Portland City Council votes to allow changes to Fitzpatrick Stadium despite public outrage

The Portland City Council discussed an amended version of the lease agreement between the Portland Hearts of Pine soccer organization and the city regarding use and changes to Fitzpatrick Stadium. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer

The Portland City Council voted late Monday to amend the city's contract with the Hearts of Pine soccer club to allow the team to make changes to Fitzpatrick Stadium.

After a lengthy public comment period in which most people urged the council to vote against the changes, the council voted in favor of the change. The measure passed 6-2, with only Mayor Mark Dion and Councilwoman Kate Sykes voting against it.

The changes to the field are necessary for the city's new professional soccer team to meet the demands of its league. This includes installing new turf, repainting the lines for all sports played there and eliminating the painted Portland High School Bulldog mascot that currently adorns the field.

Although many people in the Portland High community complained that they were not included in the process of deciding what changes should be allowed, Councilwoman Regina Phillips argued that there was sufficient public engagement to move forward with the changes even if “They are not 'up to the standard' that the residents had hoped for.

She added that once the change is approved, discussions could take place between the team and school about additional details, such as the running route around the field.

Phillips said removing the Bulldog logo wasn't a big deal for her, saying that “there are other ways to be just as proud of being a Bulldog.”

Councilman Roberto Rodriguez said he was pleased with the evening's discussion, although the public would likely leave the meeting unheard.

“This is a city-owned facility that is intended to be open to the public,” Rodriguez said.

Dion asked Portland athletic director Spencer Allen whether a field can be safe for college sports if it doesn't meet the standards of a professional team. Allen responded that this was possible, arguing that using the current field was safe for his students. Those responsible for the professional football team had already emphasized in the evening that the changes on the field were also essential for the students.

“I think if everyone got in a room they could come to an agreement,” Dion said. “There are good people on every side.”

Ultimately, Dion said he voted against the amendment because he hoped it would allow for a postponement so that city councilors could approve the changes later, once a contract was worked out that gave voice to the Portland High School community.

Over the course of the evening it became clear that city councilors, citizens and club management did not agree on the content of the amended contract. Some council members appeared to misunderstand the content, as did members of the public. Club leaders said they have done extensive outreach, but many Portland High community members said they felt blindsided by the proposed changes.

“How do you get a home field without a logo?”

While the stadium changes are critical to Hearts of Pine, dozens argued Monday night that the renovations would be disruptive to the high school sports teams, which will practice on the field and share it with the new professional team.

Many speakers pointed to Hadlock Field and the Portland Expo Center, both of which were previously used by the high school before professional teams largely took over their use.

John Thurston, a parent of a Portland High student, spoke during a school break about his frustration with the school being forced out of its athletic facilities.

“Hadlock Field was our home baseball field, so we are second to the (Sea Dogs) baseball team,” he said. “The Expo was taken over by the (Maine) Celtics so much that we had a Christmas tournament last year and had to cancel the last game because the Celtics' opponent had to practice. And now Fitzy is being controlled by the football team. How do you have a home field without a logo?”

Nancy Harkins, a graduate and teacher at Portland High, noted that Fitzpatrick has been the school's specialty for decades. She recalled that the city had promised that previous leases with the Expo Center and Hadlock Field would not impact the high school's use of the venues – but those promises were not kept.

“If you vote for this amendment, you will destroy the legacy of athletes who enjoyed playing on the field,” Harkins said. “It’s not about the money you can make from these venues. It’s about tradition, legacy and the impact on students and their families.”

Charlotte McDonald, a senior at Portland High, said she has heard from student-athletes who are “disgusted and disappointed” with the proposed on-field changes.

She added that the field is home to Portland's only running track and said she was concerned the team might eventually remove the track.

“Any suggestion of taking that away would leave the entire Portland community without a track to use,” McDonald said.

Later in the meeting, city attorney Michael Goldman clarified that the contract would not allow the team to touch the track.

Gabe Hoffman-Johnson, founder of Hearts of Pine, said the team tried to involve the school in the contract change.

“For four years we have been working on a community dialogue and trying to have a dialogue with the schools,” he said.

Hoffman-Johnson said he tried to contact Portland High's former athletic director more than 30 times to discuss the lease, but his calls went unanswered.

Others spoke in favor of the renovations, saying they would make the field safer and give Portland High students the opportunity to play on a first-class facility.

Portland's Steve Brown said there are safety issues on the field that the team's plan would address.

“I think Hearts of Pine is trying to do the right thing by modernizing the field so it's safer for everyone to use,” Brown said.

Kevin Schol, president of Hearts of Pine, said he felt there was a misunderstanding between the school and the team. He urged the council to pass the contract change and let the team work out the details with the school later.

“We’re trying to pay $800,000 for upgrades that the city can’t afford,” Schol said. “We’re not trying to eliminate any kind of Bulldog pride.”

Allen, the school's athletic director, said that while he had no concerns about a new, safer field, he felt the school's needs were not taken into account in the contract modification.

“I think everyone here would like a new grass field. It is simply that we are not satisfied with the current agreement regarding the specifications for the field,” he said.

“We weren’t really included or represented in any of these conversations. When the proposed amendment came out on Friday, there was nothing in it that we talked about,” Allen added.

CONFUSION AND CONCERN

City Manager Danielle West recommended postponing the vote to give the Portland High Boosters Club time to meet with Hearts of Pine and address its concerns, including questions about press box access, scheduling use of the field and possible logistical issues Problems with having to repaint the pitch over the course of the season. West said she hopes some of these issues can be resolved before the council vote.

West said Hearts of Pine indicated it planned to place a contract for a new turf field on Thursday.

“They scheduled a rescheduled date in September,” West said. “A delay could certainly impact that. The alternative would be to do it in the spring in March.”

However, the motion to postpone the vote failed by a vote of 4-4, with council members Anna Bullet, Sykes and Anna Trevorrow and Dion voting in favor of the postponement and council members Pious Ali, Victoria Pelletier, Phillips and Rodriguez voting against it.

Monday's meeting was full of confusion.

Dozens of people streamed into the gathering at 5 p.m. wearing sweatshirts with the Portland Bulldogs' football and high school football insignias.

As they settled into the wooden seats, people murmured about the history of Fitzpatrick and the importance of a logoed home field.

Shortly before 5:30 p.m., West announced that the agenda item may be moved to a meeting later in October.

After West's announcement, many on the balcony stood up and began to leave – but most returned later after learning they might have another chance to comment. “This is a joke,” someone shouted. The council chambers emptied.

Frank Gallagher of Portland addressed the confusion in public comment.

“I feel like I’m watching in real time tonight how trust in our democracy is being destroyed,” he said. “The idea that two weeks could make or break this project – well, maybe this project has even bigger problems. We have seen an erosion of public trust.”

Gallagher said he was frustrated that little information about the contract changes was available to the public until shortly before the vote. Several other people who spoke during public comment also said they were frustrated by the lack of transparency surrounding contract changes.

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