AUGUSTA — City councilors meet Thursday to discuss the latest gift from the Elsie and William Viles Foundation, a $250,000 donation for improvements to Alumni Field at Cony High School.
The legacy from the late Augusta couple has resulted in donations to numerous area projects and causes over the years through their charitable foundation. Foundation donations include $1 million given in 2013 to provide annual scholarships to Cony students attending a Maine college or university.
Now the foundation plans to donate $250,000 to continue ongoing improvements to Alumni Field, which hosts football, track and field and other events at Cony High School and Capital Area Technical Center.
At their meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, city councilors are scheduled to discuss accepting the donation. The field, though used by the schools, is owned by the city, so the donation needs to be accepted by city councilors, who will likely do so at their next business meeting.
The money would be used for Alumni Field projects recommended to councilors by a committee that has coordinated work at the complex, according to City Manager William Bridgeo.
“The Viles Foundation… God bless them,” said Mayor David Rollins.
As a city councilor, Rollins approached leaders of the family foundation with the Cony Boosters to seek money for ongoing renovations to Alumni Field.
The donation comes with a requirement that it be matched, but Bridgeo noted that matching requirement has already been more than covered by other work at Alumni Field, paid for by the city and by other private donations in recent years.
Work since 2012 has included installing new bleachers, lighting, electrical upgrades, a public address system, new restrooms, concession stand, fencing and an arched entrance.
Bridgeo said the money would be used to finish planned improvements at the athletic complex based on what the Alumni Field Committee recommends.
Councilors are also scheduled to:
• discuss substance abuse issues in the city with Neill Miner, substance abuse prevention program manager for Healthy Communities of the Capital Area;
• discuss selling property acquired by the city at 110 Northern Ave., 10 Kennedy Road, 94 Winthrop St. and 1144 South Belfast Ave.;
• consider amending two city tax increment financing districts so they don’t overlap each other;
• discuss changes to the Airport Advisory Committee Ordinance;
• continue ongoing work on the proposed city budget by reviewing requests for money for public safety and the Augusta Civic Center.
Keith Edwards — 621-5647
kedwards@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @kedwardskj
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