HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-16-REC-min.pdf SUS MO:Ni
ins
Town of Lexington
a Va Recreation Committee
to
APRIL Pr a
.I GI
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
December 16, 1998
Members Present: Sandra Shaw, Pam Varrin, Don Chisholm, Rick DeAngelis,
Dick Neumeier
Staff Present: Karen Simmons, Jon Jalbert
Others Present: James A. Nicoloro; Steve Colman, Bebe Fallick and David Williams of
the Hennessy Field Ad Hoc Committee
AGENDA.
1 The meeting minutes of November 18, 1998 were approved.
2. Senior Golf- Jim Nicoloro
Jim Nicoloro reported that 35 —40 members of the Senior Golf group play every Thursday
morning. He would like to propose an annual fee of$250, like a membership, whereby his
senior group could play Monday through Thursday Probably most players would play twice a
week. He estimates that fee would bring in approximately $8500 per year Johnny Carroll has
instituted a similar policy for seniors on Mondays. Just seniors in his league would be eligible
for this special rate. Jim is also concerned about seniors having to pay the full golf cart rate
when they are using it alone.
Don Chisholm feels that we should see what the policy is at other public golf courses regarding
the carts for seniors. Don contends that the course could lose approximately $77,000 if we
decided to change the policy and offer seniors a membership fee. (This amount is based on
actual number of seniors during 1998.) Sandra Shaw feels that we would be discriminating
against all other groups if we offer this rate only to this group of 35 selected seniors. The seniors
already play at a discount rate of$10 Monday through Thursday before 3.00 p.m.
Karen Simmons would like to look at other options such as having the Recreation Department
run the senior league on one morning per week and charging a senior league rate. Dick
Neumeier suggests that we consider seniors who are 72 and older.
1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02420
2
3 Skateboard/Inline Park Update
Jon Jalbert presented an update on the Skateboard/Inline Park proposal and expressed his
frustration with the committee. The group is moving very slowly on the project and time is
wasted at the meetings because of a lack of focus and agenda. Rick DeAngelis suggested putting
the money in the account used by the Lights Committee.
The Recreation Committee would like to meet with the co-chairmen of the Skateboard/Inline
Park Committee at the next meeting in January
4. Hennessy Field Ad Hoc Committee
The recommendations presented by the Hennessy Field Ad Hoc Committee are attached.
Rick DeAngelis asked if they could link the recommendations whereby the Hennessy land would
be placed under conservation if funds were approved and a new field were to be built at
Harrington. Dick Neumeier concurs with linking the recommendations in the report and making
it more clearly defined when presenting to the Selectmen. Pam Varrin indicated a difference in
the proposals; one costs a significant amount of money, i.e. Harrington, and the other,
transferring Hennessy to Conservation has no cost involved.
The Recreation Committee is disappointed that the first recommendation was to transfer the land
to Conservation.
5 Infrastructure Report-Brian Gilbert and Dick Neumeier
The Recreation Committee has given careful thought to the fact that the School capital projects
to rebuild the two middle schools and the high school, present a unique opportunity to save
Lexington taxpayers significant sums of money with respect to athletic fields, courts, and related
items at these schools. According to the Town Counsel, the reimbursement for the school capital
projects is not limited to the amount in the override. Because the state reimbursement is 59%, it
would be irresponsible for the Recreation Committee not to bring to the attention of the
Selectmen the fact that in the next five years there are several items at these three schools which
are in need of repair and replacement.
These renovations to the following sites are recommended:
Clarke Middle School- multi-use field, tennis courts;two backstops.
Diamond Middle School-playing fields and courts; baseball field; two backstops.
Lexington High School-track surface; irrigation to field inside track, football field and soccer
field, center tennis courts; bleachers; three backstops; fencing at football field and #5 baseball
field.
We should rank the priorities according to site. For instance, at LHS (1) track, (2) irrigation (3)
tennis courts, (4) bleachers, (5)backstops, (6)fencing.
Karen will request that Recreation be put on the agenda for the Board of Selectmen s meeting
next Monday, December 21st.
{
3
Rick would like to compliment Dick on the job he has done on compiling the infrastructure
report.
6 Karen's Report
Karen is pleased to report that the Golf Course RFP Committee's proposal to award the contract
for January 1, 1999 through December 31, 2002 to New England Golf Corporation has been
approved by the Town Manager, Rick White. Karen thanked the sub-committee for their work.
Karen will wait until the January meeting to assign the Town Meeting articles to members.
Karen asked if the Recreation Committee should be speaking to the School Committee about our
infrastructure improvements on their land. The committee members feel that this is a good idea.
Dick will contact school committee member Barrie Peitz. Dick will send a copy of the
infrastructure report to the School Committee with a cover letter from the Recreation Committee.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
NEXT MEETING
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1999
7:30 P.M.
ROOM G -15