HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-09-16-REC-min.pdf "'ins
•. Town of Lexington
Recreation Committee
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Sandra Shaw, Chairman Tel: (781) 862-0500 x262
Pamela Varrin,Vice Chairman Fax: (781) 863-2350
Frederick DeAngelis
Donald A. Chisholm
Richard L.Neumeier
RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
September 16, 1998
Members Present: Sandra Shaw, Pam Varrin, Don Chisholm, Rick DeAngelis, Dick
Neumeier
Staff Present: Karen Simmons,Brian Gilbert, Jon Jalbert
AGENDA.
1 The meeting minutes of May 20, 1998, June 17, 1998 and July 22, 1998 were formally
accepted.
2. Brian's Report
Two fields at Harrington are being renovated. There was a water line break there on Saturday,
but it was back on line by Tuesday Harrington#1 soccer field has been re-seeded and
Harrington#3 (3/4 field) will be seeded by the last week of October.
The repairs at Clarke tennis courts have now been completed. This is only a short term fix.
Karen and Brian need to develop a strategic plan around tennis court improvements. The nets
are not back in place, and hopefully that will be accomplished by next week.
Test pits have been dug at the two sites proposed for the skateboarding park and a lot of peat was
found. Brian suggests that an engineer be involved for a further analysis of this project. Peat
was discovered two feet down in the area behind Center#2. Brian gave a copy of the results to
Gary Skocay of the Skateboard/Inline Park Committee.
The drainage project at Worthen Road soccer field has been started. The Parks Department is
planning to skin Clarke#2 softball field and is making improvements on other baseball fields.
Brian received a request from the school athletic department to cut grass on the Lincoln#1 field
hockey field down to %" This would require more maintenance so field hockey was moved to
the center soccer field and soccer will use Lincoln#1
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420
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The repairs on the pool have started. Ronnie Russo is there daily to monitor the contractor and
to work on other projects. Seven wells are being put in and the marcite will be repaired on three
pools. The work is expected to be completed this fall. It needs to be complete by mid October
so the area can be winterized by the second week in November.
Karen requested that the counter tops in the pool bathrooms be replaced because they are badly
stained. Karen and Brian will discuss this further to see what can be done.
Brian reported that there are still some projects to be completed at Pine Meadows including
fixing up and finishing the cart paths, doing planting requested by Conservation, and putting in
more trees on the fairway Some Boy Scouts have approached Brian regarding service projects
and he thought some planting might be appropriate.
Pam would like to look at prioritizing the projects and work on the fields. This should be looked
at soon in order to prepare and plan effectively We need to put some time aside to determine
where we want to go on the field situation. Brian is working on the Hennessey project and that is
giving him some ideas. The Center field inside the track, Muzzey,Adams and Harrington#2
fields are currently out. Brian and Karen are currently planning to renovate Center#1 baseball
and Center#2 softball outfields next summer. This will be a large project affecting many
groups.
Rick stated that the baseball program would like to construct a batting cage 72' long x 14' wide x
14' high. LHS softball and baseball as well as the Babe Ruth leagues could use this. This would
require holes and nets. Rick would like Brian to take a look at the site along with Bob
McConnell to assess the correct placement and size. Karen stated that Little League presented a
proposal to the Recreation Committee a year ago and recommended placing it at the Center#4
end of the football field. Before a decision is made the Recreation Committee needs to review
both proposals.
3 Bike Path Map update
Karen will meet with Erna Greene and Bob Sawyer tomorrow to discuss the proposed map so
this report will be postponed until the next meeting.
4 Capital Projects
Karen has received the information regarding Capital Projects Five-year Plan. She must hand.
this in by October 2"d
Karen reviewed the last Five-year Plan and asked for feedback and recommended projects.
The only change in the Five-year Capital Project Plan was the Old Res Management. Karen had
asked the Engineering Department to evaluate the need to rebuild the detention basin.
Engineering felt the project did not need to be repaired at this time and recommended cleaning it
out in the future.
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$25,000 will be left in the Capital Funds that was proposed for the Skateboard Park with a
footnote that the Skateboard/Inline Park Committee expects this will be paid for with private
funds.
Brian and Karen will talk about the costs of improvements at Pine Meadows in more depth
before doing the projects. Engineering projects that the irrigation project will cost$170,000.
This is $70,000 more than their figure 3 years ago. Rick suggested asking Larchmont
Engineering & Irrigation to look at the Pine Meadows improvements and give a quote. The
Recreation Committee agreed that the irrigation system should be completed and that the parking
and shed projects should be bumped up to FY02. Karen will add an athletic field to the Five-
year Capital Plan with options included in the description. Don asked if the DPW funded study
has been started on the dumpsite. This study needs to be examined as a long-range plan.
Harrington would be the best option as a site for building a new athletic field. Option#2 would
be Hennessey and#3 Willards Woods. Clarke was discussed but the area would need extensive
renovation because of the high water table. Dick asked if we could get a firm number on costs to
fix the Clarke fields. A civil engineering firm should do a study The Recreation Committee
will be waiting for the recommendation from the Hennessey Ad hoc Committee.
5 Karen's Report
The Recreation Department fall programs have begun. There have been problems in obtaining
permits at the schools. Jon will be meeting with John Moynihan and Karen will speak with Dan
Busa to get support. Sandra will put this issue on the agenda for the meeting of committee chairs
set by Peter Enrich.
This summer we were not able to use the three-meter diving board at the town pool except for
diving instruction or competition because of new regulations issued by the State Board of Public
Health in May 1998. During the summer we worked with the Lexington Health Department in
response to concerns from citizens, and the State Board of Public Health has granted us a waiver
as a"grandfathered"facility The three-meter diving board will be open again next year.
Karen presented the list of members of the Pine Meadows RFP Committee: Karen Simmons,
Brian Gilbert, Paul Keane, Leo McSweeney,Rick DeAngelis, Don Chisholm and Dan Busa.
6. Pine Meadows RFP (Request for Proposal)
The RFP evaluation committee was appointed by the Town Manager in August. The current
management contract will expire December 31, 1998. The goal of the evaluation committee is to
have a new contract in place by the middle of December. If anyone would like a copy of the
RFP, call Karen. The two representatives from the Recreation Committee on the evaluation
committee are Don Chisholm and Rick DeAngelis.
The meeting was adjourned at 9.45 p.m.
NEXT MEETING: OCTOBER 21, 1998
I ) 7:30 p.m. ROOM G-15