Atlantic Club, Varsity Soccer Deal Imminent

For the second time in as many months, the Manasquan School Board next week is expected to vote on a proposed deal with The Atlantic Club (TAC) that would allow the High School's boys and girls varsity soccer teams to play their home games at the facility's turf field.

Last month the board , as a majority of members cited concerns with the availability of an athletic trainer at the Wall sports club, which currently has none on staff.

Those concerns were alleviated on Tuesday when officials reported that the club's ownership was pursuing the hiring of a full-time athletic trainer in time for the fall sports season. Board members also seemed willing to hire an additional trainer, to be paid for by parent groups from both soccer teams, within the district before learning of the club's plans. 

The proposed agreement would pay TAC $2000 for the season for use of the field. The parent groups have pledged to repay the district, officials have said. 

Board Attorney R. Armen McComber brought more good news Tuesday when he told members that TAC had agreed to remove an "offensive indemnity provision" from the proposed contract that would have forced the district to defend the club from claims in which they were deemed negligible.

McComber had been in negotiations with club ownership for weeks to remove the provision. 

"Upon further review, The Atlantic Club agreed to remove (the provision) and put in just some standard indemnity language that most (school) boards and rental facilities use," McComber said. 

The contract is technically still in the drafting stages, but barring any last-minute changes it should be up for vote at the board's regular meeting Aug. 28.