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Home My WebLink About2007-03-29-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 March 29, 2007 Town Office Building Room 111 Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Dick Thuma, Sandra Shaw, Bob Boudreau, and Wendy Rudner Staff Present: Karen Simmons, Peter Coleman and Sheila Butts AGENDA: 1. Citizens and other boards There were no citizens or other board members present. 2. Meeting Minutes Dick Thuma moved and Bob Boudreau seconded acceptance of the February 22, 2007 meeting minutes. The minutes were approved by a vote of 5 – 0. 3. Town Meeting Dick Thuma reviewed his draft presentation of Article 29 (Capital) with the Recreation Committee. Karen Simmons informed the Committee that the Board of Selectmen, Capital Expenditures Committee and Appropriations Committee support the three Recreation Capital requests (Center Basketball Court reconstruction, Valley Tennis Court reconstruction and Bowman field renovation). The Recreation Committee had a brief discussion about how to address the funding sources for each project. Both the Center Basketball Courts and Bowman Field projects request funding from the tax levy while the Finance Department recommends that the money needed to reconstruct the Valley Tennis Courts be borrowed, with repayment to come from the Recreation Enterprise Fund. Bob Boudreau and Rick DeAngelis suggested that the funding recommendation be bulleted at the end of each portion of the power point presentation. Sandra Shaw expressed her preference that the funding sources be explained to Town Meeting first, before giving the details of each project. Bob Boudreau suggested that Dick Thuma not say “recommended funding source”, but rather “to be funded by”. Dick Thuma said that he would alter his presentation to include that phrase. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 The Recreation Committee discussed the options available if Town Meeting does not approve Tax Levy Funding of the Bowman Field and Center Basketball Court work. Dick Thuma said that he does not believe it is financially feasible for the Enterprise Fund to pay for these projects. Sandra Shaw stated that, while she does not think Town Meeting will vote against the funding, it would be wise to have a policy and committee vote on the issue. The Recreation Committee voted 5 – 0 to authorize Sandra Shaw to move to indefinitely postpone Article 29a and 29c if Town Meeting votes to change the funding source for these articles from the Tax Levy to the Enterprise Fund and defer the projects to next year. Karen Simmons told the Recreation Committee that Article 29 is tentatively scheduled th for April 9. The Recreation Committee annual report (Article 2) is scheduled for April th 9 as well. Rick DeAngelis will present this. 4. Recognition of Don Chisholm The Recreation Committee discussed the options available for recognition of long time Committee member Don Chisholm. These options include: naming one of the Lincoln Park fields in his memory; placing a plaque at the Pine Meadows Golf Club; and naming the playground at Lincoln Park in his honor. Dick Thuma suggested that a plaque, which includes information about Don Chisholm, be installed at Pine Meadows between the putting green and the first tee. Sandra Shaw said that she would like to see the plaque designed in the sprit of the card distributed at his Mass, including a picture as well as information about his love of recreation and golf. The Recreation Committee voted 5 – 0 to place the recognition of Don Chisholm at Pine Meadows. Sandra Shaw will draft an inscription for the plaque and show it to Marcia Chisholm. Karen Simmons asked the Committee at what point they would go to the Board of Selectmen with their recommendation. Dick Thuma suggested that perhaps informal talks with Board of Selectmen members would be appropriate before Sandra speaks with Mrs. Chisholm. Sandra Shaw said that she would speak with Jeanne Krieger and report back to the Recreation Committee. 5. Parks Report Dave Pinsonneault was unable to attend the meeting. Karen Simmons presented his report to the Committee. (Copy is attached) 6. Recreation Report ?? Karen Simmons reported to the Recreation Committee that the RFP’s have been sent out th for the Open Space and Recreation Plan. The closing date for proposals is March 30. To date there have been no proposals received. This Open Space and Recreation Plan is a joint effort between the Conservation and Recreation Departments and is funded through CPA. ?? The methane gas mitigation at Lincoln Park will come up at this year’s Town Meeting. ?? Summer staff interviewing and hiring is ongoing. The target date for completing the process is May 1. 2 th ?? On April 5 Karen Simmons, Bob Boudreau, Dick Thuma and Sheila Butts will meet with representatives of Lexington United Soccer Club. Dick Thuma updated the Recreation Committee on the issue. LUSC has requested that the Recreation Department turn over the entire operation of the Fall K – 4 In Town Soccer Program to them. This is a program that the Recreation Department began over 25 years ago. More recently the Recreation Department entered into a partnership with LUSC for the management of the program. The Recreation Department pays $13.50 per participant to LUSC to manage the program. If the Recreation Department does not want to turn over the program, LUSC is requesting an increase to $35.00 per child to offset their increased costs, including the hiring of a Director of Player Development. Rick DeAngelis asked why LUSC needs a full time Player Development Coach. Sandra Shaw asked if the fee structure were different for LUSC and other youth groups. Dick Thuma responded that the Youth Sports organizations pay the Recreation Department an administrative permitting fee of $10.00 per child per season. He suggested that the Department look at the total amount of money that youth organizations pay in relation to the fee per field use. The Recreation Committee discussed the feasibility of transitioning the program to LUSC over two fall soccer seasons. They indicated that this would allow for the Department to revise the manner in which field permitting fees are charged to youth and adult groups, and develop a system in which those groups that over use fields are charged accordingly. This would also allow the Recreation Department to recoup the revenue that is generated by the In Town Soccer Program. Since any change in fees requires approval of the Board of Selectmen, adequate time is needed to gain consensus between all of the user groups. ?? Karen Simmons distributed copies of Wendy Rudner’s notes from the March 12 Lincoln Park Subcommittee meeting (attached). Wendy reviewed her notes with the Recreation Committee. ?? The Committee recommended the following changes in the Board of Selectmen Park and Recreational Facilities Regulations: “except for Pine Meadows” be added to regulation # 9 o “under voice control” be deleted from regulation #11 o Change regulation #11 to indicate that “horses are prohibited from any recreation o facility” Add “It is forbidden to use playing fields except as allowed by the Recreation o Department Field Use Policy.” 7. New Business The next meeting of the Recreation Committee will be held on Wednesday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. in Room G15 of the Town Office Building. The meeting adjourned at 9:25 p.m. 3