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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-17-REC-min Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 862-0500 x262 Richard Thuma, Vice Chairman Fax: (781) 861-2747 Wendy Rudner Sandra Shaw RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING September 17, 2008 Members Present: Wendy Rudner, Rick DeAngelis, Dick Thuma and Sandra Shaw Staff Present: Karen Simmons, Dave Pinsonneault AGENDA 1. Citizens and Other Boards Tony Porter, Lexington High School Athletic Director attended the meeting to receive a copy of the Recreation 5-Year Capital Plan. 2. Meeting Minutes Amend the August 20, 2008 meeting minutes with the following: Page 3- Add “managing design services”. Page 4, “hat” should be “that”. Acceptance of the amended meeting minutes from August 20, 2008 was moved by Sandy The minutes were accepted by a vote of 4 – 0. Shaw and seconded by Wendy Rudner. 3. Five Year Capital Plan Karen Simmons handed out the Recreation 5-Year Capital Plan. The recommendation to add an ADA study was added to FY2014. In addition, updated information was received from the engineer on the Old Reservoir/Marrett Road Storm Water Mitigation Project and it is recommended to break the project into 2 phases. Phase I will be in FY10 and Phase II will be in FY2011. The estimated cost of the project is much higher than originally estimated. The funding for this project is being requested through the Community Preservation Act, as preservation of a recreation resource area. Karen Simmons also told the Committee that Dr. Bernward Hay of the Louis Berger Group, Inc., who conducted the Water Quality Study, believes that the Town will be eligible for a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) grant through the state. If granted, the state would pay for 60% of the cost of the project. Grant applications are due by June 2009. The Recreation Committee had a lengthy discussion on the Park Improvements- Athletic Field Improvement Project. Members of the Recreation Committee voiced their concern about the carnival and can only support the athletic field renovation project if the carnival moves to a different location. Karen Simmons recommended that a member of the Recreation Committee reach out to all of the stakeholders to begin the dialog. Karen 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 Simmons has spoken with the current Lions Club President and his initial reaction is to move the carnival to the Lexington High School parking lot. Rick DeAngelis volunteered to talk with the Lions Club, Carl Valente and Hank Manz Rick DeAngelis asked about the Town Pool Renovation and asked why the filter project is not in the 5-Year Recreation Capital Plan. Karen Simmons explained that the Recreation Enterprise Fund couldn’t afford to pay the debt on the building renovation and filter replacement until the Lincoln Park debt expires. Next year this will be added to the 5-Year Capital Plan for 2015. Dick Thuma recommended that the ADA Compliance Study be moved from FY2014 to FY2011. After a lengthy discussion, the majority of the Recreation Committee agreed to keep it in FY2014, but will look at it again next year. Karen Simmons and Dave Pinsonneault assured the Recreation Committee that as parks and playgrounds are being renovated, upgrades are made to comply with the ADA. Dick Thuma used Hastings Park as an example where the new benches that were installed do not comply with the ADA. Sandy Shaw stated that the study was for recreation property and not all Town land. Recreation does not manage Hastings Park. Dick Thuma moved that the Recreation Committee support the 5-Year Recreation Capital The Recreation Committee voted 4 – Plan as presented. Sandra Shaw seconded the motion. 0 in favor of the motion. Don Chisholm Memorial 4. - Karen Simmons handed out a copy of the final version of the plaque. Sandy Shaw has been working with the vendor to come up with the final version. The Recreation Committee discussed the dedication ceremony and tentatively will hold the thth ceremony on October 25 or 26 at 10:30am. Sandy Shaw will be the moderator and Rick DeAngelis will speak on behalf of Recreation. She will talk with Marcia Chisholm to see if a member of the family would like to speak. Sandy will also ask Hank Manz if he would like to say a few words. Once the date is confirmed, Karen Simmons will work with New England Golf Corporation on the dedication ceremony. The Recreation Committee would like to stop tee times from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. After the dedication, the course will be open to the dedication guests to play 9 holes at no charge. Karen Simmons will pick up light refreshments such as coffee, juice, water, muffins, donuts and bagels. Dick Thuma moved that the Recreation Committee approve the Don Chisholm memorial The Recreation Committee voted plaque as presented. Sandra Shaw seconded the motion. 4 – 0 in favor of the motion. 6. Recreation Report Karen Simmons reported that the FY2008 numbers at Pine Meadows showed a slight increase in revenue. July 2008 revenues are down 1% due to the weather, and she anticipates a similar decrease for August. Karen Simmons informed the Recreation Committee that the Department had a very good summer and based on program evaluations, the community was very satisfied with the 2 offerings and quality of the programs. Sheila Butts and Peter Coleman did an excellent job managing the programs this summer The Fall ~ Winter Recreation Brochure is out and people are signing up for fall and winter programs. The new youth Flag Football program, run in partnership with the NFL and NRPA, has received great interest from the community. The program will be held at Lincoln Park on Sundays this fall. Karen Simmons has received a couple of complaints from the President of Lexington United Soccer Club (LUSC), regarding non-residents using fields on Sunday mornings. The field use data from FY2008 show non-residents were permitted 1,096 hours and residents were permitted 19,717 (excluding schools and recreation run programs). School and recreation use an additional 30,477 hours. Non-resident numbers include Lexington businesses that reserve field space. Karen Simmons also received a complaint from a non-resident field permit holder that allegedly the president of LUSC interrupted their game last weekend and was very rude and insulting and demanded to see their permit. The Recreation Department has also received complaints because the president of LUSC has identified himself in the past as a town official and displays rude and unprofessional behavior to permit holders. The LUSC president has been spoken to before about interfering with games and was informed to contact Peter Coleman if he has a problem. He has been told that he is not the “Town field police” and should not approach people unless they are on a field where his organization holds a permit. Recreation staff will continue to monitor this situation and if it continues, Karen Simmons will consult with the Chief of Police. 7. Parks Report ?? Dave Pinsonneault reported that work at the Valley Tennis Courts and Center Basketball Courts has begun. ?? The bids for the Bridge athletic fields renovation project are due in on Thursday. ?? Harrington soccer field has had another aeration and over seeding. ?? Bathroom /DPW maintenance building on Park Drive- The Town is waiting for a recommendation from the architect. Rick DeAngelis commended the Recreation and Park staff for doing a great job this summer. The heavy rain made things challenging for the staff and everyone did an exceptional job! Peter Coleman was terrific and his communication was excellent! Dave Pinsonneault and his staff did an excellent job making the fields playable after heavy rains. Rick DeAngelis thanked all of the staff for their commitment and dedication to the community. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee will be held on Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in Room G15 of the Town Office Building. The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. 3