Parents and coaches of Babe Ruth League, Matt Tyre, and Bill Gaylard appeared before the Branford Town Council at the December meeting asking for funds.
Matt Tyre, spoke saying "I am a parent and coach, I've been involved for four or five years with my son. The equipment is suffering and we need to do some updating. The fields are clay based and in good condition, but we have drainage problems and need to do some work on them. We need to incorporate some sand so that it will drain. Our equipment has seen better days and we also want to incorporate electricity in the back building. Lighting in the field is good so is the score board. Our equipment and playing surface are our current needs."
He referred to bases, catching equipment, baseballs, batting T's and game equipment with a cost of $5,000.
Tyre indicated they would like to add a T-ball field between fields number two and three. He said, "It seems there's sufficient land there. When you have many teams, the little guys get bumped down. We schedule tournaments under Babe Ruth, and under Babe Ruth we can charge admission.
We don't have much access for funds. If we could have a gate installed, we could channel them through the entrance gate and collect a fee."
Council President Joe Pete Cannon, spoke saying "Clay is pretty expensive." Tyre said, "We're going to have a dragging class which will stop a lot of water from standing in the fields. If we could add some sand and drag it out."
Bill Gaylard said, "We talked to Gary Beach and he said about two loads of sand would be needed and he could grade it. It would be a good maintenance move to have the sand on all three fields."
Mayor Don Owens said "We may start in January with a grant and may need your input."
Cannon said, "You want $5,000 from us and we buy the sand and gate. Greg Scott, County Recreation Director, will show you how to drag."
Cannon encouraged a motion to give the Babe Ruth league $5,000. Councilman Charlie Daniel said, "I whole heartedly make the motion." The motion was second by council woman Alice Childress.
A motion for two loads of sand was made by council woman Shirley Clark. "We want no dark sand, we want a good grade of sand," said Cannon. This motion was also second by Childress.
Gaylard said, "The Rotary Club is planning to put shade cloths over the bleachers. Suwannee Industrial Solutions, and Suwannee American Cement Company and Bell Concrete donated the concrete out there. Rotary is also planning to put up some fence."
