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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-08-17-REC-min Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 698-4800 Christian Boutwell, Vice Chair Fax: (781) 861-2747 Carl Fantasia Lisa O’Brien Claire Sheth Renen Bassik Weiwei Li Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting August 17, 2022 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, August 17, 2022 at 6:30pm in Room 237 of the Lexington Community Center. Members Present: Rick DeAngelis, Christian Boutwell, Renen Bassik, Weiwei Li, Lisa O’Brien, and Claire Sheth Members Absent: Carl Fantasia Staff Present: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, Christine Dean, Community Center Director, Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds, and Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director Others Present: Evan Andrikos, (Weston & Sampson), Michael Broderick (8 Pine Knoll Road, Lexington), Cristina Burwell (6 Albemarle Avenue, Lexington), Ryan Chmielewski (Weston & Sampson), Brian Healy (Brian Healy Architects), Steve Poltorzycki (Munroe Center for the Arts), Bob Pressman (22 Locust Avenue, Lexington), and Tom Shiple (18 Phinney Road, Lexington) 1. Public Comment – None 2. Meeting Minutes Claire Sheth moved to tentatively approve the minutes from the June 13th meeting, subject to verification by the Town Clerk. Rick DeAngelis seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 4-0 to approve the June 13 minutes. Rick DeAngelis moved to approve the minutes from the July 20th meeting. Claire Sheth seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 4-0-1 to approve this motion. 3. Recreation Committee Email Correspondence – Lisa O’Brien/Claire Sheth Lisa O’Brien reported that there were no new topics mentioned in the emails received over the past month. The request from LHS Athletics to install a storage container at Lincoln Park, which was discussed later during the meeting, was received. Ms. O’Brien thought it would be beneficial to have a conversation on how to utilize the Recreation Committee email going forward and she added that she has heard from community members that it is difficult to find on the Town’s website. Lisa O’Brien and Claire Sheth agreed to put together a proposal on how to revamp the Recreation Committee email. 2 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 4. Liaison Report The August Liaison Report is attached to the meeting minutes. The warrant for Special Town Meeting will be voted on at the September 12th Select Board meeting. Special Town Meeting is scheduled to take place from November 1st-3rd and while it will be held remotely, Cary Hall will be open for Town Meeting Members who want to be in person. Lisa O’Brien, liaison to the Lincoln Park Sub-Committee (LPSC), reported that the LPSC has not met throughout the summer and the next meeting will be held in September. 5. Athletic Feasibility Study – Weston & Sampson Ryan Chmielewski and Evan Andrikos from Weston & Sampson gave a presentation on the 2021-2022 Comprehensive Study of Athletic & Outdoor Recreation Facilities and a copy of the presentation slides are attached to the meeting minutes. Mr. Chmielewski reminded the Committee that this project was borne out of Town Meeting not approving to contribute towards the Minuteman High School sports complex project as citizens were unclear if a complex of that magnitude was needed based on the available athletic facilities and demand at that time. Mr. Chmielewski provided an overview of the key findings from the study. The Town of Lexington has a deficiency in available field hours. This is due to several factors such as poor field drainage, excessive use of the fields due to increased participation rates, field lighting not being maximized at Lincoln Park, and scheduling conflicts resulting from the shift in school start times. As a result, this leads to frustration among the various user groups. There is a deficiency of 6,100 hours in available field hours, 21,600 available field hours as compared to 27,700 field use hours that are needed each year. To sustain good field conditions, the Town has a field shortage of one large rectangle field and fourteen small rectangle fields based on current usage. Excessive use is due to robust participation, multi-season play, and multiple sports being played simultaneously. Lighting the synthetic turf fields at Lincoln Park is cost effective and it is recommended to install lights and extend the shut off time at these fields. Mr. Chmielewski then discussed the action plan, which included a review of items for immediate implementation and high-priority initiatives. One recommendation is to rest three fields each year when planning the capital project cycle. Four concept plans were reviewed (Harrington A, Harrington B, Harrington C, and Clarke) and there are others in the final report. At this point, members of the Committee had the opportunity to make comments and ask questions. Claire Sheth asked when the Lexington Public Schools central administration building would be demolished and Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, indicated that a date for that still needs to be determined. Renen Bassik questioned whether any of the recommendations should be reprioritized based on the field deficiencies. Rick DeAngelis, Chairman of the Recreation Committee brought up the new Lexington High School construction project and implored that the recreational resources are as important to the quality of life in Lexington as the bricks and mortar of the buildings, including the schools. Ms. Sheth asked if it would be possible to project what the loss of field space at the Center Recreation Complex would do to worsen the current field deficiency. Mr. Chmielewski estimated that it would add 2,400 hours to the field deficit and Ms. Battite added that this is something the department can work with Weston & Sampson on since this would outside of the scope of the athletic fields feasibility study. Ms. Sheth acknowledged that the field deficit will change dramatically with the LHS construction project and Mr. DeAngelis added that creating a severe field shortage would not be a great way to plan given how sophisticated Lexington is as a community. Lisa O’Brien asked about the feasibility of doing a land swap with the Lexington Public Schools. Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds, reported that staff and the consultant met with staff from the Conservation Department to review potential improvements and that several sites have been ruled out for the time being due to conservation concerns, such as the 100-year and 500-year flood planes that exist throughout town. Mr. Bassik inquired about accessibility and Mr. 3 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Chmielewski stated that the Town completed an ADA Compliance Study of the recreational resources back in 2017. Members in the audience then had the opportunity to make remarks or provide input. Tom Shiple, resident of 18 Phinney Road, was a proponent of this project and said that he was deeply impressed with all of the thought that went into it. Mr. Shiple’s preference is to see tax dollars used to upgrade the current fields. If lights are going to be installed at additional fields at Lincoln Park, it would make sense to complete this work and the next round of turf replacements simultaneously to minimize the field playability in the future. Mr. Shiple added that he thought a short-term partnership with Minuteman High School during the Lexington High School construction project would make sense. Bob Pressman, resident of 22 Locust Avenue, stated that the Select Board is a strong advocate for equal consideration on the importance of athletic fields and their impact on physical and mental health. Mr. Pressman added that the Center #1 baseball field and Center #2 softball field are outside the scope of work for where a new Lexington High School would be and he believes that multiple recreation representatives must be present when the discussion on where the new Lexington High School will be located takes place. At the end of the conversation, Rick DeAngelis made the following motion: “The Recreation Committee moves to accept the Athletic Fields Feasibility Study that was completed by Weston & Sampson and the summary which was presented this evening.” Renen Bassik seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 6-0 to approve this motion. 6. FY24-FY28 Capital Improvement – 5-year plan – Melissa Battite/Peter Coleman Attached to the meeting minutes are the Committee’s FY23-FY27 Capital Summary Statement and the memo on the FY2024-FY2028 Capital Improvement Plan. Melissa Battite explained that last year was the first year that the Committee had a summary statement on the capital plan. Christian Boutwell, Vice Chair of the Recreation Committee, authored the statement last year and will do so again this year. Mr. Boutwell added that the format will be the same and a brief section with updates on recently funded projects will be included. Ms. Battite mentioned that the statement will have information about maintaining level-service when fields go offline. Renen Bassik stressed the importance of having a prioritization for the projects and rationale within the statement and Ms. Battite reminded the Committee that prioritizing the projects was an exercise that the Committee had done in previous years. Rick DeAngelis believed that the statement provides a good template to use going forward and it will be beneficial to highlight the critical field shortage in town. He also suggested that the Committee complete site visits for the proposed projects to familiarize some of the new members of these properties. Christian Boutwell stated that the ADA Compliance Study, Community Needs Assessment, and the recently completed Comprehensive Study of Athletic & Outdoor Recreation Facilities serve as the framework to determine the needs and wants for the town and he noted that he costs to maintain the current Recreation infrastructure are quite high. Staff will continue working on the plan over the next month and the majority of the Committee’s next meeting on Thursday, September 29th will be spent reviewing and voting on the FY24-FY28 Recreation 5-Year Capital Plan. 7. Munroe Center for the Arts Request – Cristina Burwell Cristina Burwell, Executive Director of the Munroe Center for the Arts, was joined by Brian Healy of Brian Healy Architects and Steve Poltorzycki, Co-Chair of the Munroe Center for the Arts Board of Directors, to the schematic design and drawings for the proposed entry pavilion addition. A copy of the schematic design and drawings are attached to the meeting minutes. improvements at the site. Ms. Burwell stated that improving accessibility at Munroe is the main objective for this project and she provided the Committee with an overview on the operations at 4 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Munroe. This community art center is housed in the old Munroe School and the center rents the building from the Town. Munroe