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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-12-18-REC-min`OVS Mop 1175 q M 9 Town of Lexington -c > r w ; Recreation Committee 4 a 2 MINI fX f N G"io� Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 862 - 0500 x262 Wendy Rudner Fax: (781) 861 -2747 Sandra Shaw Howard Vogel, Vice Chairman Lisah Rhodes Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting of December 1.8, 2013 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in the ,Parker Room at the Town Office Building. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Lisah Rhodes, Wendy Rudner, Sandra Shaw Members Absent: Howard Vogel Staff Present: Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation, and Sheila Butts, Assistant Director Others Present: Todd Cataldo and Shane Arnold, President of Little League 1. Citizens and Other Boards: none 2. Meeting minutes from November 20, 2013 Discussion and approval of the November 20, 2013 Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes is tabled until the January 2014 meeting. Liaison Reports • Lincoln Park Subcommittee • Wendy Rudner reported that the next meeting of the Lincoln Park Subcommittee will take place in January 2014. • Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation, informed the Committee that the Department would be very enthusiastic about partnering with the Bicycle Advisory Committee to bring new, innovative programs to the new Community Center. Sandra Shaw, liaison to the BAC will make this information known to other BAC members. • Rick DeAngelis asked when the town would officially move into the new Community Center. Ms. Simmons noted that the plans are very fluid, but that currently the target is currently late fall 2014 /early winter. 4. Little League— Baseball Lights/ Field Swap — Fitzgerald Field & Lincoln # 2 • Mr. Todd Cataldo reviewed his proposal to install lights on one of the town's little league fields. • Rick DeAngelis provided the committee with an overview of previous discussions on this subject. He further noted that there would most likely be some Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issues at Lincoln Park, which could further increase the cost of the installation. • Karen Simmons reviewed the history of the field and explained that Little League would need to support any proposal for lights or a field swap going forward. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETI`S 02420 • Mr. Cataldo noted that even with the new Musco Lighting Systems some degree of excavation at the field would be required, and that DEP would be involved. • Mr. Cataldo recommended that Center 4 (Fitzgerald Field) would therefore be the most appropriate location for the installation of lights. He understands the space limitations at this field, and affirmed that the backstop would need to be relocated. • The LHS Softball programs do use Center 4 for practices and occasional games, but it is not their primary JV softball field. Shane Arnold, President of Lexington Little League told the Committee that this use has caused some damage to the field, in particular around the pitchers mound. He added that Little League prefers a field swap with Lincoln Park field 2. He believes that it mares more sense for the community as a whole. Lexington Little League is not able to currently host weekend Bay State summer travel programs as they do not have access to two adjacent fields. • Additionally, Little League wants to add a 50/70 field to promote a program serving those boys and girls who are above the Majors, but not comfortable enough playing on a regulation diamond. Rick De Angelis does not wish to dilute the 13 year -old Babe Ruth League numbers by adding an intermediate league. Mr. Arnold advocates for a slower progression between Little League and the Babe Ruth League. Lisah Rhodes asked what other communities do, to which Mr. Arnold responded that Woburn has a 50/70 league, which is successful. He also noted that towns are losing increasing numbers to AAU teams. • Karen Simmons expressed concerns about program expansions without the necessary infrastructure and resources to support them, or the existing programs. • The Recreation Committee discussed all options before them. The issues include the current naming of the Fitzgerald Field and what to do if the fields are swapped; the logistics of the field swap; and the installation of lights. They posed. the question: "What is most important to Little League — lights at Center 4 or 2 fields at Lincoln Park ?" Mr. DeAngelis noted that the final decision needs to be a "win — win" for all concerned. • Ms. Simmons noted that if Lincoln 2 became a Little league field the Recreation Softball Leagues and other permitted softball programs would be displaced. ® Shane Arnold told the Committee that he will speak with the Little League Board of Directors before making a final choice. He will make every attempt to have an answer by the January 15th Recreation Committee meeting. • Mr.Cataldo also inquired about the possibility of installing signage at the field (s) to thank sponsors. The Committee Members indicated that the signage would require approval of the Board of Selectmen. 5. Recreation 5 -Year Capital Plan — FY2015- FY2019 • The Recreation Committee postponed discussion of presentations to Town Meeting until January. 6. Recreation Report Karen. Simmons, Director of Recreation reported on the following: • New England Golf Corporation has been awarded the Pine Meadows Contract for 2014, 2015 and 2016. There is also the option to mutually agree to extend the contract for two additional 1 -year periods. Seven vendors pulled bid documents and plans for the contract, but only one vendor submitted a bid. • A company has been hired to do a wetlands delineation study for upcoming Pine Meadows pond dredging work. • The Sutherland field and backstop bid closed in November. A contract was issued for field work and for the backstop. • The Lincoln 1 turf project has been delayed by weather. The department tried to be accommodating to users this past fall. The project started at the end of October, but since 2 there has been snow on the fields the finished project will not be completed until March or April, with the paving work scheduled for May. A bill is moving it way through the legislative process to increase the minimum wage in Massachusetts. This will impact the Recreation Operating Budget for FY2015. The department will present a fee increase proposal to the Committee in January. If the Recreation Committee approves thy, *t6mmendations the department will present to the Board of Selectmen on January 27. The department received an email requesting the construction of an outdoor skating rink. The resident was invited to a future Recreation Committee meeting to present their proposal. 7. Parks Deport Chris Filadoro, Superintendent of Public Grounds, was unable to attend the meeting. No report has been filed. New Business: ® The next meeting of the Recreation. Committee is scheduled on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Town Office Building Parker Room (G -15). This is Howard Vogel's last official day as a member of the Recreation Committee. He moved out of Lexington. ® The December 18, 2013 meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Sheila Butts Assistant Director