So, good evening. This is the park commission meeting of September 24th. Please be advised that this meeting is being recorded and will be broadcast over public access TV and will eventually be available on YouTube. Um, because we aren't live, I'm not going to read through the um Zoom information.
Um, but um for anybody on Zoom, um please remain muted and use the raise hand feature when you are looking to speak. All right. to start off with. Do we have any public or board comments? Do we have any public comments?
Not seeing any hands. Um, next up is the club. Is anybody from the club? >> No one's coming. Um, so >> they did uh I told you come in a future meeting. I said if nothing is changing then >> Okay. Do you want to give us a quick rundown of what they're looking for? Um,
so last week they did their Polar Plunge at the Town Beach. Um, it was a big success for them last year. They'd like to do that again over Thanksgiving weekend. Um, on May 29th, um, seemed to go well last year. No road
changes, Michelle said. Uh, let me see. The one request that she had that was she didn't and she I think the impression was they didn't get on it quick enough. They're wondering if they could get a porta body at the beach. But I guess the board of health initially
last year >> they asked really late >> seemed to be like she's like I'm not sure. I said what was the issue we ran into? and she had sent me that screenshot. It just said whoever she was texting with that said I kind of thought we just
didn't think of it till kind of late. Um and we didn't have time to go through the proper channels. >> So she Michelle basically just said what are the proper channels and I said I'll clarify so >> so it's the board of health what you can do. >> Um it would need to come through I'd say the recreation director if we have one
at that point if not it would come through Chris Ruth. >> Okay. >> And it would have to go through the board of health. Um, did she say if they were changing the times at all? Because I know last year I was the one who had let them in and out and they seem to be done much quicker
than um Oh, I don't even have my audio. >> That's good. >> All right. Sorry to any members of the public on Zoom. I had you on mute. Um, we did pass public comment, but if somebody does have a public comment, um, please feel free to put your hand up and
we'll we'll jump back to that. Uh, we are currently on agenda item three, which is the request from the club to use Lunberg Town Beach for their Polar Plunge. Sorry, Chris. I think I remember last year you were talking about um the length of time. I
think I remember Michelle saying she thought people were going to do it and then hang out and it would be a big party and everybody like jumped in and jumped out there and left. Wrapped up and left. >> She said no changes other than allowing community members to join. Maybe some activities on the beach like games, sand
castle. We were hoping to make s'mores but not sure the details. >> Okay. Um >> so I think they're trying to maybe make it some people would hang out a little bit. >> Yep. Which sounds like a great idea, >> but somewhat weather dependent I would assume as well. One concern that I have
um on my list is I'm not last year I'm the one who unlocked. I'm not sure I'm going to be available this year to do the same. So I don't know if there's either another member of the commission or if somebody I don't know if you want to spearhead it and talk to Chris Ruth and maybe we can where it's just a single day event maybe we can hook
Michelle up with a key she can let herself in directly. >> Um >> I'm usually in New Hampshire that Saturday. >> That's a Sunday. Did you stay the whole time or did you just >> I didn't I I let them in and then I went home and then I went back >> cuz I can do I can do that. It's like
our you know big tree decorating day with everybody home. But I can I can over I would even just suggest >> I mean if we could give her a key that's even better >> and at the end of the day they're in a town building anyway and they have complete access to the town building
that they rent. So I can't see it would be a big issue. We can definitely ask. The only thing I would say, um, no matter who lets them in, whether it's themselves or you, last year, what I did was I brought blue painters tape and I put it across the sink and across the toilets as a reminder that these are
not, right? It's not it's not on. Um, the sink isn't as big of an issue as if somebody decided to use the the bathroom, the toilet. So, um, that's what I had done. But I don't have >> just go in ahead of time if they have Michelle's in key. We need somebody to go in ahead of time.
And it was I mean I literally just went in and then they just need to leave it the way they found it which they did last year. Do you want to vote on this or do you want to >> if we need a vote then to approve it then? Yeah, I think we should do that. I can let them know to continue forward with their plan. >> Okay.
>> So I guess motion to allow the the club formerly the boys and girls club Lunberg to use the town beach on the river 29 for their annual polar plunge fund. Second.
>> All in favor? I >> Perfect. That passes. >> So, also go back to Michelle and then this I'm assuming the ear if they want to do the portfolio, the earlier they get on that the better off they are. So, probably contact Chris Ruth to get that.
