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Town of Lexington
Recreation Committee
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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
January 17,2018
A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday,January 17, 2018 at 7:OOpm in Room
237 of the Lexington Community Center, 39 Marrett Road, Lexington.
Members Present: Rick DeAngelis,Lisah Rhodes(via phone),Jason Denoncourt,and Ruixi Yuan
Members Absent: Sandra Shaw
Staff Present: Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Peter
Coleman,Assistant Director of Recreation, and Chris Filadoro, DPW
Superintendent of Public Grounds
Others Present: Doug Lucente (Board of Selectmen liaison) and Steve McKenna(9
Hancock Street, Lexington)
1. Meeting Minutes from December 20,2017
Ruixi Yuan moved and Jason Denoncourt seconded approval of the Recreation Committee
Minutes of December 20,2017. The Recreation Committee voted 4-0 to approve the minutes
of October 18,2017.
2. Citizens and Other Boards—None
3. Liaison Reports—None
4. Capital Budget FY2019-FY2023
a) January 24,2018 School Committee Meeting Regarding the Center Recreation
Complex
Melissa Battite, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, informed the Committee that
the meeting that had been scheduled for Thursday,January 4`h was postponed due to a snowstorm
and has been rescheduled for Wednesday,January 241h at 7:OOpm at the Public Services Building
(201 Bedford Street). Ms. Battite stated that two members from the Recreation Committee
should be in attendance and Rick DeAngelis and Lisah Rhodes said they would attend the
meeting. In addition to the School Committee,the Board of Selectmen, Capital Expenditures
Committee(CEC),and Appropriation Committee will also be in attendance. Ms. Battite noted
that this meeting will be the first time that the School Committee will hear information about the
two proposed projects(Athletic Facility Lighting-#278 and Center Track and Field
Reconstruction-#732). The presentation will be followed by a conversation on the proposed
projects. While public comments will not be accepted, members from the various committees
may need to address questions that are asked. Ms. Battite indicated that Naomi Martin,
Lexington High School Athletic Director,will try to attend. The main question is whether any
portion of the Center Recreation Complex could potentially be used for a new Lexington High
School in the future. At its meeting on December 21",the Community Preservation Committee
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(CPC)voted to approve the full scope of both projects. For project#278,the vote was 9-0 and
for#732,the vote was 7-1-1.
b) Community Center Campus Expansion
Ms. Battite reported that DiNisco presented three concepts for the Community Center expansion
at the Board of Selectmen's meeting on January 8th. There were six representatives from the
Recreation Committee and Community Center Program Advisory Committee(CCPAC) in
attendance at the meeting. There were a handful of people who expressed opposition to the
project. While the Board of Selectmen is in favor of the project, it is uncertain if the timing is
right given the other capital improvements that are needed throughout the community. At the
Board of Selectmen meeting on January 22"d, Carl Valente,Town Manager,will present his
recommended FY2019 budget and the Recreation Committee and CCPAC need to advocate
strongly for the project in the coming weeks. The CCPAC held its monthly meeting on January
11 th and has sent a support letter to Mr. Valente and the Board of Selectmen. The Recreation
Committee agreed that it should send a letter of support to Mr. Valente and the Board of
Selectmen as well given the high demand for program space and the space constraints that are
currently being experienced at the Community Center. The FY2019 request for the feasibility
study is for$250,000 and is scheduled to come out of the Recreation Enterprise Fund. Rick
DeAngelis, Chairman of the Recreation Committee,stated that he is in favor of spending the
money for the feasibility study. This will allow the Town to see where it is at regarding a
potential expansion and he acknowledged that the expansion may need to wait until other projects
are completed,such as the new Fire and Police Station buildings. After some discussion on this
topic, Lisah Rhodes made the following motion: The Recreation Committee votes to approve
funding for the feasibility study of the Community Center expansion using$250,000 out of the
Recreation Enterprise Fund. Ruixi Yuan seconded the motion. The Recreation Committee
voted 4-0 to approve.
5. Reports
a) Recreation and Community Programs
Melissa Battite provided the Committee with her monthly update. The January 2018 Recreation
and Community Programs Report is included as an attachment to the minutes. Ms. Battite added
that the Community Open House will be held at the Community Center on Saturday, January 20'h
from 10:00am-2:00pm. A total of 16 providers will be in attendance to promote several of out-
of-school and summer programs as well as employment and volunteer opportunities and
admission to the event is free. Jason Denoncourt noted the disparity in the quality of the girls and
boys youth basketball clinics that are being offered this winter. Mr. Coleman shared the structure
of the two programs and the differences in the coach and volunteer placements. Staff will look at
the clinics and determine what, if any, changes may be made for the coming seasons.
b) Parks Report
Chris Filadoro, DPW Superintendent of Public Grounds, provided this month's Parks Report.
Tree work at Pine Meadows is scheduled to begin shortly. There will be 3-4 DPW staff attending
the Certified Pool Operator(CPO)course this spring. The Parks Division has been staying busy
with snow removal in recent weeks as it is responsible for the 68 miles of sidewalks in town. The
Fletcher Park skating rink is currently open and is having a successful season so far.
The next meeting of the Recreation Committee,a joint meeting with the Community Program
Advisory Committee,is scheduled to take place on Wednesday,February 28",2018 at 7:00pm in
Room 237 of the Lexington Community Center.
39 MA TT ROAD,LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02421
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The January 17, 2018 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 8:02pin.
Respectfully submitted,
Peter Coleman
Assistant Director of Recreation
The following documents/exhibits distributed at the meeting are attached:
• January 2018 Recreation & Community Programs Report
• Letter from the Community Center Program Advisory Committee(CCPAC)
supporting the Community Center Expansion feasibility study
34 MARRETT ROAD,LEXINGTON,MASSACHUSETTS 02421