TOWN OF BURLINGTON Meeting Posting Email Posting to meetings@burlington.org or Bring to the Clerks Office. Thank you Notice of Public Meeting (As required by G.L. c. 30 A, c. 18-25) DEPT/BOARD: Recreation Commission Meeting DATE: June 25, 2018 TIME: PLACE: 7:00 p.m. Burlington High School School Committee Room AGENDA 7:00 p.m. Call Recreation Commission Meeting to Order Approval of Minutes June 11, 2018 Public Participation: Introduction of Summer Interns: Kate DeAngelis, Shannon Milligan Director of Parks & Recreation Report Parks Superintendent Report Programming Report Chairman s Report Subcommittee Report New Business: Approval of Simonds Trust article for September Town Meeting Old Business: Community Preservation Act support vote Executive Session Adjourn NEXT MEETING: JULY 9, 2018 29 CENTER STREET BURLINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01803 TEL (781) 270-1660 FAX (781) 238-4692 www.burlington.org clerk@burlington.org
Burlington Recreation Commission Meeting June 25, 2018 Commissioners in Attendance: Chair Kristine Brown, Vice Chair Kevin Sullivan, David Norden, Thomas Murphy and Paul Raymond Staff in Attendance: Parks & Recreation Director Brendan Egan, Program Coordinator Kelly Lehman Chair Brown called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm in the School Committee Room of the Burlington High School, 123 Cambridge Street. Minutes Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve the Recreation Commission meeting minutes of June 4, 2018 as printed. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Norden. VOTE: 4-0-1 (Commissioner Raymond abstaining) Public Participation Parks & Recreation Director Egan introduced Shannon Milligan, the Program & Event Management intern from the University of New Hampshire. The Commission welcomed Ms. Milligan and wished her the best of luck with her internship. Director of Parks and Recreation Report Parks and Recreation Director Egan presented the following report: Simonds Park Wading Pool Was not able to be opened as scheduled due to some unforeseen mechanical issues Will have the inspection with the Board of Health on Tuesday, June 26 Hopefully the pool will open by the end of the week Utility Pole The damaged pole has been replaced; the two poles are connected until the service can be removed The town electrician will transfer the Town s electrical panel from the damaged pole to the new pole.
Water Connection Water connection to the upper baseball field was scheduled for repair but the repair was put off due to an emergency at the Water Department. The repair should be on the schedule for this week. Maintenance The seasonal staff has been assisting the full time staff with a number of assignments including providing two trim crews (working prior to the mowing), weeding, spreading mulch and playground fiber and cleaning the Pathwoods Tot Lot. Volunteer Groups The Cub Scout Pack 105 spent an afternoon cleaning up the stream that runs along Rahanis Playground. They were able to clean the stream from the parking lot to Mill Street. They pulled out a lot of debris. On Wednesday, June 27th a volunteer group from Synopsys will be weeding the Town Common and the Community Gardens. There is another volunteer group scheduled to arrive in the beginning of July. June 16 Events On Saturday, June 16, the Department held a number of events including the Burlington Dog Park Opening, burying the time capsule and dedicating a memorial tree in honor of Mike Kelly. Special thanks were given to the following people/groups: Both Recreation & Maintenance staff for their planning and hard work All Commissioners and staff that attended the events The Dog Park Committee and the Friends of the Dog Park for all of their efforts to get the Dog Park built Stanton Foundation for their financial support of the Dog Park Cella Construction for bringing the vision of the Dog Park to life Wegmans for their support at the Dog Park event Rahanis Park Paving DPW paved all of the walkways at Rahanis to provide more accessibility to the playground. Director of Parks & Recreation would like to thank Kevin Keene and Bobby McMahon and their staff for their paving work Human Services Building Update
Complete everything inside by July 14 and the next weekend moving BOH & Veterans back to the Human Service. HVAC work has been completed and is up and running. Comments from Commissioner Sullivan Asked what the field maintenance schedule looks like throughout the summer. Director of Parks & Recreation Egan stated that there will be a fertilization in July and then again in August. In August the staff will aerate as well. There are some fields that will need to be over seeded as well. Asked if all fields are being irrigated. Director of Parks & Recreation indicated that all fields are being irrigated with the exception of the upper baseball field at Simonds and Rotary Field (due to some recent damage). Rotary Field Damage Director of Parks & Recreation Egan indicated that the metal box at Rotary Field had been ripped from the shed causing the pipes to come out from inside of it. The Fire Department came down to turn off the water. The maintenance staff will work on making the additional repairs this week. Commission Brown asked if Herb Chambers has video cameras that could have seen that far. Director of Parks & Recreation Egan will check with Northeastern to see if they have cameras that may have seen something. Comments from Commissioner Sullivan With the Department bundling the facility fencing projects, where does this stand? Director of Parks & Recreation Egan stated that the fencing projects at Marvin and Rotary field have been completed. The green fabric for Rahanis has been backordered and should be coming in the near future. Will the caps for the new electrical posts on the Common be installed soon? Director of Parks & Recreation indicated the caps came in last week and are scheduled to be installed soon. Comments from Commissioner Norden Has the Department heard back from the representative from Tom Irwin regarding a potential new fertilization schedule? Director of Parks & Recreation Egan indicated that he has not had a chance to meet with the representative but is hoping to have him come to a meeting in July or August. Comments from Commissioner Raymond He has spent some time at TRW and thinks that the facility has never looked better. Director of Parks & Recreation Egan applauded the maintenance staff for their hard work renovating the