It's more Chris Ruth to just make sure the placement of it is where >> um usually the um recreation director would approve like the location of where the board of bodies are dropped >> and then the board of health is the one that actually issues the actual >> So she would go to them in fact their steps would be go to the board of health
now. >> Yeah. >> Request a port for November 29th Town Beach. >> Yeah. >> And then contact Chris R. And I mean they she could even just CC Chris on um she's sending an email over to board of house so then he knows and
um but yeah. Okay. So that one passed. Uh next up is capital plan. Did everybody receive the list that I forwarded from um Chris Ruth? Yes, >> I did, but I didn't print it out tonight because I thought I was going to be able to access it on my computer.
>> Um do you want to take my my list and I'll pull it up on my >> Okay. ignore all my notes. Okay. So, um the >> Do you want to read the list? >> Yeah, I will read the list. Um the
threat So, just so everybody knows, the capital planning thresholds are I feel like I should have looked this up before I came and not done it off my memory. $20,000 and a lifespan of 10 years. It's either five or 10 year lifespan. So no matter what we do, it
needs to hit the threshold to start with and it has to be good for it must be 5 years, but I can verify that. So the things that Chris had on his list, Powell Field dugouts, regrading in the surface of Fitzgerald Field and add some additional fencing to prevent
snowmobiles from coming in, regrade and surface McN. Um he did note that um McN is not as bad as Fitzgerald. Pow field um is not the correct infield size anymore and it needs updated distances on the baselines. Marshall Park fence
repairs landscaping work at Veterans Park. He noted it may not meet the threshold. Town beach, something possibly on the unused side of the beach. Um fence repairs at the town beach to close up the gap underneath the fence. Um new lights at Wallace. Um,
again noted it might not reach the threshold and a beaver deceiver at Marshall Pond. Um, and that would be working with DPW to try to better control the beaver situation down there. Um, I'm going to go first and then you guys
can all chime in. Um, when I look at this list, the one that stands out to me the most that I actually think has the potential being a safety issue. There's a couple safety issues, but the regrading and surfacing of Fitzgerald outfield, that outfield is just it's
it's potty like pothole type situations going on. It just it needs a good leveling um especially where those are it's a younger demographic of kids. That would be my number one um request from of all of this. Um Town
Beach the fencing I that's another one that I'm not sure would hit the threshold, but I do think um that's one that um could be um repaired. Um and um
the power field isn't the correct infield size anymore. It needs updating distances on baselines. That would be at my bottom. And I'm going to give the reasons why on that one. And that's because they made the decision to jump from the little league
to I believe it's Cal Ripken and it changed the dimensions. They never had a single conversation with anybody on this commission or the facilities before they did that to even give us a heads up that this is coming. So if we were to do that, it just it's not something that I
would put at the top of the list to be done based on that alone. Um if you're renting our fields, you're renting them the way we have them laid out right now. If you need something different, it should be a conversation with us, not a surprise for you in the ledger that
you've just jumped leagues that now resulted in a field change. Um, can we pause for one second? Jay, can you unmute? Is do you have a question? Is it a public comment or is it a question on this topic? >> It's a comment on the topic.
>> Okay, let me get through this and then I'll circle back around to you and let you make your comment. >> Okay. >> Thank you. Um, I think the new lights at Wallace are a great idea. I'm wondering though if we can use a green communities. >> I was thinking the same thing
>> um on that one. Um, beaver deceiver, I we've talked about it before. I don't remember enough about it to remember how much it cost. Um, and landscaping at Veterans, I think it's definitely needs to get done, but I don't think it's going to come anywhere
near a $20,000 threshold. Um, does anybody else have any thoughts? >> I'd say I wonder like the town like so as far as like town beach fencing, can that be could we combine that with town beach
like the unused side and make it one project and have it just be a Town Beach upgrade. Um and that would be one thing so that we do meet that threshold cuz I think there is there is a need to do something
with it far side. Um I you know to make it just usable space whether it's for you know birthday parties or you know you know our activities and things of that sort. I
don't think it's wide enough for like I don't think there's enough width for official cornhole kind of deal, but beach games over there or what you know things things like that that it could be utilized. It's definitely underutilized space that we have. So I think that's that's an important one. Um but I'm
wondering if we can just rope fence repairs in at the same time if there's some fence repair that needs to be done on that side as well perhaps. Um I think there's a lot of binding maybe in some of that fencing and so forth. for some of that. Maybe we can rot that off together. Um because Joe for sure I like
the additional fencing there to prevent some of the if we can keep that field safe. We already had issues with people driving through >> you know fields or snowmobile wheels turn. We're going to invest the money to resurface that. We want to preserve that as long as possible. So, I would
definitely, you know, look at that fencing piece there as well to keep that locked um so that we're not having um you know, traffic going through there that's going to disrupt the what's what's
to work with conservation on that. >> I have no idea. >> Absolutely. >> Be the question I guess I'd have in that regard would be I think we'd probably have to work with conservation there. Um, I'd like to just keep Northfield on our
capital list in some capacity. Uh, I don't know what capacity that is, but I don't want to lose sight of that project. >> Even if it's just so that every year >> it's there. I I think people forget about that project that it exists. >> I think it's sorely needed in this town.
