WESTON RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2018 WESTON COMMUNITY CENTER 20 ALPHABET LANE, WESTON, MA 02493 Members Present: Matt Schulman (Chair), Xinsheng Zhu, Elly Pendergast, Victoria Whalen, Franz Loeber (arrived at 7:55 AM) Members on Phone (Geographic Location): Eric Rosenthal, Franz Loeber (until 7:55 AM) Absent: Michelle Callanan Staff: Chris Fitzgerald (director), Sharon Locke (Assistant Director) Guests: Rail Trail Members; Paul Penfield & Mark Horowitz Rail Trail Committee Presentation Rail Trail Advisory Committee (RTAC) Mr. Rosenthal presented on the CPC request for the Rail Trail (attachment 1) with the support of Mr. Horowitz and Mr. Penfield. The goal of the Rail Trail Committee is to integrate the pending rail trail into the fabric of Weston through parking, access, related signage, and natural setting. Two Rail Trail budgets have already been approved at Town Meeting: Conceptual design; access and amenities ($73,000) Preservation of historic cattle passes ($62,535) The Rail Trail Committee hopes to integrate the Rail Trail into the fabric of Weston by: Enable Access for the town through limited on-site parking, signage, amenities, and pedestrian access from Town Center. Preserve the character of the town by using targeted screening such as native plantings and limited fencing. The priorities of the RTAC are: Accessibility to all ages and abilities Privacy and safety for abutters No parking signage Protection of historical sights Recreational value while protecting the town The four major sights of primary access points are: Boston Post Road, Concord Road, Church Street, and Townhouse Road. The RTAC is looking for an additional $437,000 in CPA funding for
the planning, survey, and construction of the Concord Road Trailhead Access Point, the Church Street Trailhead Access Point and Initial screening and fencing. Some costs ($100,000) may be mitigated by a Recreation/RTAC pending grant. More will be known about this status of this grant in May 2018. Discussion took place among the Recreation Commission regarding the following: Trash on the rail trail. RTAC said that clear signage would indicate that there would be a trash in trash out policy with no trash barrels on the trail. It is yet to be determined of there will be trash cans at the trail heads. Concern over overflow parking in neighborhood areas. Blue emergency boxes. RTAC explained there is really not a lot of enthusiasm for them and that the police chief will be involved in that decision. Upgrading the sidewalk on Church Street leading from Town Center to the Rail Trail. Motion: The Recreation Commission to support this effort and further support any additional funding for sidewalk construction from the town center for safe access to the Rail Trail as needed: Moved: Mr. Loeber; Second: Mr. Zhu Vote: All in favor none opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Resident Comments: None Minutes from February 8, 2018 Minutes from February 8 were reviewed and approved. Case Campus Updates Elly Pendergast Ms. Pendergast spoke to members of the Permanent Building committee and found out that they are considering eliminating the gate on the Wellesley street side of the Case House per request of the fire department. This will mean a three way stop sign in front of the Community Center. Ms. Pendergast feels that this public access is unsafe for the users of the Community Center especially the seniors and the children. Mr. Palumbo of the Permanent Building Committee would like to see a small committee of the Case Campus be set up to discuss this issue in a cohesive manner. Ms. Pendergast feels that a better and longer traffic study needs to be done. There is an additional concern of cars currently speeding up the hill around the corner from the COA entrance of the Community Center to the front of the Recreation entrance of the Community Center. Ms. Pendergast asked that a temporary stop sign be placed at the top of
the hill. The other Recreation Commission members would also like to try a temporary stop sign. Mr. Fitzgerald will speak to Facilities about placing a temporary stop sign at the hill. Motion: The Recreation Commission recommends that an official traffic study be done for the entire current Case Campus Master Plan specifically regarding the safety for the current stake holders on campus due to the current safety concerns. Moved: Ms. Pendergast; Seconded: Ms. Whalen Vote: All in favor none opposed. Motion carries unanimously. Mr. Fitzgerald will bring this idea to COA Director Mignonne Murray. Landscaping Chris Fitzgerald Mr. Fitzgerald has reached out to several landscape contractors for screening and to refresh the overall look. He is hoping to start estimating the design by March 6 th and will meet with the contractors the week of March 12 th. Both Ben Polimer (Fields) and Elly Pendergast will be involved. Mr. Polimer is working with Facilities to screen the generator. Memorial Pool Chris Fitzgerald The Facilities Department found a better, easier, and cheaper way of fixing the pool deck. It is a type of epoxy that can be sprayed over concrete. The plan is cut the pipe down which is sticking out of the ground and then use the epoxy to fix the decking behind and around the diving board area. The epoxy spray is designed to have the same consistency as concrete. It will be sealed and according the sales person will not be hotter than concrete. Mr. Fitzgerald said that eventually he would like to look into redoing the entire pool deck this way. Mr. Rosenthal asked Mr. Fitzgerald if the new Needham Pool was going to take patrons away from the Memorial Pool. The Needham Pool is selling non-resident badges. Mr. Fitzgerald said that he would look into the details on this. Drabbington Way Elly Pendergast On street parking is now resident parking only. There continues to be public parking at Malone Field. The cars waiting for a spot to open up at the Malone Field parking lot creates a line of traffic down Drabbington Way which blocks the residents in. On several occasions police detail had to be called in to handle the traffic. Ms. Pendergast would like to see a public hearing to revisit the dog walking issue in Weston. Some suggestions from the Commission were; to limit Cat Rock dog walkers only to Weston residents. To limit Cat Rock dog walkers only to residents and dogs of residents. To call the Town of Wellesley and find out how they handle these issues at Centennial Park.
Recreation Commission Procedures Elly Pendergast Ms. Pendergast feels that if the Chair is not present then the meeting should be run by another member of the Recreation Commission and not by the Recreation Director. Ms. Pendergast feels that the chair position should be voted on yearly in the spring as a new term begins. Ms. Pendergast would also like to see the Recreation Commission rotate chairs like some other town departments currently do. Mr. Schulman (current chair) said that he would welcome whatever is best for the Recreation Commission. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.
ATTACHMENT 1: RTAC PRESENTATION