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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-05-28-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 May 28, 2003 Members Present: Sandra Shaw, Pam Varrin, Rick DeAngelis, Dick Neumeier, and Don Chisholm Staff Present: Karen Simmons and Sheila Butts Others Present: Richard Petrasso, Kathryn Von Stetten, Maria Haynes, Sarah Takagi, and Robert Earsy AGENDA: 1. Minutes The Recreation Committee postponed acceptance of the April meeting minutes until the June th 18 meeting. 2. Skate Park Update Karen Simmons and Sheila Butts offered an update on the Skate Park project. The equipment is being installed and the Town is preparing the specifications for the exterior fencing. Sandra Shaw asked what was being done to insure that users wore safety helmets. She noted that the first weekend the park was open very few skaters had safety equipment, and members of the private skate park committee present at the park were not stressing the helmet requirement. Members of the committee discussed possible ways to effectively police safety at the site. Karen Simmons told the committee that included in the fencing specifications would be a safety net designed to prevent foul balls from flying into the skate park from the softball field. Rick DeAngelis asked how high the net would be and Karen Simmons told him that it would be approximately 30 feet high. Pam Varrin also suggested that some signs be placed on the skate park cautioning users about foul balls. 3. Lincoln Park Update Karen Simmons gave the Recreation Committee a brief update on the progress of the Lincoln Park project. She explained that the weather is impacting progress, but the completion date is still targeted for July 25th. Quirk Construction is working on benches, erosion control, and the play structure. Don Chisholm asked if the revised fitness path route had been incorporated into the construction. Karen Simmons told him that it had been. She went on to tell the committee 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 members that the Lincoln Park Sub Committee had agreed to pay for replacement of the fitness equipment not covered in the original Lincoln Park project plans. Pam Varrin asked if the fitness station pads were to be replaced. At this point they are not on line to be replaced. This work will have to be the responsibility of the Lincoln Park Sub Committee. Don Chisholm indicated that the Lincoln Park Sub Committee had fixed the station pads in the past. Karen Simmons told the Recreation Committee about the recent complaints made by Lisa Baci regarding drainage issues on the bike path between Lincoln Park and Middleby Road. She noted that she, Karen Mullins, Dave Pinsonneault and the Town Engineers were working to correct erosion issues that had surfaced before the Lincoln Park Project had begun. 4. Lincoln Park Sub-Committee Member Recommendations Sandra Shaw told members of the Recreation Committee that she had received a letter from David Williams requesting that Parker Hirtle be appointed to the Lincoln Park Sub-Committee. Dick Neumeier moved that the Recreation Committee appoint Parker Hirtle to the Lincoln Park The Recreation Committee approved Sub-Committee. Don Chisholm seconded the motion. the appointment 5 – 0. 5. Tennis Bang Board Richard Petrasso, 39 Parker Street, reviewed the issues about the Center Playground Bang Board. He and other Parker Street residents recommended that the hours of use be modified. Rick DeAngelis noted that the current starting hours are 7:30 a.m. on weekdays and 8:30 on weekends. Don Chisholm asked if the weekday hours could remain the same. The residents indicated that this was acceptable since most of the play was on weekends. Their preference is to have the weekend hours begin at 9:30 a.m. Dick Neumeier suggested that eventually a permanent solution must be found. The residents indicated that the bang board is in very bad condition and is buckling between the studs. Pam Varrin noted that the Recreation Committee had requested that the residents offer some feedback regarding the best solution to the noise problem. She asked them what their preferences were. The residents explained that a new bang board was their first priority, followed by moving the location of the board. Pam Varrin recommended changing the hours of use. Rick DeAngelis suggested that the start time on weekends be changed to 9:00 a.m. on an interim basis. Don Chisholm agreed and recommended that the start time be reviewed again after the current tennis season. Dick Neumeier seconded the motion to change the starting time for use of the tennis bang board. The Recreation Committee voted 5 – 0 to change the weekend and holiday starting hours for the tennis bang board to 9:00 a.m. on an interim basis throughout the 2003 tennis season. 6. Capital Projects Karen Simmons reported that the septic system at Pine Meadows had failed. The system is under the new parking lot. Assistance has been requested from the Town engineers. Since this is an emergency situation the septic system must be replaced and hooked into the Town sewer 2 system. The cost is unknown. In the interim portable toilets are on site, and the Town Water and Sewer division is in pumping out the septic system weekly. Karen Simmons also told the Recreation Committee that the Minuteman Tech golf team has requested tee times in the fall, rather than in the spring. Lexington High School will give up six days for Minuteman Tech to host matches. 4. Recreation Report Karen Simmons reviewed the Discovery Day schedule with member of the committee. Rick DeAngelis gave the Committee an update on Carol Nazarian’s donation in memory of her husband to the Center #1 field. Mrs. Nazarian was interested in financing dugouts at the field, but they have proved to be too costly. Now under consideration are bullpen enclosures or a concrete pad behind the backstop to facilitate an additional viewing area. 5. Parks Report In the absence of Dave Pinsonneault, Sheila Butts gave the Parks Report to the Recreation Committee. ??The drainage on the Clarke baseball field has been dealt with on a short-term basis, with a long-term solution due to be in place at the end of the summer. ??The equipment slated for Justin Park should be installed by the end of June. The water fountain at Sutherland Park has been ordered. Lexington Little League has promised $1,000 toward the fountain with the Recreation Department paying the balance. ??The Temple Isaiah youth group will renovate the safety surfacing at Bow Street on June 1st. Once the surfacing is installed the swings will be put back up. ??The Town is still waiting for NSTAR to hook up the irrigation systems at Diamond and Clarke. The system at Clarke is now being run manually. All other irrigation systems are up and running. ??The Engineering Department has developed a preliminary grading plan for moving the Harrington softball field. A contractor is in place for removing the necessary trees. Once the tree removal is completed the grading plan can be finalized and quotes can be obtained for moving the field. DPW is targeting an August – September construction schedule. th ??The Old Res and Town Pool are on line for the June 7 opening. 6. New Business Wednesday, June 18 at 7:30 The next meeting of the Recreation Committee will be held on P.M. in Town Hall Room G15. The meeting adjourned at 9:05 P.M. 3