Um, and I and yeah, I know we have some bigger issues that, you know, as a whole the town needs to sort through in terms of where we're spending our money and what things are going to cost, but I think if there's an opportunity there to if there's something we can do to understand
what something like that would cost, you know, I I think that's I'd like to see that on our on our list. I really I just don't want to see light of that. So, are you looking for us to um ask for funds to do the survey and a like a
schematic? >> Something potentially like I thought at one point it was surveyed. I thought it was survey number for us to take one or two. I thought it was surveyed maybe. Okay. Um, but yeah, just, you know, in
some capacity trying to figure out what what are the what >> what's feasible >> what's feasible there and do we have an idea what something like that's going to cost. I I think there's a um I I think there's a um trying to think
the word like there's I think there's support in the town for there to be open space fields. Um there are like presently for Lunberg youth soccer there are five or six grade three four soccer teams this fall there's the same for 56
>> it falls off in 78 but there's a significant I don't think they've ever seen the number of field they have three girl you know three three four girls soccer teams three four soccer teams this fall >> um so I think there's a lot of kids
involved I know there's a lot of kids that play lacrosse in the spring. There's a lot of kids that if you're lucky, you know, and that's all space that >> we don't have space to do all that kind of stuff. Um, and we would if something like Northfield existed.
>> So, I just I I think there's an opportunity there to capitalize when the numbers are good for things to maybe try and do something that way. And I again, if it's project that can be done a lot shorter than some other projects, maybe it's something worth talking about.
Okay, >> that would be my priority. And I would agree with your sentiment on the baseball side. The, you know, I don't know what is involved. I'd like I'd like to understand that if someone wants to come and tell us what's involved. >> Yeah. >> I'd like to understand that a little bit better. Like how far off are we? Is are we talking about
>> for the field? >> Yeah. For pile fields. I want to trim some trim trim some grass and some more gravel down. I mean, I don't know what's involved with something like that. And how how significant of a difference is that? Um, and
like what's the difference there between between there and McN Field and like is McN serviceable for what they need? And >> right, I would also agree that that probably should have been presented to us
prior to them making an agreement to move forward with a different league. It it sounds like they're able to make it work. Like it it's not like they have to change it. It's not like it has to be changed immediately for them to continue to play. It's just it it is outside the
>> It's not ideal, >> right? So, um but they're they're certainly making it work. Um Yep. The heads up would have been nice to sort of, you know, but I I can ask them to come and and you know, tell us what's needed, tell us what, you know, >> Yeah. Yeah, >> certainly I want them to be able to play
and I don't like if it's if it's an issue of we can't play like >> right right but if they are playing but like you said how much like >> is it a big >> expense and a big project or is it that
they need to bump out a little bit something >> done right taking some sod out >> right right >> too many things or adding soda do you have anything >> I'm I'm just thinking that I would place
the regrading surface Fitzgerald and the fencing as first priority >> um >> fencing of the town beach or the fencing of um >> no at the regur Fitzgerald adding fencing to prevent snowmobiles. I would put that as first priority.
>> Um I would look at the um combining town beach um on the unused side and the fence repairs. See if it would meet the threshold. If it does, then I would think that would be a second priority. Um, the new lights at Wallace, I think
we need to just double check with the green communities committee to make sure that that is something that's eligible to work with them. I know last year they were looking for us to try to provide potential projects for their funds. >> Always looking >> and I think that'd be perfect to, you know, to work with them on something
like that. Um, the others I don't have strong feelings about. Um, I think we need to get more information though about the beaver deceiver to really understand. I mean, I see them out there all the time pulling the grading. Um, so I don't know if that's
that's because what is there isn't working and the beaver seeker would make it easier to maintain. I don't know. >> Put a different grate in there this this year to get a different >> different angled one >> shape to it or >> Yeah. Okay. So, is everybody look actually Jay, do you want to unmute and
make your comment >> before we Yes. Okay, awesome. If you could just introduce yourself, tell us who you are and where you live. >> Uh, my name is JC. I live over on Three Rogers Way um in Lenberg and I'm on the
baseball board. >> Okay. >> Um, so I wanted to make my comment about I agree with the Fitzgerald. Um I my son plays W League and we played on that field all year this year this season and um the field is like you said has a lot
of potholes and also the field gets flooded really badly um to the point we can't even use it sometimes um and we have to like ask other towns um to use their field. So I did just want to make my comment about that. Um so yeah, thank
you. >> Awesome. Thank you. All right. So, um it sounds like Fitzgerald would come out at the top four on the list, followed by the town beach. Um leave Northfield on the list. It's not going to get funded next year,
even if we wanted it to. Um and um ask Chris to get us some more information on the Beaver Deceiver and um connect with baseball to get more information on that. um on their field uh needs in terms of size.
