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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-12-08 Recreation Committee Minutes -Darft Town of Reading i s E C E I v Eu 4 Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK READHi 1 -1 MA . Board -committee - commission - Council: 'NH OCT -9 PM 6: 2$ Recreation Committee Date: 2015-12-08 Time: 8:00 PM Building: Reading Police Station Location: Community Room Address: 15 Union Street Purpose: Prioritizing Fields for Birch Meadow Session: General Session Lighting Project Attendees: Members - Present: John Feudo, Kate Kaminer, Mike DiPietro, Adam Chase, Emily Sisson, Rich Hand, Dan Foley, Jeanne Borawski Members - Not Present: Nancy-Linn Swain, Frank Driscoll Others Present: Genevieve Fiorente Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente Topics of Discussion: DRAFT COPY K. Kaminer calls meeting to order at 8:02PM. J. Feudo briefly describes the sequence of meetings and how this is the 4th meeting in regards to prioritizing the lighting of the fields at Birch Meadow. He says the four main points are usability, cost, safety, and aesthetics. He tells committee that the decision tonight will be presented to the Board of Selectman and Town Manager next Tuesday, December 15th. K. Kaminer suggests starting with one field on the priority list and work from there. D. Foley asks for confirmation that all the fields that we are discussing are planning to be done at the same time. J. Feudo says yes, due to the fact that It is more cost effective to complete them at the same time. The committee has decided to use the following guiding principles when prioritizing fields: Usage (current and historical demand for the particular field) Safety Aesthetics (uniformity) Cost R. Hand says he considers usage to be the main goal when prioritizing the fields. K. Kaminer asks him which one would be top on his list. R. Hand answers that he would say Turf 2 or the Softball Fields since they are all currently multipurpose and are used for football, flag football, youth softball, etc. He then leads Into speaking on how he was Impressed by the presentation of Steve Zessls at the last meeting Page 1 1 on November 24th that indicated that Little League would see over a 50% increase in play if they were to get the lights on their field. R. Hand also adds that he does not see Morton Field as high on the list due to the fact it has been strictly used for baseball and that Babe Ruth did not have a demand for it nor did the Athletic Director have It on a high priority list. K. Kaminer questions increasing use on Morton Field and asks why it isn't used that way now for multi-purpose. J. Feudo says that the field is used by no one else aside from some Field Hockey In the fall. K. Kaminer asks J. Feudo about the demand. J. Feudo says you do not have too much flexibility with baseball due to weather elements and the longevity of games. K. Kaminer responds that she feels that there is no record currently that there is proven demand for lights on Morton and that the cost is the highest out of all the fields. She goes on to add that there are too many negative factors that are attached to lighting Morton. J. Feudo says he does not want to destroy the outfield on Morton. He says that the field has been carefully maintained for several years. J. Borawski brings up that the committee needs to focus on right now and what needs to be done In light of safety, usability, and cost. K. Kaminer goes on to speaking about cost. K. Kaminer asks committee their thoughts on Turf 2. E. Sisson asks about unused time on Turf 2. J. Feudo says in the Spring it Is used until 9pm and It is completely maxed out. K. Kaminer asks that if Morton was lit would it be shut off early at 9:00pm. J. Feudo says that can be something the committee can decide on. However, that Is the current accommodation being made on the stadium field, which has similar closeness to abutters. J. Feudo mentions that he spoke with Musco, one of the larger lighting contactors, and that the discussion of going to 30fc to save on costs Is a conversation worth having. K. Kaminer asks about the difference and what is out there now. J. Feudo says the current lighting on Turf 2 is highly Inadequate. The light currently shines horizontally vs vertically and as a result, the lights shine directly in your face. K. Kaminer responds that she sees this as a safety Issue. J. Feudo agrees. J. Feudo also adds that the back corner of Turf 2 is very dimly lit as well which Is a safety Issue. Going from 50fc to 30fc could save approximately $50K to the total cost of the project. A. Chase brings up that the Athletic Director has this as his top priority to the volume of usage and the safety concerns. J. Borawski says she agrees with the usability being a top priority but does see the safety as a number one. J. Feudo asks the committee their thoughts on the softball fields. R. Hand says he sees both fields as one cohesive unit. K. Kaminer says she loves that area and how it utilizes uses for all ages from youngsters to adults. K. Kaminer asks for consensus and says based on the conversation that turf 2 and softball fields seem to be high on the priority list for safety and most usability from various organizations. She asks J. Feudo his thoughts. J. Feudo says enhancing of the fields should be based on what our current organizations need. No fields should be enhanced for contracted use or for renters. G. Fiorente mentions Saturday Night Lights expanding to Morton may create disconnect of the program and there are already many areas to cover. She says quality of quantity needs to be taken into consideration. J. Feudo adds that Saturday Night Lights already uses the softball flelds for their games and that lighting both those softball fields appropriately will allow for expansion on the existing fields. G. Fiorente and committee members agree that this Is the right solution. Pape 1 2 M. Dl Pletro mentions aesthetics and that the Birch Meadow area where Softball Fields are used to be seen as a gem and now has leaning poles. K. Kaminer asks committee if they have a difference of opinion. Committee is all agrees. K. Kaminer asks J. Feudo his thoughts on Little League and Morton. J. Feudo says Little League is less cost and came Into the last meeting on November 24th with demand for expansion. R. Hand agrees that based on meetings that Little League had a more compelling needs and that Babe Ruth didn't express a need based on demand of the program. J. Borawskl says the residents need to be a priority. She sees it as usage, safety, and aesthetics. M. DIPietro says that he would also add abutters into the conversation and that there has been resistance on lights at Morton. J. Feudo says it comes down to should we do it? Can we do it? Do we have to do it? J. Borawskl reiterates the top 3 are softball fields then turf 2 and asks about the odds of all 3 getting done. J. Feudo says the odds are good and refers to the hand out of the budget estimates for fields. R. Hand asks if there is some money left over could it be used for better light management/technology. J. Feudo says yes. J. Borawskl asks about usage on Turf 2 vs Softball Fields. A. Chase says with more lights on the softball fields It would Increase use more than turf 2 and sees the main priorities as usage and safety. R. Hand asks who Is struggling for field space. J. Feudo says organizations have been Flexible and creative with their usage. He gives an example of organizations having less practices and combining all kids for a clinic once a week. He says that the demand is there however. That weather is always a factor with baseball. R. Hand goes back to Little League and how they had the demand as well. A. Chase responds that the only downfall is, Is that only Little League can play there. J. Borawskl asks about Turf 2 and the 30 ft candles vs the 50 It candles that was brought up by J. Feudo earlier in the discussion. J. Feudo contact a lighting contractor to confirm that If 50 ft candles were needed in the future, it would be an easy add. J. Feudo says that Turf 2 Is predominately needed for practice use which does not call for the 50 ft candles. 50fc Is a general recommendation. A. Chase makes a motion to recommend the original order of the fields which Is: 1. Lighted Softball Field 2. Softball Field 3. Turf2 4. Little League 5. Morton Field A. Chase makes a friendly amendment to switch priorities one and new order of priority of fields would be the following: 1. Unlit Softball Field 2. Lighted Softball Field 3. Turf 2 Page 13 4. Little League Field 5. Morton Field E. Sisson seconds the motion. The committee Is all In favor with a 7-0 vote. J. Feudo makes a closing statement outlining the last year and how the original quote for the fields did not involve Little League Field. He goes on to explain other different factors in regard to cost of development that was brought up later by the Town Engineers. K. Kaminer makes a motion to adjourn at 9:0313M. D. Foley seconds. All in favor 7-0 Page 14