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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-01-21-REC-min`O VS MOg op 1775 �c �- oW A 3 z a0 APRIL 19 � Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Richard Thuma, Vice Chairman Wendy Rudner Sandra Shaw RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING January 21, 2009 Town Office Building — Room G15 Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Dick Thuma, and Sandra Shaw Staff Present: Karen Simmons, Dave Pinsonneault and Sheila Butts AGENDA 1. Citizens and Other Boards There were no citizens or other boards present. Tel: (781) 862 - 0500 x262 Fax: (781) 861 -2747 2. Meeting Minutes of December 17, 2008 • Dick Thuma moved and Rick DeAngelis seconded acceptance of the Recreation Committee meeting minutes of December 17, 2008. The Recreation Committee voted 3 — 0 to accept the minutes as presented. • Dick Thuma moved and Sandra Shaw seconded the acceptance of the Recreation Committee Executive Session minutes of December 17, 2008. The Recreation Committee voted 3 — 0 to accept the minutes as presented. Liaison Reports There were no Liaison Reports presented. 4. Brian Adley — Synthetic Turf on Football and Senior Baseball Field Brian Adley was not present due to illness. He will be available to meet with the Recreation Committee at the February meeting. Karen Simmons briefed the Recreation Committee on Mr. Adley's general presentation and proposal. He is in the process of putting a committee together with William Dailey as a possible chair. The purpose of the committee is to facilitate the reconstruction of the Center Track Field, Football Field and Senior Baseball Field at the Center Recreation Complex using synthetic turf. The project would also include reconstruction of the Center Track and lighting. Mr. Adley told Karen Simmons that he currently has a pledge of $1,000,000 donation from some Lexington corporations. Dick Thuma asked if Mr. Adley were aware that public bidding laws would apply even if private donations were made for the project. Karen Simmons noted that if the project goes forward she would discuss this with the Town Manager. She also told the Recreation Town of Lexington Recreation Committee 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 Committee that she is meeting with Mr. Adley on February 11 to review the process, standards, general nature of the project, and protocols going forward. The Recreation Committee discussed the general nature of the project and agreed that they as a committee could conceptually approve the project, but would need funding information, a more detailed scope of work, timeline and construction plans before voting to approve the reconstruction. The Recreation Committee does encourage Mr. Adley to formalize his committee and move forward. 5. Recreation Enterprise Fund — Finance Department The Finance Department was scheduled to present their Recreation Indirect Analysis Report and a report on the Retained Earnings of the Recreation Enterprise Fund. Unfortunately, they were unable to attend. Karen Simmons will contact Rob Addelson, Assistant Town Manager of Finance to see if he is available to attend the next meeting on February 11, 2009. 6. Recreation Report • Karen Simmons reported that she had received an email from Fatemah Mojtabai, Friends of Lexington Tennis Association, who attended the November Recreation Committee meeting. Ms. Mojtabai expressed her concern that the minutes of the meeting did not accurately reflect her discussion with the Recreation Committee. The Recreation Committee requested that the Recreation Director furnish the Committee with Ms. Mojtabai's email and attach it to the minutes of the January 21, 2009 meeting without comment. • The annual pre- season spring /summer permit holders' meeting will be held on Monday, February 23, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. All 2008 spring /summer permit holders have been sent a letter announcing the meeting. • Karen Simmons reported that she had received numerous emails as a result of the Sunday Boston Globe article on synthetic turf fields. Gerry Cody, Health Director has sent out a press release to the local papers and posted on the Town Web Site and the TMMA site. Mr. Cody's press release reads as follows: "Lead has not been detected in Lincoln Field's artificial turf A recent Boston Globe article (In fake grass, some see real threat -Tests reveal lead in school fields, By Megan Woolhouse, Globe Staff January 19, 2009) discussed concern about athletic fields constructed out of artificial turf, which may pose a threat to children due to the lead contained in the synthetic fibers. Last spring, the Office of Community Development, Health Division, Board of Health and the Town of Lexington Recreation Department proactively researched this issue by contacting the manufacturer of the artificial turf for Lincoln field. It was revealed that lead was not used in the manufacturing process of this synthetic fiber material. In addition, two independent testing laboratories had been hired (by the Health Division and Recreation Department) to collect samples of artificial turf to be analyzed for the presence of lead. Both test results came back as Non - Detectable (ND), which indicates that lead was not present in these samples of artificial turf." Karen Simmons reported that the Development Review Team has met recently with representatives of the new owner of the Lexington Gardens property. The owner is considering donating a small parcel of the site closest to the Diamond Middle School property to the Town for Recreation and Conservation use contingent upon a few items. The owner's representative alleges that three of the proposed acres are dry land and one acre is wet. Dick Thuma suggested that (prior to any agreement between the Town and the developer) the Town obtain a map with any wetlands clearly delineated on it. He further suggested obtaining a copy of the Phase 1 Site Assessment, which should include a 21E site investigation. This investigation would determine the probability of contamination on the site. The "21E" should be reviewed prior to any site or land testing. The annual process of hiring summer staff and planning for summer programs has begun in earnest. The January 15 Middle School Tubing Program was very successful and enjoyable for all participants and chaperones. Dick Thuma inquired how the Department made out financially with the Center Basketball Court reconstruction project. Karen Simmons and Dave Pinsonneault reported that there are a couple of punch list items, including reconstructing 3 sections of the concrete sidewalk along the parking lot. The contractor did not follow the specifications and therefore must reconstruct it, with granite curbing, in the spring. It is estimated that the project will come in under budget. We still need to stripe the backboards, purchase benches and purchase trash barrels. Since this was tax levy money appropriated by Town Meeting, the balance will be returned to the General Fund. 7. Parks Report Dave Pinsonneault offered the following report: • He and Karen Simmons have met with the Louis Berger Group to review the Water Mitigation Project proposals for the Old Reservoir. The Louis Berger Group is setting up a meeting with the Department of Environmental Protection to review the project on site. DEP can provide advice and answer questions up until the grant application opens in April. Karen Simmons told the Committee that the Town Manager had added both Phase 1 and 2 to the list of projects submitted to the State for consideration as Public Works projects. The Bowman field construction project was rebid. The new bid came in at $24,000 and the project will begin again in the spring. Part of the project will include adding shade structures over the two dugout areas. This is a continuation of work begun by school representatives to install appropriate sun safety shelters to the outside play areas at Bowman School. The bid for the backstop at the Bridge School baseball field came in at a good price. The backstop will be installed in the spring. It is expected that the entire Bridge Field reconstruction project will be completed under budget. The Center Playfields Drainage Study Report was submitted to DPW and the Recreation Department on January 21. Dave Pinsonneault and Karen Simmons are reviewing the study. Approximately half of the work has been completed on the Old Reservoir Gate House. The work had to stop due to the snow and extreme weather. It will continue in the spring. 8. New Business • The Recreation Committee reviewed the presentation of the Town Meeting Articles. Sandy Shaw will present the (3) Community Preservation Articles and Rick DeAngelis will present the athletic field reconstruction. The next Recreation Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 in Room 111 of the Town Office Building at 7:00 p.m. The January 21, 2009 Recreation Committee meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.