>> All right. So, if I could get a motion to um move request that Chris Ruth move forward with um fit the Fitzgerald project um for the capital plan um as well as looking into seeing if we can combine the town the left side of the
town beach with the fencing um as our second. >> So, moved. >> Second. Yeah, whatever you said. >> We all said so moved, I guess. >> And that's leaving Northfield on the list as well. So, >> we'll add Northfield. >> Adding back to the list. I don't think
it's ever been taken off the list on the capital planning side. I think my husband said it's still floating there. So, um, >> all in favor? >> I. Any opposed? Perfect. >> Um, can I grab my papers back
on? Yep. Okay, the next item on the agenda is the Marshall Park project. I don't even know where to begin with this. Okay. So, this morning, literally this morning, um
I was getting ready for this meeting and I was looking at the um spreadsheet that was provided by town and on there is a $30,000 entry saying that we've spent zero of it. So, there's $30,000 remaining, which was included in the
97,000ish that we thought we had left. >> Um that 30,000 does not belong there. That 30,000 is for Marshall and Whale and Park weed treatments. >> So, it needs to be pulled out. When we pull that out, it brings us down to
67,000 and some change. >> So, originally I was hoping to come before you guys tonight um with some to get to be saying to you guys, we got something from um RDLA saying um you know, here's what we can do to amend
their contract, which is still ongoing. their contract doesn't expire until December of 26th. Um, and then Scansa, they actually expired in June of 25. So, we don't have an active um contract with them. So, I was hoping to sort of have
an idea of how we were going to move forward with those two contracts. But now that this $30,000 has come up, >> um, I did talk to Chris Ruth this morning and he's like, I don't know how we'd ever grab that. I mean, we both looked at it multiple times over the last couple of months. So, I don't know
how it it just slipped by, I guess. Um, and so I do have an email out to uh town manager and um I've CC Chris Ruth on it to try to figure out to confirm that that $30,000 is actually not something that should have been on there um to see
what their recommendations are and to see about the possibility. the the time sensitive one is the ARPA funds which are just over $13,000 and it was mentioned to me um in the past few days that um they are granting some
extensions on those um whether or not we would qualify for an extension to be able to spend that money past the December whatever date I don't know. Um I so I did ask on that so I don't really have much of an update on that. I'm going to wait for town manager to get
back to me on that. We did have this whole conversation with Adam Costa last week and we looked at the contracts of you know scans being expired, our DLA's not being expired, what we needed to do, but this 30,000 just it it we would be
almost $30,000 short if we had approved >> this the scans and the RDLA contracts based on the numbers they gave us. So, >> can we get a revised estimate from Skansa and RDLA in terms of what could they do with first 67,000? >> We could. Um, and um, yes, we we we
certainly could. Um, I did get back to Ry today and just said, you know, hold tight. We have a a budget issue that we I just figured out and um, so I, you know, obviously wasn't going to get that done um, in the few hours that I had,
right? Um, but I certainly can. And the other question that's come up and I'm not 100% clear on the answer. I thought I knew the answer but then um I'm now wondering if I just didn't understand it correctly when we met with town council last week and that was where we're not building right now. Do
we need to have an OPM on board? because if we didn't have to renew or redo Skanska's contract, but it has something to do with the vertical buildings and it it went back and forth between town
manager and Adam Costa um for a bit and I I think I just lost track of where they were going because then Chris Ruth made a comment to me this morning that he didn't think we did need one and I'm like that wasn't my takeaway from last week. So I've asked for clarification on again >> because I would I the way I always
understood it is you do even if it's just still in design phase doesn't mean you need to be in construction. The OPM had to be on board before the designer was hired. >> That's what my my takeaway basically was as well. Um so um and Scans seems to be
willing to work with us on a much lower level to you know but again they were using the numbers that we had given them of that 97,000 and now I'm sitting here going this money's not supposed to be here and I I also want to you know I want to connect with uh the town account
to just verify too that um you know maybe that was put in there by mistake and something else was emitted but I'm not I can't come up with what would have been emitted by mistake like looking at the list. That's the only one that I'm like that shouldn't be here. Nothing is jumping into my mind of like that shouldn't
>> Do you still have that original spreadsheet that I gave you from the last time that um Ezie and I reviewed the numbers? I'll look and see if I can find it. I don't remember the 30,000 being in there at that, but
>> yeah, this was dated 617, the one that I had asked him for an updated list. And that's it was definitely clear as day right there. Okay, I'll I'll look and see if I can find that prior version. >> Okay. Um All right. So, that's all that I have on that.
