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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-16-REC-min Recreation Committee 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 August 16, 2017 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, August 16, 2017 at 7:00pm in Room 237 of the Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Road, Lexington. Members Present: Lisah Rhodes, Sandra Shaw, and Ruixi Yuan Members Absent: Rick DeAngelis, Jason Denoncourt Staff Present: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, Christine Dean, Community Center Director, and Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds Others Present: Doug Lucente (Board of Selectmen liaison) 1.Meeting Minutes from July 19, 2017 Sandra Shaw moved and Ruixi Yuan seconded approval of the Recreation Committee Minutes of July 19, 2017. The Recreation Committee voted 3-0 to approve the minutes of July 19, 2017. 2.Citizens and Other Boards € None 3.Liaison Reports Sandra Shaw, liaison to the Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), informed the Committee that a bike corral is set up at the Farmers Market the second Tuesday of each month. The corral helps to promote an alternative means of transportation and has become very popular. Doug Lucente, Board of Selectmen liaison, added that representatives from the bike share program named th Zagster gave a presentation to the Selectmen on August 14. This initiative, which is being led by the Economic Development Department, would call for the program to be offered on a trial- basis with the potential location being in Lexington Center near the Visitors Center. 4.Executive Summary of the ADA Compliance Study Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, provided the Recreation Committee with an overview of the ADA Compliance Study. The consultant Activitas was hired in 2016 to complete an ADA compliance study, which evaluates the accessibility at the Towns parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, and recreational facilities. The study also reviews and identifies any accessibility issues present on the pathways at each of these sites. The three priorities identified in the study are the Old Reservoir, the Pine Meadows Golf Club, and neighborhood parks and playgrounds. In addition to being reviewed by Ms. Battite and Dave Pinsonneault, DPW Director, the draft of the study has been presented to the Commission on Disability. Ms. Battite indicated that she is pleased with the results and finished product and the recommendations in the study will be incorporated in future capital improvement projects. Members of the Recreation Committee and Doug Lucente requested that the draft be sent to them electronically. Upon completion, copies of the study will be distributed to the Recreation and Community Programs Department, Recreation Committee, DPW, and the School Department. 2 Ruixi Yuan made the following motion: The Recreation Committee votes to accept the draft and finalize the Recreation Facilities and ADA Compliance Study. Sandra Shaw seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 3-0 to approve. 5.Capital Budget FY2019-FY2023 Peter Coleman, Assistant Director of Recreation, presented a draft of the FY2019-FY2023 Recreation 5-Year Capital Plan. The plan includes 13 different categories over the next five years with an estimated cost of over $15 million. The five projects scheduled for FY19 are the Center Track reconstruction project, replacement of the lighting systems at the athletic fields and facilities at the Center Recreation Complex, schematic and design costs associated with the Community Center expansion, a feasibility study for a renovation of the Old Reservoir bathhouse, and the replacement of a mower, bunker rake, and spreader at Pine Meadows. The Center Track project includes a complete reconstruction of the track as well as the installation of lights, a synthetic turf field, and new seating for spectators at the site. In the draft of the plan, the Community Center expansion was identified as priority #2 and the athletic facility lighting project was identified as priority #3. After a brief discussion, the Committee believed that the priorities for these two projects should be switched so the lighting project will be completed in conjunction with the Center Track reconstruction, which is priority #1. Ruixi Yuan made the following motion: The Recreation Committee votes to approve the FY2019-FY2023 Recreation 5-Year Capital Plan, with reordering of Priorities #2 and #3 and the updated plan will be reviewed at the September meeting. Sandra Shaw seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee voted 3-0 to approve. 6.Community Center Expansion Update Melissa Battite informed the Committee that the 20 Pelham Road property will be demolished. A consultant will complete a master plan of the 20 Pelham Road and 39 Marrett Road properties that will involve the department along with Lexington Childrens Place (LCP) and the School Committee. Funding for the design phase of LCP will be voted on at Special Town Meeting this fall with the funding for construction scheduled to be voted on at Annual Town Meeting in Spring 2018. The entire campus is a municipal property now and according to one of the options being considered, the Community Center expansion would be a stand-alone building and include a regulation full-size gym, locker rooms, and a stage with the potential for further expansion and additional parking. While the stand-alone building would be beneficial, it would require additional or a separate staff altogether, so it will be important for user groups such as the Council on Aging (COA), families with young children, and youth and adult groups to advocate for the need of the expansion in the coming months. Members of the Committee expressed their opinions on how the planning process with this project has unfolded to date and emphasized that a use for the Carriage House should be identified during this project. 7.Town Pool Renovation Update Melissa Battite reported that the pre-construction meeting for the Town Pool renovation project with Town staff, the architect (Tom Scarlata from BH+A), and the contractor (Paul J. Rogan rd Company) is scheduled for Wednesday, August 23. Ms. Battite indicated that while not in the original scope, upgrading the technology and information systems will be included to ensure the efficient operation of the facility moving forward. Staff will be able to access the new equipment remotely. Work is scheduled to begin the day after Labor Day and substantial completion is scheduled for May 1, 2018. Staff training with starting up the system in the spring and shutting it down in the fall are also included in the contract. 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421 3 8.Lincoln Park Light Project Update Melissa Battite told the Committee that the light poles have been installed at Lincoln #2. The Lexington United Soccer Club (LUSC) has been posting a blog on their website with regular updates on the status of the project. The ribbon cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for the th night of Sunday, September 10. 9.Parks Report Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds, provided the Parks Report. Mr. Filadoro announced that Colin Doyle had recently been hired as a new employee with the Parks Division. During the summer, staff have fertilized every athletic field in town. Fall work will include roadside and sidewalk cutbacks, improving the visibility of signs, and completing the fall athletic field layouts. Staff are looking forward to the start of the Pool renovation project in three weeks. The irrigation controls upgrade capital improvement project is also a work in progress. 10.Recreation Report Melissa Battite provided the Committee with her monthly update. The August 2017 Recreation and Community Programs Report is included as an attachment to the minutes. The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled to take place on Thursday, September th 14, 2017 at 7:00pm in Room 237 of the Lexington Community Center. This will be a joint meeting with the Community Center Program Advisory Committee (CCPAC). The August 16, 2017 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 8:50pm. Respectfully submitted, Peter Coleman Assistant Director of Recreation The following documents/exhibits distributed at the meeting are attached: ·August 2017 Recreation & Community Programs Report 39 MARRETT ROAD, LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02421