HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-18-REC-min �p ` ins c
Town of Lexington
�'` Recreation Committee
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314. _„n
APRIL 19
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Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel. (781) 698-4800
Lisah Rhodes,Vice Chairman Fax. (781) 862-2747
Sandra Shaw
Ruixi Yuan
Jason Denoncourt
Recreation Committee
Minutes of Meeting
May 18,2016
A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at 6 30pm at the
Lexington Community Center, 39 Marren Road, Lexington.
Members Present. Rick DeAngelis, Jason Denoncourt, Lisah Rhodes, Sandra Shaw, and Ruixi Yuan
Staff Present. Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Chris
Filadoro,DPW Supenntendent of Public Grounds, and Peter Coleman, Assistant
Director of Recreation
Others Present. Julia Shapiro (COA Liaison) and Tom Shiple (Lexington United Soccer Club)
1 Meeting Minutes from April 27,2016
Rick DeAngelis moved and Lisah Rhodes seconded approval of the Recreation Committee
Minutes of April 27,2016 The Recreation Committee voted 5-0 to approve the minutes of
April 27,2016
2. Citizens and Other Boards—None
3 Liaison Reports
Sandra Shaw presented a liaison report on behalf of the Bicycle Advisory Committee Ms Shaw
reported that the Bike Smart program on Saturday, May 14th went very well. The program was
organized by Peggy Enders from the Bicycle Advisory Committee and Peter Coleman, Assistant
Director of Recreation. Patnck Bibbins and Bruce Kulik were the instructors who led the
demonstrations Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, added that
there was also a bike maintenance workshop held in the Community Center dining room on the
same afternoon that was successful. These events were part of the Annual Bike, Walk, and Bus
Week that was held from May 14th-22"d
4 Recreation 5-Year Capital Plan—Future Projects
Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, reminded the Committee to
be thinking about future capital improvement projects to the recreation infrastructure that could
be included in the FY2018-FY2022, 5-Year Capital Plan,which will be presented to the
Recreation Committee in August. While discussing the recreation infrastructure, a few comments
were made about the condition of the Center Track Field. Rick DeAngelis, Chairman of the
Recreation Committee, expressed his disappointment in the overall condition of the field
considenng it was reconstructed 3 years ago Tom Shiple, President of the Lexington United
Soccer Club(LUSC),reported that a female participant suffered two sprained ankles at the Center
Track Field recently and encouraged the Committee to accelerate the timeframe for when the
Center Track and Field reconstruction project,which is currently scheduled for FY2019 Dunng
the Parks Report, Chns Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds, stated that the field
expenenced significant winter kill prior to the 2015 season. Use of the field will be minimized
during the summer so DPW can aggressively aenfy, slice-seed, and fertilize the field to improve
its condition. Mr DeAngelis indicated that a number of backstops at the baseball/softball fields
around town have started to curl at the bottom and need to be tied down. Mr Filadoro said that
he will have a contractor address these issues
5. Diamond/Clarke Middle School Construction Update
Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, informed the Committee that there has been a
minor change to when the Clarke Tennis Courts will go offline due to the school renovation
project. Initially, the Clarke Tennis Courts were scheduled to go offline after Thursday,June 2nd
Since the courts will be used as a staging area, it has been determined that this will not be set up
until after the school year ends As a result, the Clarke Tennis Courts will now remain online
through Sunday, June 26th As of Monday, June 27th, the Clarke Tennis Courts will come offline
and it is anticipated that they will closed until 2018
6. Lincoln Park Light Project Update
Tom Shiple, President of the Lexington United Soccer Club(LUSC),presented an update on the
light project at Lincoln Park. The permitting process is underway The special permit regarding
the height of the light poles for the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)has been completed. It is
anticipated that the ZBA will discuss this project at its meeting on July 14th Mr Shiple indicated
that the Conservation application is ongoing Kevin Stetson, the consultant that is overseeing this
project from Sanborn Head, is filing the permit for test bonngs with the Massachusetts
Department of Environmental Protection and the test bonngs are scheduled to be completed the
week of July 18th
Mr Shiple also asked the Committee if the Valleyfield play area, located off of Waltham Street,
could be used by LUSC for practices Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community
Programs, believes it had been transferred over to the Conservation Department,but staff would
need to research if this parcel of land.