>> We need to be spending that 30. What was that 30? >> So, that it will just sit there until um there there's they're working on the weed situation. And I don't know if you um last month I think it was um Chris
Ruth, myself um and the the company that would be doing the work went in front of conservation to um present um a a project for removing the weeds down at Wham. Um, it didn't, it's not that it
hit a roadblock, but it also needs to go in front of Lemonster because the the lake as a whole has to be addressed and then there's something to do with the state. So, we've we've started the process. So, I that money will most likely be going to that. So, we don't
have to worry about >> and if it didn't >> No, it says Whale and Marshall. And if we didn't use it anyway, that th those are those warrant articles that they'll like suddenly come up and say like we need to transfer, you know, $257
from this capital, you know, fiscal plan of 2017 into, you know, so those are those little ones if we don't >> just make sure it's not something that we're >> No, we don't need to do anything. >> Use it or lose it from >> Okay. I wonder if anybody in the town has an opinion on
>> weeds. I missed that part. >> Joe's got the camera looking right at me. I'm trying to give you a nice a nice face calling as I'm throwing darts at you. Um it it and the plan for it actually make
like it if you go back to the conservation committee meeting from August, it it's a very welllaidout plan. Um, and it would start with pulling and vacuuming is what I is how I would call it. Um, before they necessarily have to
jump into chemicals, but they were asking for permission for those so they didn't have to go back in front of them, >> which makes sense. >> Yeah. Yeah. It was it was a good plan and it would be when you look at an overhead of Wham of the beach area, there's a lot of weeds. It's just and
they just they just multiply. It makes sense though that that has to go in front of Lemonster too. It just hasn't been approved. >> It's such a tiny piece of Lemonster, you know, it's such a tiny piece. But yeah, we don't the state actually owns that um that lake. So it's not just the town of
Lunberg. It's not just Lemonster, it's >> the state. So many pieces. All right. The next um one is master plan. Did everybody get that master plan document in their email from the master plan steering committee? ocean.
>> I think so. >> I don't recall it. >> Okay, let let me So, what they've done is um and as a reminder, we do not have a seat on that commission because they didn't get themselves they just couldn't get themselves organized and it became a
time suck of my time at the at that time because I was on the committee and meetings were being cancelled and all this other stuff. So, I said, "Let us know when you get yourselves back together." Well, by the time they got themselves back together, the planning board had actually removed um various
groups from there to try to bring their numbers down, and we were one of them. So, we we do not hold a seat on this. >> So, I did have a conversation with Kim Duffy, who's the current chair, um because a lot of this wasn't making sense. So, I'm going to try to let me I'm going to bring up to you guys what
they have listed as parks commission being on as the relevant committee and I'm going to save time and not do the rest of them because they don't apply to us. So, the first one their goal support a range of housing options for all ages
and income levels. The recommendation that has parks as a relevant committee encourage new housing developments that broaden the available residential options including apartments, town houses, single family, multif family, and are planned appropriately to preserve open space, public trail
access, and wildlife connectivity. I have no idea how we would fit into that. None. It says, "Is this controlled by your board's bylaws or policies?" To me, the answer was no. >> No. Um, so I did just check off knowing
that and and moved on. Um, the next one was um there were a lot of them that um like things that didn't fall to us were like adopt a lot of steer development away from open farmland, establish an indoor farmers market um so
farmers can sell their products year round. None of that stuff listed parks, nor did I read anything in there that I thought should be parks. Um then we have the goal build upon efforts to improve natural o natural open spaces and recreational opportunities. We have a
bunch in here. First one develop mountain bike trail network parks commission open space conservation and town manager. Is it in our bylaws and policies? I said no. I don't really have anything else to add in there. Could we
build one? Sure. Um the only spot would probably be Northfield, but we don't have a large inventory of land like the conservation commission. Um the next one was develop a dog parks commission open space town manager. It's all the answers
to are these in our bylaws policies are no because we don't have any bylaws policies that cover any of this. But I did make a note in there that a dog park is currently in the design work for the Marshall Park project should the voters support it. um assess and provide parking and
improve pedestrian access to town beach parks commission. They list park and recreation department, the ADA committee and town manager. It's not in our policies. I did say that it's um thought I cut that section. Let's see.
