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Home My WebLink About2011-02-23-REC-min`O V S M 775 00 rn c� o 6_� Q x :, > � ^� z APRIL 19T" 1 FXINGT O � Frederick DeAngelis, Chairman Richard Thuma, Vice Chairman Wendy Rudner Sandra Shaw Howard Vogel Tel: (781) 862 -0500 X62 Fax: (781)861 -2747 Recreation Committee Minutes of Meeting of February 23, 2011 A meeting of the Recreation Committee was held on Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. in the Estabrook Hall Lobby of the Cary Hall Building, 1605 Massachusetts Avenue. A quorum of 5 was present. Members Present: Sandra Shaw, Howard Vogel, Dick Thuma,' Vice Chairman, and Rick DeAngelis, Chairman, Wendy Rudner Members Absent: Staff Present: Karen Simmons, Director of Recreation, and Sheila Butts, Assistant Director of Recreation Others Present: Marilyn Campbell, Nancy Adler, Jane Trudeau The Recreation Committee meeting began at 7 :00 p.m. The meeting acted on the following items: 1. Citizens and Other Boards - none 2. Minutes of January 19, 2011 Hoard Vogel moved and Dick Thuma seconded acceptance of the January 19, 2011 Recreation Committee Meeting as written. The motion was approved by a vote of 3— 0 3. Community Center — Marilyn Campbell Karen Simmons introduced and welcomed Marilyn Campbell and Nancy Adler from the Council on Aging and Senior Center Board to the meeting, Ms. Campbell told members of the Recreation Committee that she and Ms. Adler were reaching out and connecting with Town Departments and other agencies to foster cooperation and gain support for a community center in Lexington, Ms. Campbell was involved in the process of facilitating the Weston Multi -- Generational Center. Ms. Simmons stated that the Recreation Department has a need for additional indoor program space. She also suggested that working with other agencies, including the Council on Aging, would be a great opportunity for Recreation and would benefit the community. Mr. Thuma echoed the sentiments of Ms. Simmons. He noted that lack of adequate space for seniors is very sad; Recreation would be able to expand programs for everyone in town. A Town of Lexington Recreation Committee 1625 MASSACHUSETTS AVENUE , LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 02420 multi- generational community center could take advantage of complimentary uses and times. Promoting a community center would generate more support within the community than a center strictly for seniors would. Mr. DeAngelis indicated that while the White House area would be the most central location, the existing building might not be worth saving. Still, the concept is a great one and he agrees with Mr. Thuma that a multi -- generational community center would provide a broad base of uses and bring people together. These sentiments were echoed by Mr. Vogel, Ms. Rudner and Ms. Shaw. Ms. Campbell commented that a lack of cooperation between different groups over the years has lead to failure. She believes it is time for a different group to take this on. She asked if the Recreation Committee and Department would be the leaders in this new effort. Ms. Simmons and members of the Recreation Committee suggested that the movement would have more teeth if the impetus for a community center came from many groups comprised of numerous citizens rather than one or two agencies and departments. This was how the Lincoln Park project got started and moved forward to its completion. Ms. Rudner suggested using existing lists of all town organizations, including, but not limited to youth sports agencies. Ms. Simmons noted that Recreation definitely needs to be at the table as we are an integral part of providing services in the town. Ms. Adler reported that the League of Women Voters, of which she and Ms. Trudeau are members, is planning on hosting a meeting in the fall about Community Centers. This should open up the conversation town wide. Ms. Trudeau also told the Recreation Committee that they have requested time at an upcoming Board of Selectmen meeting to request that the Board appoint a Task Force to evaluate space needs in the community. The Recreation Committee expressed hesitation about this, as space studies and Senior Center feasibility studies have been done several times before. They questioned what would be learned from another task force that is not already known? Mr. Thuma volunteered to try to located past reports from B H +A, and Ms. Simmons said that the Recreation Department would also try to locate older studies. Mr. DeAngelis and other Committee members expressed their appreciation for being asked to be involved and said the would be interested in continued cooperation regarding the League of Women Voter's event and moving forward with the idea of a multi- generational, community center. The discussion wrapped up with a suggestion that the League of Women Voters forum on Community Centers be cosponsored by key groups such as the COX Social Services, Recreation and the Youth Commission. Not exclusive to this list. 4. Town Meeting Articles Karen Simmons briefly reviewed the Capital Articles to be presented at the 2011 Town Meeting. This will be a monthly item until Town Meeting. • Howard Vogel will present the Town Pool Renovation... Article 9 • Rick DeAngelis will present Phase Two of the Center Drainage Project... Article S(g) • Wendy Rudner will present the Park Improvement — Athletic Fields... Article 10(o)' 5. Busa Farm Update • The Recreation Committee had a brief discussion about the Busa Farm proposal. Karen Simmons told the committee that the BLUPC is tentatively scheduled to present their final report and recommendations to the Selectmen on March 14. • Sandra Shaw noted that the Selectmen have received letters in support of the multi- use proposal submitted -by the Recreation Committee. There have also been letters to the Minuteman newspaper. • Ms. Shaw also expressed her opinion that the Busa Farm land purchase would not have been possible without the initial proposal to the CPC and Town Meeting. Now, however, that proposal is apparently being excluded entirely. "We created the party and now aren't invited." 6. Parks Report Dave Pinsonneault, Superintendent of Public Grounds was not able to attend the meeting. He did submit the following information: • The restroom renovation project is going well. They have moved the women's room door and are now working on the floor drains, plumbing and lighting. We are still on target for an April completion. • The Center Playfields Phase 1 project is out to bid. We had 6 companies at the pre -bid and 11 have taken out the plans and specs. The bid opening is March 10 with a mid - August construction start. • The Selectmen approved moving forward with the Center Playfields Phase 2 project. • The Pine Meadows improvement project has been rebid. A total of 28 companies have taken out the plans and specs. The bid opening will be on March 3rd • I will be meeting with O'Brien and Sons next week to discuss the skate park with the hopes of purchasing and installing the new equipment this spring. 7. Recreation Report • Karen Simmons informed the Recreation Committee that the Aquatics Manager notified the department that she would not be returning for summer 2011. The r Department is currently in the process of recruiting applicants for this position. • The Spring — Summer Brochure has been delivered to the Post Office, and should be distributed to households prior to March 1. • Sandy Alexander retired in early February. She will be working part time/hourly and will assist in the training of her replacement, Melinda Corssino. 8. Other Reports • The. next meeting of the Recreation Committee will take place on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. in the Recreation Department Office in Estabrook Hall. The February 23, 2011 meeting of the Recreation Committee adjourned at 8:31 p.m. The following documents /exhibits used at the meeting are attached: none Respectfully submitted, Sheila Butts Assistant Director of Recreation 3