Northeastern Conference to consider expansion

The Northeastern Conference will hold its October meeting Thursday, and among the items on the agenda will be a vote on whether to invite five Greater Boston League teams and Masconomet to join the conference.The five GBL teams are Cambridge, Everett, Somerville, Medford and Malden. Masconomet plays in the Cape Ann League.According to NEC secretary/treasurer Dick Baker, the league alignment would vary depending on the sport. In cases where every school has a team, the conference would likely be split into three divisions. There could also be sports without as many teams that would be split in two divisions.In football, Baker said the GBL teams and Masco would likely all be in one division with the rest of the conference in the other two divisions, as it is now. The football alignments statewide could all change the following fall (2011) if a proposal by the MIAA football committee and the football coaches association is supported. That proposal would create all-new football divisions with teams of equal strength.Baker said there are also constitutional changes that could be voted on if there is a motion from the floor. All three pertain to league expansion. One would require a 90 percent vote of members to change sports alignments via divisions (it presently takes a two-thirds vote). Another involves veto power (any present member of the NEC would have the veto power to not play a new NEC member in any sport). The third involves voting power (any new members of the NEC would not be allowed to vote on sports alignments and divisions for the first five years of membership). All or none of these could come up for a vote.The issue of expansion has been discussed at previous meetings. On the plus side, Baker said the feeling is that adding six teams would give all schools the opportunity to compete at an equal level and be successful. There were, however, some concerns, among them being an increase in travel time.Dana Brown, the Malden High principal and president of the GBL, made a presentation to the NEC at its September meeting that detailed the sports and levels offered by each school in the GBL, their sportsmanship efforts, the facilities available and a population breakdown of each school.Also at the September meeting, Masconomet athletic director Jared Scarpaci made a presentation that detailed the sports and levels of each at his school, its facilities and a profile that outlined where Masco would fit in with the NEC.Thursday’s meeting is at Calitri’s restaurant on Route 1 in Danvers at 11:30 a.m.