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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-17-REC-min Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 862-0500 x262 Richard Thuma, Vice Chairman Fax: (781) 861-2747 Robert Boudreau Wendy Rudner Sandra Shaw RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING January 17, 2007 Room G15 – Town Office Building Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Dick Thuma, Wendy Rudner, and Sandra Shaw Staff Present: Karen Simmons and Sheila Butts Others Present: Derek Fullerton, Health Department Director AGENDA 1. Citizens and Other Boards There were no citizens or other boards present. 2. Meeting Minutes of December 19, 2006 Rick DeAngelis moved and Dick Thuma seconded acceptance of the Recreation Committee The Recreation Committee voted 4 – 0 to accept meeting minutes of December 19, 2006. the minutes as presented. 3. Board of Health, Derek Fullerton – Old Reservoir Karen Simmons introduced Derek Fullerton, Health Department Director, and thanked him for attending the meeting. Mr. Fullerton presented an overview of the Board of Health recommendation to perform a Full Scale Sanitary Survey of the Old Reservoir. After describing the scope of work of the Sanitary Survey (outline attached), Mr. Fullerton reviewed current water testing practices and state standards with the Recreation Committee. Water samples are taken and tested weekly for approximately 15 weeks, May through August, as is required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Public Health Statutes. Mr. Fullerton indicated that the Lexington Health Department and Board of Health are preventative organizations. Their mandate is to prevent incidents from occurring, rather than solely react to adverse situations. The impetus for this Sanitary Survey at the Old Reservoir stemmed from recent Board of Health Goal Setting meetings. The proposal was then submitted as a Program Improvement Request with the FY2008 Budget documents. Presentations were made to the Board of Selectmen and the Town Manager. The Town 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 Manager indicated that funding for this survey should come not from the Health Department budget, but rather from the Recreation Enterprise Fund. The Recreation Committee asked Mr. Fullerton a series of questions about the rationale behind the proposed study, costs associated with the study, and the history of high bacteria counts at the Old Reservoir causing facility closings, and documented cases of Recreational Water Illness (RWI). ??Sandra Shaw asked what had made the Board of Health suspicious that there is a problem at the Old Reservoir. Mr. Fullerton explained that there is no suspicion associated with the proposed study. Rather, the Board of Health wants to prevent anything from occurring in the future. He indicated, in response to a query from Dick Thuma, that experience has shown him that every body of water should have a sanitary survey done, as the survey is designed to provide more detailed information about bather loads, the effects of rain and runoff on the water quality, etc. ??Rick DeAngelis asked what the Town now does to prevent bacteria from forming in the Old Reservoir. Mr. Fullerton replied that currently the Town does not add any chlorine to the water, but annually treats the area with algaecides and herbicides designed to prevent water plant growth in the water, which could cause elevated levels of bacteria. Additionally, the Recreation Department installed an aerator system three years ago to oxygenate the water. ??Dick Thuma asked what the proposed survey would cost. The Health Department has received a quote from Tutela Engineering to perform the survey at a cost of approximately $30,000. Because the funding for the study would be from the Recreation Enterprise Fund, the Recreation Department would oversee development of the specifications and bid documents and would be in charge of the project. ??Rick DeAngelis asked what the Town Manager’s opinion of the study was, and why he had determined that the Recreation Enterprise Fund should fund this. Karen Simmons responded that Mr. Valente is viewing this from a risk management perspective. He also believes that since the Old Reservoir is an aquatics facility that generates income for the Enterprise Fund, the Tax Levy should not fund the study. ??Dick Thuma asked what the precipitous event was that had generated the idea for the Sanitation Survey. He stated, and Mr. Fullerton concurred, that the Old Reservoir has not been closed due to high bacteria counts in 4 years. Prior to this there were two closings in 2000 and 2001, but no known closings before then. The Recreation Department and Health Department follow all mandated State guidelines relative to aquatics facility water testing. Additionally, there have never been any documented cases of Recreational Water Illness resulting from use of the Old Reservoir swimming facility. Three years ago, Mr. Fullerton did extensive water quality testing for a number of months with the results showing a low bacteria count. ??Wendy Rudner asked if the water test results fluctuated excessively from week to week. Derek Fullerton told the Recreation Committee that there is fluctuation from week to week. The state allows a maximum of a 60 count before closure is mandated. Some tests show virtually no evidence of bacteria, while there were weeks that the bacteria count rose to a 45 count. 