad was pulling apart. He said it was happening at the 30-yard line on both ends of the field.

The field was closed and officials held meetings with the installer and shock pad companies to determine the problem.

After discussing the issue, Maynard and the selectmen concurred that it was better to get an independent audit done of the field problems - with the hopes that the costs can be recouped from whoever is responsible once the problem and the cause of it is determined.

First Selectman Matt Hoey said the town needs to have the facts rather than rely on the vendors who may or may n ot have the same motivation that the town does to have the problems corrected.