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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-12-04-CPC-min Minutes of the Community Preservation Committee Thursday, December 4, 2014 Selectmen's Meeting Room, Town Office Building 1625 Massachusetts Avenue 3:00 pm Committee Members Present: Marilyn Fenollosa, Chair; Richard Canale,Norman Cohen, David Horton, Jeanne Krieger, Leo McSweeney(arrived at 3:40 pm), Bob Pressman and Sandy Shaw. Absent: Dick Wolk, Vice-Chair Administrative Assistant: Nathalie Rice Also in attendance was David Kanter, Vice-Chair of the Capital Expenditures Committee. The meeting was called to order at 3:04 pm. by Ms. Fenollosa. 1. Committee Business a.) Staffing Changes—The Committee bid farewell to Ms. Rice, who will assume the role of Town Clerk for Lexington. She expressed her gratitude for six years of enjoyable work for the Committee. b.) New FY16 Project- Minuteman Bikeway Wayfinding Signs, Design Funds — Ms. Fenollosa noted the receipt of a new FYI project, which had been delivered to Ms. Rice on the day of the meeting. Mr. Pinsonneault, Operations Manager for DPW addressed the application later in the meeting. c.) Needs Assessment Report—Ms. Fenollosa reminded members of the December 11th Public Hearing at the Cary Library at 7:00 pm. She said she would have comments to the Committee by Monday, the 81h 2. Park and Playground Improvements, $68,000 —The Committee met with Peter Coleman, Recreation Supervisor and Chris Filadoro, Public Grounds Superintendent to present six Recreation projects. David Pinsonneault, Operations Manager for DPW, was also in attendance for the presentations. Mr. Coleman explained that the request for the current project was for renovations to the Marvin Park playground, located on Morris Street. The project included the replacement of permanent playground structures, benches and trash barrel holders, as well as the installation of a new safety surface. The ADA- approved surface would be a wood/cork material twelve to fourteen inches in depth. The Committee voted(7-0) in a straw vote to support this project. 3. Park Improvements—Athletic Fields, $85,000. Mr. Filadoro presented this project, explaining that the request was for re-sodding the natural grass softball field at Lincoln Park, and the installation of permanent benches, trash barrel holders and a backstop. In response to a question from David Horton, Mr. Filadoro explained that the renovations to the field were expected to have a 10-15 year life expectancy. The Committee voted in a straw vote (7-0) to support this project. 1 4. ADA Accessible Study, $78,000 —Mr. Coleman presented this project, explaining that the request for CPA funding was for a thorough review of all Town recreation facilities to assess them for ADA compliance. (School playground facilities are evaluated separately by the School Committee and are not included in this request.) In response to a question from Ms. Fenollosa, Mr. Pinsonneault stated that the consultant for the study would contact the Lexington Commission on Disabilities as part of its review. Mr. Pinsonneault noted that the consultant will review all Town facilities, even those ADA compliant ones recently renovated with CPA funds. (Leo McSweeney joined the meeting at this point.) The Committee voted(7-0-1) in a straw vote to support the project, with Mr. McSweeney abstaining since he had missed the majority of the discussion. 5. Park Improvements—Hard Court Resurfacing, $55,000 —Mr. Coleman explained that this CPA request for funding was for re-surfacing the Sutherland and Marvin Park basketball courts. The project would include the installation of new backboards and poles. The Committee supported this project in a straw vote of(8-0). 6. Lincoln Field Improvements, $220,000 —Mr. Filadoro explained that the replacement of Lincoln Field#1 had been successfully litigated. (The synthetic field surface had been improperly installed, and the contractor had been taken to court by the Town.) Mr. Filadoro said the new surface was ready to install, but that weather conditions might postpone the installation until the spring. He said it was possible that Field#2 and#3 might be bid at the same time to be most cost effective, though the replacement would happen in successive years. In response to a question from Mr. McSweeney, Mr. Coleman explained that there are a number of users of the Lincoln Fields who pay to use the facility. Mr. Coleman reported that these fees bring in approximately$35,000 per year, which then allocated to the Recreation operating budget. The CPC voted (8-0) to support this project. 7. Recreation Site Assessment of Potential Land Acquisition—Mr. Coleman explained that there was no information available on this potential acquisition. The Committee discussed the use of CPA administrative funds for appraisals should there be an immediacy to the acquisition. It appeared that there was no immediacy, however, in this case. 8. Battle Green Streetscape Improvements, $140,000 —Mr. Pinsonneault presented this project to the Committee, explaining that the $140,000 requested would be used to hire an architect/engineering firm to take the concept plan to 100% design. The consultants will deliver plans and cost estimates for work proposed around the Green. There was some confusion over the project request form; Mr. Pinsonneault clarified that the total project costs was $200,000 of which$140,000 would be sought in CPA funds. (Mr. Pinsonneault will submit a corrected application.) There was a general discussion of the previous CPA projects in and around the Green, and members sought an explanation of the Battle Green Master Plan and Center Streetscape Committee overlap. Members noted the receipt of the First Parish request to do sidewalk renovations; Mr. Pinsonneault said he would contact the Church regarding the plans for the sidewalks. Mr. Pinsonneault also indicated that he 2 would submit an update on all the recent Battle Green projects supported with CPA funds. The Committee voted in a straw vote(7-0-1) to support the project. 9. Minuteman Bikeway Wayfinding Signs—Design Funds, $39,000—Mr. Pinsonneault agreed to speak briefly about this project, though he said Town Engineer, John Livsey would likely present it to the Committee. The project had just been presented to the Committee at the beginning of the meeting, (and to Ms. Rice earlier that day). Ms. Fenollosa opened the discussion by noting her frustration with the late submittal. The Committee had received two late applications in November; this would make the third. Ms. Fenollosa noted that all three projects had been submitted to the Finance Director and Town Manager on time, but had not been immediately identified as CPA-eligible. Town Counsel, Kevin Batt, had been consulted on this latest project and had determined that it was CPA eligible. Mr. Pinsonneault explained that the Wayfinding Sign Design project was an outgrowth of a detailed study funded with state grant monies. The study addressed safety, signage and use of the Bikeway. The Committee held a lengthy discussion of the project, with members expressing concern that Lexington seemed to be shouldering the cost for design work that would benefit Arlington and Bedford. The length of Bikeway in these towns is 3.5 miles and 1 mile respectively. Mr. Pinsonneault reported that the other communities have been contacted regarding signage on the Bikeway, but have chosen not to attend planning meetings for the initiative. Mr. Canale reported on Planning Board involvement in the project, and Ms. Fenollosa noted that some of the signs would need HDC approval. Members took a straw vote on the project (6-0-2), and asked to see Town Counsel's opinion. Mr. Livsey is scheduled to present the project to the CPC on December 18th at 3:00 pm. 10. Budgeting Plan—Mr. Pressman noted that Rob Addelson prepared for the Ad Hoc Facilities Committee a financial planning guide that extends to 2025. He said he would like to see a similar planning document for the CPC,particularly relative to debt service. Members suggested that Mr. Addelson's CPA planning guide would fulfill that need, but it was noted that the guide may not extend far enough. The following documents were presented at the meeting: 1. FY2016 Program Improvement Request Form—Minuteman Bikeway Wayfinding Application. Received December 4, 2014. The meeting was adjourned at 5:00 pm. Respectfully submitted, Nathalie Rice Administrative Assistant Community Preservation Committee 3