Um under the section um the provide any additional feedback. I have something along the lines of parking at the town beach is roadside and is not controlled by the parks commission. Um we would work with the town to determine if there is anything that could be done to
approve parking there and it was a scene just when it came to um sidewalks in that area. We don't have any land to put them on, but we could certainly work with other groups to establish a better parking situation, but we don't own the
land. Um, so that was that one. Um, provide public access to Lake Shirley. They have park commission, parks and recck department. I said no. And under the note, I said park commission does not own any property on Lake Shirley. town owned property on Lake Shirley is under the care and control of the select
board. So there's nothing unless somebody hands us over property. We've been down this road with open space. Um I did recommend that they add uh instead of parks commission and parks and wreck, they add select board and open space to that list. >> Um
couple more. um cut off by the holes that I have in my paper, but it says something about connecting Lunberg to neighborhoods. It has listed parks commission and open space. Um let's connect other towns to Lunberg. Um
and I of course we have no other we have no policy on it. I said park commission does not own any land that abuts other towns. if a network was being created, the park commission would work with them if our property was deemed a cut through if if there was appropriate action. Um,
I suggested that conservation be added there since they're the ones that own the bulk of the land that I think does abut other towns. Um, the next one was create a trail to connect conservation areas. I don't know if we have any land that ab
butts any conservation areas to create land too. No, >> North Hill Park's the only one. >> We initially had a trail network set up, but it wasn't going to connect anything, but we had a trail network in our plan. >> I think I mentioned that in here. Um, develop a walking trail network. In the
Marshall Park project plan, there is an opportunity for walking trails, both hard surface within the park as well as the opportunity to put nature trails around the Marshall Park should the voters decide. Um, I'm hoping they pick up what I'm putting down when I say if the voters decide because we've been in
front and they want all this stuff. This stuff's coming through on the list of this is their wants. Well, we presented their wants at the last town meeting and didn't get support. So, um, uh, ensure maintenance of existing parks and playgrounds. Um, I did say that we had
it does fall under us in terms of policy like we could make a policy around it. I just said day-to-day maintenance falls to the facilities director and not directly with the parks commission. We are working on a list of improvements that need to be done for the capital plan. Does anybody have anything to add to that section?
>> Um makes sense. >> Improve parking and access to all trails in town. They've got glass listed again. Park commission has no trails in town. >> Um >> but we're trying to >> we're trying to have parking and trails to Marshall Park.
>> Yeah. Um, so when you if when you're done here, I will update on my open space. >> Okay, perfect. That's appropriate. >> Yep. Um, assess and develop town green between TC Pasio's adult activity center for
outdoor community space. We're on that list. I just >> Yeah, this is not property that comes under the parks commission. Again, we're >> it's gonna cut >> the um the I understand that they want to get other groups involved, but I am
hesitant to overstep into property that we don't have care and control of for a land that will never come under us because the select board's not going to want to give up that piece of property there. They're going to want to maintain care and control because it's in the center of town. Um
>> could we add a comment though that you know because we did we did have the you know different events on that land that you know Angela coordinated with the um >> yeah and um so maybe we could say we you know continue to look for opportunities
to coordinate with you know other entities to have regular public events on the property as determined public events. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Good >> Chris, you're picking up those words really well.
>> That's good. >> Um, the next one was, um, assess and develop an outdoor work space greater than 50 acres for large community events from town owned land. I
said Northfield Park is a substantial piece of undeveloped property that comes under the Cartoona Park Commission that would be suitable. I mean, I don't think we need much collaboration there. It can be turned into anything the voters want it to be
turned into. Um that was that might be one other seek grant opportunities. >> Develop >> develop a universally accessible playground for all ages. I must have missed that one. Um >> oh yep I missed that one. Let let me go
back one. Um develop community garden. It's listed parks adcom commission of trust fund. I put that it's not in our policies. If we have if some if the piece of property piece of parcel of land could be identified, we could certainly do one.