7 Recreation Report
• Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, distributed a copy of
the ACROSS Lexington Map to members of the Committee There are currently six
routes in this network with additional routes being pursued. Ms Simmons indicated that
the volunteers affiliated with the oversight of this program have done a great job
• Ms Simmons then gave a comprehensive update on the Community Center Overall, the
operations of the Community Center are going well. Programming at the facility has
steadily increased throughout the year, going from 21 programs in Summer 2015,to 40
classes in Fall 2015,to 50 programs in Winter 2016, to 60 classes in Spring 2016, and
there are 66 classes scheduled for the upcoming Summer 2016 season. As of May 1st, the
attendance was over 80,000 since the facility opened July 6, 2015 The staff has
processed 7,500 transaction at the counter by the main entrance, received over 7,000
phone calls The membership card system went into effect April 1st and staff have issued
approximately 1,500 membership cards to date The Community Center Program
Advisory Committee will begin meeting in June Its members will be appointed by the
Town Manager and will include and individual from the Council on Aging, Youth
Service Council, School Committee, Recreation Committee, Cary Library, and two
community members Lisah Rhodes will serve as the liaison from the Recreation
Committee The Community Center received a grant from the Dana Home for
approximately $24,500 for our senior wellness program. The grant application that was
submitted to the Community Endowment of Lexington was rejected by their selection
committee
• The golf course is getting greener and business is picking up at Pine Meadows The
USGA is scheduled to conduct its semi-annual turf evaluation at Pine Meadows on May
25th
3
• The Irving H. Mabee Town Pool Complex and the Old Reservoir will open for the season
on Saturday, June 4th
• The Open Space and Recreation Plan(OSRP)has received final approval by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts The OSRP will be good for seven years through 2022
and a copy of the plan will be posted on the department s website
• Tyler Radicioni, Recreation Supervisor,will be starting a 5t''/6t''grade and 7t''/8t''grade
summer basketball league this year He will be overseeing this new program as well as
the NFL FLAG Football League this fall. Ms Simmons complimented Mr Radicioni for
his innovation and oversight of these programs
• Lastly, Ms Simmons provided the Committee with an update on the current capital
improvement projects A concept plan for the Marvin Playground project has been
created. Abutters were notified about the project and asked to submit their comments
about the plan. Staff will compile the responses and send them to the playground
consultant for consideration. The Marvin and Sutherland basketball court reconstruction
project is underway A final draft of the ADA study should be completed this summer
The renovation project at the Lincoln softball field will begin in the fall. Funding for all
FY2017 capital improvement projects will become available on July 1st
• Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation,provided a bnef update on summer staff
and summer programs The summer staff is now complete and all positions have been
filled. The Tennis Booth opened for the season on Saturday, May 14t' The aquatics
staff onentation will be held on Thursday, May 26t' The onentation for all other
summer employees will take place on Saturday,June 18t' The majorrty of our summer
programs, camps, and clinics is scheduled to begin the week of June 27'
8. Parks Report
Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds,provided the Parks Report. Staff are in
the process are preparing the aquatics facilities for Opening Day on June 4t' The two-person
field crew has been extremely busy making up approximately 18-22 fields each day Three new
staff members were hired over the winter The annual DPW Truck Day will be held on Thursday,
May 19t''from 10 OOam-2 OOpm. Lexington won a national award for its snow removal during
the Winter 2014/2015 season. The Garden Club sale that was held recently went very well. The
public restrooms at the Center Recreation Complex(Park Drive) and Lincoln Park are scheduled
to be open from sunrise to sunset. The Park Drive bathrooms are maintained by DPW and
cleaned every weekday and the Lincoln Park restrooms are maintained by the Facilities
Department. The annual Lions Club 4t'of July Carnival is scheduled to be held at Hastings Park
once again this year
The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 15,
2016 at 6.30pm in Room 242 of the Lexington Community Center
The May 18, 2016 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 7 30pm
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Coleman
Assistant Director of Recreation