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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-09-18 Recreation Committee - Subcommittee Minutes Oy�N Of R�a' Town of Reading i Meeting Minutes _ Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Recreation Committee 2119 JAN 14 AM 7: 54 Date: 2018-09-18 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: Birch Meadow Master Plan Version: Final Subcommittee Attendees: Members - Present: Michael Coltman, Rich Hand, John Parks Members - Not Present: Mary Ellen Killion, Dan Foley Others Present: Genevieve Fiorente , Recreation Administrator and liaison to subcommittee Chuck Tirone, Conservation Administrator Carl Saccone, conservation commission member Maureen Hurley, Ash Street Brian S. Kimerer, 66 John Carver Rd Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente Topics of Discussion: Meeting opens at 7:35pm. Subcommittee discusses electing chair and vice-chair of Birch Meadow Master Plan Subcommittee. Members ask R. Hand if he would be willing to be the chair of the Birch Meadow Master Plan Subcommittee based on his knowledge from prior years. R. Hand says he would love to and subcommittee says they will bring forward recommendation at the Recreation Committee meeting. The subcommittee also discusses the recommendation of M. Killion as vlce-chair of the subcommittee. R. Hand asks if M. Killion knows about this recommendation. Members say yes. Subcommittee agrees to also make the recommendation of M. Killion as vice-chair of the Birch Meadow Master Plan Subcommittee to the Recreation Committee. The subcommittee takes the next several minutes going through the community survey for the Birch Meadow Master Plan which has been worked on by subcommittee members, M. Coltman and J. Parks. The subcommittee and Recreation Administrator are very happy with the survey and suggest very few additional changes. J. Parks and M. Coltman say they will adjust the survey according to suggestions and also show the survey to the Recreation Committee to gain feedback. C. Tirone, Conservation Administrator gives feedback on several areas of the Birch Meadow Project. He pulls up a mapgeo overview of the complex and lays out the conservation areas by Castine and the old Imagination Station Lot across from Coolidge Middle School. C. Tirone and the subcommittee discuss opportunity for walking trails next to the wetlands and discuss possible surfaces. C. Tirone emphasizes the importance of a permeable surface and Page 1 1 ADA compliant walkways. A discussion ensues with the subcommittee about the potential walkways and where they should connect within the Birch Meadow Complex. The Subcommittee, C. Tirone and C. Saccone have similar viewpoints on the connection of walkways. An overall point of C. Saccone is to have the area be more beautified with plants, Flowers, trees, etc. which the subcommittee also agrees with. C. Trone also suggests that whatever architect design helps us with the new blueprint that they should also have wetland permitting experience. He says that engineering has a good company that they frequently use that has this experience. G. Fiorente says she will reach out. G. Fiorente asks about the Imagination Station Parking Lot. C. Tirone says the parking lot would be tough to get approved to be completely paved because of how close it is to the wetlands and stream. He goes on to say that you could probably pave half of the lot. G. Fiorente asks C. Tirone if he could meet her and perhaps a subcommittee member down there sometime to take a peek at Imagination Station Lot Area. C. Tirone says absolutely. G. Florente asks if conservation has any jurisdiction of"The Hill" area on the Birch Meadow Master Plan. C. Tirone says no. R. Hand asks for feedback from the two residents who are there. M. Hurley says that Reading Softball Little League is very interested in helping to Improve the Birch Meadow Softball Field area. M. Hurley says that they would like to fundraise for dugouts in the near future. The subcommittee thinks it is a great initiative as well as G. Fiorente. G. Fiorente says that right now there are some internally conversations with appropriate town staff since there are other projects highlighted In the Birch Meadow Master Plan that affect that area. G. Fiorente says that once the subcommittee and Town Staff gain more momentum on the master plan, the possibility of dugouts can be revisited. G. Fiorente and the subcommittee express their appreciation to M. Hurley and Reading Softball Little League for their willingness to fundraise and donate to improve the area. B. Kimerer asks about the soccer wall that used to be by Turf 2. A brief conversation occurs about the possibility for a similar wall in the future for lax and/or soccer. G. Fiorente says that Reading Youth Lacrosse has mentioned fundraising for a lacrosse hit wall in the past. The subcommittee thanks all parties for their input and circle back in on the survey. They want to get it out some time in October. Subcommittee adjourns at 6:SSpm 3-0. Page 12