fields. He is concerned about the growing bittersweet at both TRW and Mary PC Cummings Estate Comments from Commissioner Brown Would like to know which maintenance staff member is in charge of the Wading Pool. Director of Parks & Recreation Egan believes that Bill Baker may be assigned there again. Seasonal staff member, Mark Woods, will be working along with the full time staff. Is there a maintenance point person for the utility pole and water work? Director of Parks & Recreation Egan stated he is the point person for the utility pole project and Bill Baker is the point person for the water connection work. Programming Report Program Coordinator Lehman presented the following report: Mountain Bike Rides at the Landlocked Forest The event was held on June 9th in cooperation with the New England Mountain Bike Association. There were approximately 40 riders of all ages in attendance. Regional Track Meet On June 16th, the Department hosted 11 communities for a regional track meet. There were over 200 athletes on hand for the event. Thank you to Jessie Hampson for putting the meet together! Great American Campout Due to inclement weather, the Campout has been postponed to July 14-15 Summer Volunteer Orientation Our annual volunteer orientation was held on Friday, June 22. Volunteers were able to meet with the program directors and learned the expectations for the summer. Comments from Commissioner Brown PSA: The Department cannot advertise which movies are going to be shown. If residents would like to call the office they will be able to tell you that information. Comments from Commissioner Norden Was happy to see the recent articles and information in the newspaper. Chairman s Report Open Space & Recreation Plan
Both Commissioner Brown and Director of Parks & Recreation Egan attended the Open Space and Recreation Committee where they were able to meet with the consultant. Commissioner Brown commented that the Parks & Recreation Department met or exceeded many of the goals laid out in the 2011 plan. Master Plan The Master Plan Steering Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 26th to put together an implementation committee for presentation at Town Meeting. Sculpture Park Will be meeting with Mr. Sachs to get the ball rolling on a sculpture park in Burlington. Commissioner Raymond indicated that there is space along Middlesex Turnpike that is designated for sculptures. Commissioner Brown will follow-up. Subcommittee Report Commissioner Murphy would like to thank the maintenance staff, on behalf of the School Department, for all of their hard work getting all of the fields and facilities ready for play. Commissioner Norden has been asked to be on the Building Committee for the new maintenance facility and has accepted the position. Commissioner Brown would like to know who, from the Board of Selectmen, has been appointed as the Commission s liaison. Director of Parks & Recreation Egan will have the information for the next meeting. New Business Approval of the Simonds Trust Warrant Article This is the second reading of the Simonds Trust Warrant Article. The article reads: To see if the Town will vote to accept from the Trustees under the will of Marshall Simonds the sum not to exceed $74,591.63 for the improvement of Simonds Park, same to be expended under the direction of the Recreation Commissioners; or to act in any other manner in relation thereto. Commissioner Sullivan moved to put forward a warrant article for the annual request from the Will of Marshall Simonds. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Norden. VOTE: 5-0-0
Facility Signage The Department has been looking at signage throughout the facilities over the past couple of years. The signs should be updated and has prepared new signs for approval at a future meeting. Agenda Item: Park Signage Commissioner Murphy asked for clarification on the Field use by permit only. If a group of kids want to play baseball on a field, are they required to obtain a permit? Director of Parks & Recreation Egan indicated they do not ask small groups to leave. If a group has a permit for the use of a field and there is another group playing, the non-permitted group will be asked to leave. The unscheduled use of fields by residents was a topic brought up in the Community Needs Assessment. Old Business Community Preservation Act There were no additional questions from the Commission regarding the Community Preservation Act and its purpose. Commissioner Murphy moved that the Recreation Commission support the adoption of the Community Preservation Act. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Sullivan VOTE: 4-0-1 (Commissioner Brown abstaining) Commissioner Sullivan volunteered to be the Commission s liaison to the CPA Committee. Meeting Cancellation Traditionally only one meeting in July is held. Commissioner Murphy moved that the Recreation Commission cancel the meeting scheduled for July 9 and hold the meeting on July 23. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Raymond. VOTE: 5-0-0 Director of Parks & Recreation Egan stated that he may not be present for the meeting on July 23. The Commission elected to pick an alternative date.
Commissioner Raymond moved that the Recreation Commission cancel the meeting scheduled for July 23 and hold the meeting on July 9. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Murphy. VOTE: 5-0-0 Commissioner Brown asked to have a maintenance staff representative in attendance at the meeting on July 9. Executive Session Not Required. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Murphy, and seconded by Commissioner Raymond. VOTE: 5-0-0 Meeting adjourned at 8:16 PM. Respectfully submitted, Kelly Lehman Program Coordinator Next meeting is scheduled for July 9, 2018