The board of trustees voted unanimously Monday to authorize Mayor Wendell Tripp to sign the agreement between the village and an Ohio-based not-for-profit group, paving the way for a fundraising effort to renovate Doubleday Field and secure the future of the baseball shrine.

The vote brings to a close a two-and-and-half year debate about the proposal thaqt is based on the sale of personalized paving bricks to be laid in plaza-like fashion around the entrance to the grandstand. Money would be used to pay for proposed renovations to the field and also establish an endowment fund for future capital expenses associated with the field.

"We've been a long time doing it, but I believe it will be worth the time spent," said Doubleday Field committee chairman Stu Taugher, who has been a staunch supporter of the proposal from the beginning.

Taugher said he was very pleased with the contract because it provides checks and balances and requires all money be in the village's hands before any work is commenced at the field. Additionally, he added, everything must first be approved by the village board and that provision will guarantee the village a good contract with the Friends of Doubleday.

Mayor Tripp called Monday afternoon's special meeting after getting the approval of Friends executive director Thom Lach for minor changes suggested by village attorney Gar Gozigian.

With little discussion, the board approved a motion from Taugher to authorize the mayor to sign the agreement.

"I don't have anything to add, we've been all through this more than once," Tripp said just before the vote.

The mayor has been as steadfastly opposed to the plan as Taugher has been in favor of it. He has often stated his belief the village should steer clear of entering into a relationship with a private entity like the Friends. "This is a complicated arrangement for a village with many complicated arrangements," he said earlier. "I just worry about the future and hope it works out."

The trustees approved the project initially, but last year asked the group to halt sales until a formal agreement between the two parties could be reached. The vote Monday means the Friends will be able to launch its marketing campaign to sell the personalized pavers.

And the first of those paving bricks may be placed at the field as early as this fall when Friends of Doubleday Executive Director Thom Lach hopes to have a groundbreaking ceremony.

"With the agreement between the village of Cooperstown and the Friends of Doubleday now in place, we can shift our focus toward the implementation of the plan outlined in the this agreement. Our first objective is to work with the village board to develop an acceptable display at the field outlining our plan which will encourage and grow participation from the many visitors to Cooperstown and others across the country," Lach said Wednesday morning.

Friends president and Ohio State University cardiology professor Dr. Ralph Lach had this to say about the agreement, "The dream of a large group of fans to assure the survival of Abner Doubleday Field as the "Shrine of Baseball" along with the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum and the Village of Cooperstown is well on its way. We must now get the message out to the millions of other fans who would desire to do their part through the Paver Project. Our board and many other fans are very excited to have arrived at this important agreement with the village."

Roughly 500 pavers have been sold to date. Thom Lach said the group has been talking with public relations firms and now that the agreement is finalized, he expects to move ahead with a broad appeal. They are also seeking large corporate sponsors to help underwrite a portion of the project.