>> Um there's no reason why we couldn't. We talked about it in the past. >> Um >> they have on a green space next to the library. >> Yep, I got that one. >> Y um and I think the last one, Chris, was um seek grant opportunities. Develop a universally accessible playground for
all ages. >> Also in Marshall Park. Yeah. Um I said we would like to see universal playgrounds and one is in the plans for Marshall Park if voters choose to support it. Grants have been secured. >> Um I'm not I don't unless I miss
anything, Chris. I think those were all >> It has some bicycle infrastructure from high density housing areas to the town center and vice versa. >> It has nothing to do with us. >> We don't have any. >> Yeah, it's roads. >> I might have
>> There's no track. I didn't see that one and I >> I thought it fell under the safe. >> It's foster safe and resilient town. It falls under the foster safe and resilient town infrastructure. It says add bicycle infrastructure from highdensity housing areas to the town
center and vice versa planning board and parks commission. The parks commission wouldn't have any bearing. >> DPW, >> right? >> Yeah. get no bearing on parks, >> which I will make a side note to the planning board that all of these topics
would never have made it out here if there had been somebody from the parks commission sitting in on those meetings. It wouldn't some of this stuff would have if other groups had had liaison or voting members, whatever they're considered, I think this would have
looked very different. the open space um committee thing had the same thought that there were a lot of things that >> want to jump into your update. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Does anybody else have anything on this? Okay. >> So, we went we went through it for the
open space and that was the same determination was that a lot of those things that they said were open space. Open space has any policies and it's like a an adjacent committee to the planning. you know, there's no so it didn't,
you know, some they don't have jurisdiction or anything to do that, but it was more just making comments like what you did. But um the big comment that came up was how many of those items were actually on the Marshall Park plan
and there was some you know um the feeling especially from the chair was that you know Marshall Park should not be forgotten and should come back before the voters and I wasn't at the July meeting um of this so I didn't know
where we were at on it but um you know the feeling was not to let it though because >> who's the chair of open space now? >> Um Michael >> um you know that was just the discussion was that you know so several of those
items that actually were relevant to PARs >> were addressed in in the plan and so it you know should not be you know that was the sentiment was that it was even though it wasn't supported that it
should not be left behind. So, I thought that was, you know, good to know that members I like that feedback. >> Do master plans in general? I understand the need for them. I understand why we do them and, you know, I was part of the open space plan that we just passed, you
know, four or five years ago, whatever it was. So, I get the need for them, but it does it end up being one of those things that everybody goes through the motions and then doesn't get looked at again. Yes. But there's some communities that and I could link town Lincoln is one um
that it's used regularly, referred to regularly. >> Okay. >> You know, I just again I feel like I look at all this stuff and we go through all the motions and it's like you guys, you know, you get this list of and feedback from the community members of this is what we would like to see and
then you present that to them and it doesn't happen. It's like you just spent all your time putting this forward to master planning committee and we bring it to you and it's no it's like >> well and I feel like it was in the presentation about Marshall Park like
clearly we said >> that's a community head >> yes >> you know these were fulfilling >> the master plan. >> Yes. >> So in July we had decided not to >> Yeah I read the minutes. >> Okay. So not to bring it forward to fall town meeting but left it open for
>> Yeah. at the spring town meeting which I think makes perfect sense. But I was just, you know, it was pleasant to hear that, you know, people were recognizing >> Yes. >> what it was addressing and that, you know, we should stick around that, you
know, >> Okay, >> good. >> Um, I just want to get a document. >> I do not think we need to vote on that. I think it's just good to submit just the way we have it. And I know that um Jared Bowser had who's actually on um if anybody has any questions for him, he
filled it out um on behalf of the town beach side of things um >> those sections and I don't know if Angela provided anything before she left, but I know that um um I know that she received it. So um pull this up so I
can share it. All right, so that topic is done. Now we are on to the next door. Mr. Gilman, I don't know if you heard the start of this, and I apologize if you were in the waiting room for too long. I didn't notice um right away. I don't think you were there. Um and the
same thing with you, Jay. Um if either of you as we move into this topic um have questions um or comments um put your hands up and I will um have you address those during this discussion. Um I just want to get this share point up.
Um this does affect the baseball program because they are the ones that are the primary users on my family field. Um something went wrong. It's telling me what could have gone off. So this topic and I'm going to read it
word for word at this point. Um discussion and vote on noncriminal disposition for violation of dog regulations by Lynn Palazi and Sher Lart of 280 Will and Road Lunberg at McN Park. Um, in the uploaded um, pictures
or files that I gave you on this topic were some pictures and I will pull them up. >> Feedback. We'll plug it in after. >> Can somebody even know me how to share screen here?