operates its own visual arts and theater programs and summer camp and tenants offer various dance and music programs. The space is typically used for after- school activities during the school year and they utilize both outdoor and indoor spaces during the summer. Ms. Burwell said that the proposed project would build an amphitheater, gender-neutral restrooms, an elevator, parking, and open space. Brian Healy reiterated that the project would provide accessibility for everyone to the existing building, which was built in 1904 and renovated in 1915. The project also calls for the rotation of the existing parking. To date, Munroe has met with neighbors, Town Manager Jim Malloy, the Historic Districts Commission (HDC), Design Review Team (DRT), Fire Chief Derek Sencabaugh, and the Recreation Committee previously to review the project. It is estimate that approximately 9% of the green space would be lost as a result of the project. In addition to the amphitheater, safer parking and a pedestrian walkway will be created. The cost estimate for the project has not been finalized yet. Munroe is hopeful that the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) would provide funding to cover the amphitheater, elevator, restrooms, and green space and that this request would presented to and voted on at Special Town Meeting this fall. Mr. Healy stated that the request is to seek approval from the Committee on the design and direction of the project. Melissa Battite added that while several details still need to be finalized and conversations need to be had, Munroe is looking for a vote from the Committee whether or not to approve the overall concept. At this point, members of the Committee and the public had the opportunity to ask questions and make comments about the proposed design. Rick DeAngelis had questions about circulation, drop-off, exit, and accessible parking and stated that parking needs to serve the functions of both the park and the center. Ms. Burwell indicated that they would need to circle back to the Commission on Disability (COD) and that the proposal would need to receive approval from the HDC, CPC, COD, and Select Board before moving forward. Lisa O’Brien said that having cultural events, which was identified as a need in the Community Needs Assessment, would be attractive. Mr. DeAngelis said he would endorse a project to modernize and upgrade the Munroe Center for the Arts as long as it was done in a fashion that is approved by all involved boards and committees. Bob Pressman, resident of 22 Locust Avenue, inquired about the projected cost (which is still being developed) and stated that one day, the Town is going to recognize that it can’t afford everything that makes Lexington the best community in the state. Renen Bassik questioned if an opportunity to reimagine the use of the field was being missed and stressed the need to protect the Town’s recreation assets. Claire Sheth acknowledged that currently, the green space behind Munroe is used minimally by Recreation. Melissa Battite thought it would be important to be clear on what the gain of amenities and the frequency of use would be. Mr. DeAngelis supported the general concept of an improvement program at Munroe and Ms. Sheth expressed her support for reimagining the space as long as all of the necessary approvals were received. At the end of the conversation, Rick DeAngelis made the following motion: “The Recreation Committee supports the concept of rethinking and reimagining how the Munroe Center for the Arts and the related greenspace and parking are configured.” Claire Sheth seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 6-0 to approve this motion. 8. Storage request – Lincoln – LHS Boosters The request from Naomi Martin, Director of Athletics for the Lexington Public Schools, to place a storage container at Lincoln Park is attached to the meeting minutes. Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds, indicated that the new storage container would be located by the existing utility box and the Lexington United Soccer Club (LUSC) storage container that is currently onsite. After a brief conversation, Rick DeAngelis made the following motion: “The 5 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 Recreation Committee moves to approve the request submitted by the Lexington High School Soccer Booster Clubs to install an equipment box at Lincoln Park, subject to the location being approved by the DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds.” Lisa O’Brien seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 6-0 to approve this motion. 9. Recreation & Community Programs Report The August Recreation & Community Programs Report is attached to the meeting minutes. A joint meeting with the Conservation Commission regarding the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) Update will be held on Tuesday, August 23rd. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September 29th at 6:30pm. The August 17th, 2022 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 9:21pm. Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents distributed at the meeting are attached: • August 2022 Liaison Report • Athletic Fields Feasibility Study presentation slides • Recreation Committee FY23-FY27 Capital Summary Statement • Memo on FY2024-FY2028 Capital Improvement Plan • Munroe Center for the Arts Entry Pavilion Addition Schematic Design and Drawings • Request from LHS Athletics to place a storage container at Lincoln Park • August 2022 Recreation & Community Programs Report