Game almost over for Dodd Stadium Authority member

Gary Schnip to resign, ending long career overseeing ballpark

Norwich — Since before the Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium opened in 1995, volunteer Baseball Stadium Authority member Gary Schnip has kept his eye on the place, noting the cracks, leaks and deficiencies, and taking satisfaction when issues are corrected.

Schnip, the authority member in charge of stadium facility operations from the beginning, has submitted his resignation effective Oct. 31, the day his current term expires. Schnip, 69, owns G. Schnip Construction in Norwich.

“I’ve done it long enough,” Schnip said Monday. “I’ve been on since the beginning, and it’s time to slow down.”

Schnip said now is a good time for him to step down. As the city embarks on much-needed capital improvements to the aging stadium — improvements the Baseball Stadium Authority has pushed for over the past three years — the city Public Works Department is taking a larger role in overseeing the repairs and improvements.

“We’re making some changes which is good, and the Public Works Department is taking over a lot of the stuff we are doing. It makes sense. The authority has done its job. It was

fun, I enjoyed it,” he said.

The City Council approved an $800,000 bond in April 2018 to replace the stadium lights, which no longer met professional baseball standards, and to replace the failing heating and air conditioning system. The bond also is expected to pay to extend the stadium netting along the two foul lines.

The lighting was replaced prior to the start of the 2019 baseball season, shortly after the city and the team reached a new 10-year lease agreement in spring.

Norwich Public Works Director Patrick McLaughlin said the department is looking at the list of projects the stadium authority had compiled and setting priorities for upgrades. The department is working with the city purchasing agent on the HVAC system, and he knows the 25-year-old roof will have to be redone soon. He is looking at other miscellaneous repairs as well, including sealing the exterior concrete walls.

The HVAC system should be done before next baseball season, McLaughlin said. The bond is flexible, he said, and the department will set priorities on what work should be done first.

Mayor Peter Nystrom said despite the shift to the Public Works Department for the more technical aspects of stadium operations, the City Council will have a tough job finding a replacement for Schnip on the Stadium Authority.

“He has been so important,” Nystrom said. “It’s a huge loss and will be big shoes to fill.”