2 The Recreation Committee expressed serious concern about this project proposal. Sandra Shaw indicated that she disagrees with the study and the cost. She voiced her opinion that the case has not been adequately made by Board of Health, Board of Selectmen or Town Manager that there is a need for this Sanitary Survey Study. Dick Thuma has serious concerns about the precedent being set by this study and the budget impact it will have. He noted for the record that it is his experience that consultants hired to perform a study of any grounds or facility will always find something wrong that needs to be fixed or further studied. That is what they are in business for and the estimated $30,000 figure for the study could and most likely will grow into a much larger figure in years to come. Mr. Thuma continued on to note that the Recreation Department now spends approximately $1,000 per year for water quality testing over a 15-week period. The proposed cost of the Board of Health’s Sanitary Survey, which is comprised in large part of water testing and reporting, is far in excess of that figure. Rick DeAngelis agreed, stating that if the cost of this study were $1,000 he would not have a problem with it. However, $30,000 is a significant expenditure at a time when the purchases of important items of less expense are being curtailed due to budget constraints. He and the other Recreation Committee members present expressed their concern about the impact this added cost would have on fees charged for use of aquatics facilities. The Recreation Department works very diligently to offer services to residents at a reasonable cost, while maintaining the viability of the Enterprise Fund. The Recreation Committee thanked Derek Fullerton for attending the meeting and for his excellent presentation. They told him how much they appreciate his diligence and hard work, despite their disagreement with the proposal and costs associated with it. Rick DeAngelis offered the following motion: “The Recreation Committee does not see the need to engage a consultant to conduct a Sanitary Survey Study at the Old Reservoir at this time.” The Recreation Committee voted 4 – 0 in favor. Sandra Shaw seconded the motion. Rick DeAngelis told the Committee members that he would draft an email from the Recreation Committee expressing their disappointment, disagreement and concern about the study and associated costs. 4. Capital Articles Karen Simmons reminded the members of the Recreation Committee about the presentation of Capital Articles at the 2007 Town Meeting. Committee members presenting articles should let the Recreation Department know in advance what information and pictures they might need. Dick Thuma will present the requests for the Valley Tennis Court Improvements and Bowman School Field Improvements; Bob Boudreau will present the request for the Center Basketball Court Improvements; and Rick DeAngelis will present the Recreation Committee Annual Report under Article 2. 3 5. Recreation Report Karen Simmons informed the Recreation Committee that Janet Lopez of the LHS Football Booster Club had requested that a volunteer from the Recreation Committee sit on the Booster Club Lights Committee. Rick DeAngelis volunteered to be the liaison. Wendy Rudner volunteered to replace Pam Varrin as the Recreation Committee Liaison to the Lincoln Park Sub-committee. Wendy will meet with Karen Simmons to review the past history of the LPSC. Stephen Kay of Golf Course Design has been hired to redesign the bunkers at the Pine Meadows Golf Course. This year, $20,000 is earmarked out of the operating budget to rebuild three bunkers. Karen Simmons reported to the Committee on the recent issues that have arisen with Dean Curtin who owns the property abutting the Old Reservoir Parking Lot. Mr. Curtin was given a Cease and Desist order by the Lexington Police Department on Tuesday, January 16, 2007, for his violation of Chapter 100 of the Town Bylaws. Mr. Curtin allegedly knocked down an existing rock wall with a Bobcat and began to rebuild it approximately 3 feet further into the parking lot. The incident was turned over to the Assistant Town Manager for appropriate action. In an effort to address the problems with the Gate House at the Old Reservoir, the Town has hired McLaughlin Construction to work with the Water Department to locate and assess the viability of the pipes running from the Old Reservoir Gate House to the stream located behind the path from Marrett Road to the Bridge School. Based upon the findings, this could potentially be a large capital project next year. 6. Parks Report Dave Pinsonneault is out of town at a Turf Conference. No Parks report was submitted. 7. New Business Rick DeAngelis requested that the agenda for the February Recreation Committee meeting include a discussion of possible tributes and permanent recognition of Don Chisholm. Don was a vital part of Recreation in Lexington for decades. The Committee unanimously supports this request. Karen Simmons will provide the Recreation Committee with a synopsis of the “Naming Guidelines” developed by the Board of Selectmen. The next Recreation Committee Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2007 in Room G15 of the Town Office Building at 7:30 p.m. The January Recreation Committee meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. 4