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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-08-15-REC-min Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Sandra Shaw, Chairman Tel: (781) 862-0500 x262 Pamela Varrin, Vice Chairman Fax: (781) 863-2350 Frederick DeAngelis Donald A. Chisholm Richard L. Neumeier RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING August 15, 2001 Members Present: Sandra Shaw, Pam Varrin, Don Chisholm, Rick DeAngelis, Dick Neumeier Staff Present: Karen Simmons, David Pinsonneault, Matthew Casparius Others Present: Bob McConnell and Jack Cunha of the Skateboard/Inline Skate Park Committee AGENDA: 1. The meeting minutes from June 27 and July 24, 2001 were approved. 2. Skateboard/Inline Skate Park Bob Mc Connell reported that some of the skaters are planning to clean up the site up this week. Dave Pinsonneault will also send a DPW crew to spray to kill the weeds. The main problem remains that the committee is short on money. They still want A.J. Martini for the cement and are looking to see if they can reduce their estimate down from $64,000. The committee currently has $42,000.00 in the bank. Chief Casey found $3000.00 for the park and is applying for another $10,000 police grant. Regarding the fundraising, Olga Guttag is away so Bob is not sure what funds might have been received recently. Some school P.T.A.’s are making donations and some are not. The committee has worked long and hard and does not want to see the project fail. Don Chisholm reminded the skate park representatives that the Recreation Committee wants to see signs of progress by the fall. Both the Selectmen’s office and Town Manager’s office have been receiving many complaints about the project. Karen told Rick White that a fall date has been set. A compaction test still needs to be completed and engineering has to sign off on it. According to Bob, Eva Heney of the Lexington Minuteman is going to do another article on the project. Sandra Shaw is still concerned with the fundraising effort. She feels it needs to be more directed to target specific residents by going through the resident listings. Karen asked whether 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 2 the group had considered using professional fundraisers. Bob will meet with Rick DeAngelis to go over the list and try to see what they can do. The Recreation Committee voted a few months ago not to allow the surface to be poured unless there was enough money for some events. Any other decision would have to be re-voted. Tom Noble had received input from the kids as a rough draft and Geller Sport has done the fine- tuning. Don feels that it might be better to get the platform down without a grinding rail and build as many events as they can afford. If we did that we would have to tear up half of the site material. Dick feels that we would be better off waiting until the next meeting before making any decision. 3. Lincoln Park Sub-committee Don Chisholm reported that the Lincoln Park group is continuing to meet with Sasaki Associates. He expects to have a master plan draft later this month. The School Committee has decided not to use Lincoln as school swing space and is considering Estabrook and Diamond as possible sites. The Lincoln Park Sub-committee will be meeting with Sasaki Associates again on th August 27. 4. Sign Policy Peter Enrich of the Board of Selectmen is now concerned with first amendment rights with the sign policy, which he feels opens up a can of worms. The Board of Selectmen voted not to allow public signs to be installed on Town property. 5. Disabled rate Discussion of this issued was postponed until September. 6. Capital 2003 Karen copied the 5-year Capital Plan cover sheet from last year to give the committee an idea of what is coming up. Dick Neumeier had spoken with Karen previously about the idea of getting on board with the schools to try to work with them on the elementary school athletic fields. Dick reported that Robin DiGiammarino of the School Committee seemed receptive to this idea. Dave Pinsonneault agreed to write up a proposal with the prices broken down for each location and send it to Dick and the other Recreation Committee members. Don wondered if we should consider putting a Lincoln Park Sub-committee line item. It would also be beneficial to pick up assignments for capital projects earlier in the year. Dick will plan to present the playgrounds and Don will present the golf course project at Town Meeting. 7. Capital project update The new bleachers are now going up at the LHS football field. The backstop poles at Diamond, Clarke, LHS, and the LHS football field have all been rejected. The fusion bonded plastic covering was defective and the company is working on it now. There have been a lot of complaints from baseball families who feel that the fence contractors ripped down the backstops and had no supplies to complete the project. The School Department Athletic Director, Brian McNally, requested a blue track surface. Rick DeAngelis wanted to note that Karen and her staff are doing a good job in managing this project. 3 8. Parks report Dave Pinsonneault reported that Beta Group has been hired as the engineering consultant for the golf course road project. They will write up the specs and then we will go out to bid. Dave will be meeting with the architect for Harrington regarding the siting of the new school to decide the best use of the space for the athletic field. He feels that some of the work can begin this fall. Dave has asked Landscape Structures to put together a package to replace the Center Tot Lot which is requiring daily maintenance. Nails pop up on a regular basis and children are continuously receiving splinters. Dave is also concerned with the chemicals that could be in the wood. Karen will look into hiring an outside consultant to test the material and provide a safety audit. 9. Recreation report Interviews for the new Assistant Recreation Director were held on August 2, 2001. Sheila Butts, currently a Recreation Manager for the City of Newton, has been offered the position. She will start on September 4, 2001. The meeting was adjourned at 9:25 p.m. NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2001 7:30 P.M. ROOM G - 15