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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-04-07-REC-min Town of Lexington Recreation Committee Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Tel: (781) 862-0500 x262 Richard Thuma, Vice Chairman Fax: (781) 861-2747 Wendy Rudner Sandra Shaw Howard Vogel RECREATION COMMITTEE MEETING Wednesday, April 7, 2010 Town Office Building Room 201 Recreation Office Members Present: Wendy Rudner, Sandra Shaw, and Dick Thuma (Vice Chairman) Staff Present: Simmons, Peter Coleman, Sheila Butts and David Pinsonneault Karen The meeting of the Recreation Committee came to order at 6:00 PM. The following items were topics of discussion: 1. Citizens and Other Boards: No citizens or other boards were present. 2. Meeting Minutes from February 17, 2010: Sandra Shaw moved and Wendy Rudner seconded acceptance of the Recreation Committee meeting minutes of February 17, 2010 The motion was approved by a vote of 3 – 0. 3. Liaison Reports Wendy Rudner, Recreation Committee liaison to the Lincoln Park Sub Committee reported that the LPSC does not meet during the winter months, and there are no issues or meeting notes to present. The LPSC will resume monthly meetings in the spring. A question was raised as to the status of the Lincoln Park Bathrooms. Karen Simmons explained that the Lincoln Park Bathroom will be built by a private group and donated to the Town upon its completion. Once completed the building will be maintained & managed by the Public Facilities Department. Mr. Thuma posed several questions about the Lincoln Park Subcommittee:  When do the terms of the newer appointees to the LPSC end?  Can the LPSC be disbanded, committee members terminated, and the entire structure and mission of the LPSC assessed and revised? Karen Simmons indicated to Mr. Thuma that the Recreation Department will investigate the terms of all members of the LPSC. The department will review records and report to the Recreation Committee about the present LPSC membership at the next meeting. Mr. Thuma suggested that the LPSC attend at least one meeting each year of the Recreation Committee. Mrs. Shaw recommended that a representative of the Lincoln Park Subcommittee attend the May meeting. Wendy Rudner, who is the Recreation Committee Liaison to the LPSC, will notify David Williams, Chair of the LPSC. 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE • LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 Sandra Shaw, Committee liaison to the Bicycle Advisory Committee, reported that the Bicycle Advisory Committee was connecting with a group called “Bicycles Not Bombs” which sends used bikes to Third World countries rather than bombs. This group will be present at Discovery Day, May th 29. Peter Coleman, Recreation Supervisor, reported to the Recreation Committee that the Youth Sports Advisory Council had to cancel the Sports Summit, scheduled for March 13, due to low enrollment. 4. Capital Articles The Recreation Committee discussed the Recreation Capital Articles and Recreation CPA Articles up for approval at the 2010 Town Meeting.  Center Fields Drainage Project - CPA Karen Simmons reported that she, Dave Pinsonneault, Assistant Town Manager o Linda Vine and Doug Lucente of the Lions Club, met on April 7 to discuss the Annual Fourth of July Carnival. This year the Lions Club will be allowed to use Center 1 and Center 2 for the Carnival based on weather conditions. Dave Pinsonneault is developing specific criteria to be used this year relative to adverse weather conditions. Dick Thuma asked if an access plan will be incorporated into the use criteria. This will be included. Ms. Simmons further informed the Recreation Committee that the Lions Club was asked to submit a contingency plan to the Town by the beginning of June. The contingency plan is to include where the carnival will take place should the grass fields not be accessible. The Committee was also told that should the Center Drainage project be approved on April 7 at Town Meeting, the Carnival will be permanently relocated. Ms. Simmons informed the Recreation Committee that she had spoken with Town o Meeting Member, Lisa Baci regarding the Center Drainage Project. Ms. Baci had a number of questions regarding the project. She believes that it is necessary to maintain and improve this important Recreation and Town asset. Sandra Shaw will present the Center Playfields Drainage – Implementation Phase o project to Town Meeting. This is one of the CPA articles. Ms. Shaw is the Recreation Committee liaison to the CPA committee. In preparation for potential Town Meeting questions, Ms. Shaw asked if the work detailed in the 2009 Capital projects for the Old Reservoir had been completed, would it have alleviated the situation which arose due to the recent 50-year rain storms. Dave Pinsonneault responded that the new gate house structure had been completed. All evidence at this time shows that it was working properly. The 2009 Capital Article which was delayed pending possible approval of state grant monies, deals with rebuilding and enlarging the detention basin. This work has not begun.  Recreation Capital Articles (Article 11) Rick DeAngelis will present both the Park Improvement – Athletic Fields project and o the Phase One project proposal for the Town Pool Renovation. Mr. DeAngelis is only available on Monday, April 26. Mr. Thuma suggested that Moderator Deborah Brown be asked to set a “time certain” for the presentation so that Mr. DeAngelis could attend and present. 5. Parks Report Dave Pinsonneault reported the following:  The Parks Department has finally recovered from all of the rain and is moving forward with spring projects and work. All grass fields should be dry and playable for the weekend.  Dick Thuma asked if there had been any problems with the Vine Brook due to the rain. Dave Pinsonneault reported none.  Mr. Thuma asked if all of the work had been completed on previous years’ capital projects. Mr. Pinsonneault reported that all work was completed, with the exception of the ongoing Old Reservoir Project. Karen Simmons also noted that the Park Drive Bathroom Project was on hold, pending approval from the Town Manager to proceed with the renovation. The cost of this project may increase due to the time lapse. 6. Recreation Report Karen Simmons provided the members of the Recreation Committee with the following information:  The Department has fully implemented an Online Program Registration System.  The Summer Recreation Program Brochure will be mailed to all households by May 1.  The Town Pool and Old Reservoir will open for the summer on June 5.  The dedication of the Town Pool Complex took place on March 26 with the unveiling of a plaque for Irving H. Mabee. Mrs. Mabee and other family members were present, along with Sandra Shaw and Board of Selectmen Chairman, Norman Cohen. The Board of Selectmen approved the renaming of the complex in honor if Irving H. Mabee on September 8, 2008.  Ms. Simmons met with Dave Pinsonneault, John Livsey and representatives of Hoyle and Tanner to review plans for improvements at Pine Meadows. $200,000 of FY 2010 CPA Funds was appropriated at the 2009 Town Meeting for this project. The work will be completed in 2010.  Karen Simmons reported to the Recreation Committee that she had recently met with Judy Uhrig (and spoken with Sandra Shaw) about the history of the pool complex for a Lexington Historic Society presentation.  There is current discussion within the community regarding the lining of grass soccer fields for the start of the Lexington United Soccer Club Season. According to Dave Pinsonneault, DPW parks staff are overloaded with work, and are currently without two staff members. They will make every attempt to line the small fields at Diamond for the Kindergarten Soccer program beginning April 10.  Peter Coleman inspected the Old Reservoir Building on April 7 after the extensive rain storm in March. Conditions inside the building indicate that there was at least one foot of water in the building during the height of the March storms. Mr. Coleman is working with Shawn Newell, Public Facilities Department, to assess and document the damage for any Town insurance claims. 7. New Business: 7:00 PM The next meeting of the Recreation Committee is scheduled for in Room 207 of the Town Office Building on Wednesday, May 19, 2010. The April 7, 2010 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 7:00 p.m.