>> Uh, it'll be at the top. You need the top menu. >> I'm not getting I'm on my laptop, so I'm trying to post is disabled. >> There you go. >> All participants. Try sharing again. This could be a disaster. So, let's see
what comes up. Um, that's not what I want. Yeah, this isn't happening. Gives me like a um unable universal access authorization warning in Safari Unknown.
All right. Well, I was going to um share, but I can't share. Um so, what we have um in fact, somebody needs to look at my laptop if they don't remember from um the files is um the initial um
the initial complaint came in to me from a resident um in early June. Um, and at that time the pictures that were provided clearly show the two residents at of 280 Whamm on the park's property with both of their with their dogs. Um,
they appear to be unleashed and um it doesn't appear like there was any events going on in the field at that time. Um, so that was dated 529 of 25. Then we have um two more pictures. One of them dated 812 of 25 and one dated 916 of 25
that appear to be um Miss Lart. Um one of them has two dogs out there, one of them has one. Um again, neither of those pictures are of a leashed dog um at that point. We've also had um a number of
just um complaints that didn't come in with any pictures um of the same people, same thing um going on. So what happened was um the complaint originally came into um Angela Clement. Angela forwarded it to um myself or or maybe the whole
parks commission. It then went to um it went to town manager um and it was decided that we would um post signage which I did do um middle toward middle to end of August. I have the date somewhere. Um, and it was basically a um
print out of our um policies um for dog our dog policies that had been reviewed by our town council so we know that they're good working policies. Um so I printed those, laminated them, put a QR code on there so people could scan it and I posted it in five different
locations um all at McN. And we also had a letter that was sent directly to the residents um you know letting them know of this of this policy just in case they were possibly unaware. Um we received in return an email that's also in the
correspondence folder um back from the um residents um citing and that these dogs were registered service dogs and um cited they were covered under the ADA. um town manager as our ADA coordinator
then stepped in um replied back said you know if you're requesting reason feasible accommodations please set up a meeting with them here's a copy of the dog the town uh the parks policy their bylaws on dogs um and then the interaction went on and it was yep we
read it we think we're covered by this and we're going to keep doing what we're doing um and they kept doing what they're doing but they never set up anything with town manager um to get any reasonable accommodations. From what um my understanding is right
now after talking with town manager and talking with um the legal counsel is that exercising your dogs on the field is not an ADA covered activity. if they were playing softball, baseball, or doing something themselves on the field
that required the support of a ADA, you know, not registered, but an ADA um approved animal. Um that would be one thing, but that's not what's going on >> because they would be in a service capacity. >> Correct. Correct. >> When they're out exercising the dog, not
in a service capacity. Correct. Which is the >> the policy. >> Correct. And I'm going to read that policy right now. Um So the Yes, that's exactly what it says in my client. I thought I had the whole thing
printed out. Um and I don't and why would my computer work right now? >> But it's specific there's specific language there that you know in accordance with their you know when they're acting in capacity as a service.
>> I got it right here. So, our policy um says um specific on no dogs on um athletic fields. So, the list of properties Fitzgerald, Marshall, McN,
Northfield Park, which has a disclaimer, C off leash requirements below, Veterans Park, Wallace, and Whale and Lake Beach. Um dogs are not allowed on any of those. um service animals, service and medical support animals when acting within their service capacity are welcome at parks
property, even those where pets are otherwise prohibited. Um it goes on, you know, to talk about the off leash areas. Um making sure to clean up after your pet if they're if you bring them into any of the parks on a leash, you know, just not the playing field areas. Um,
and it there's that whole section and then it says visitors who do not abide by these rules may be subject to eviction from the park andor may receive a fine in accordance with general law chapter 40 section 21D which lists the first offense is $50, second offense of
75, third offense and subsequent offenses of $100. The commission may also issue a no trespass order in accordance with general law chapter 266 section 120 and may seek enforcement of such orders as may be appropriate. Um these regulations are in addition to and
do not supersede or replace the requirements of any otherwise applicable local bylaw or regulation including section 110 to 111 of the general bylaws entitled dog control. So, in front of us, we need to I I I
believe based on the number of complaints we've gotten, the folks that I've talked to, especially from the baseball program, we're at a point now where we need to take action to stop this behavior from continuing. If they're if they want to continue to
press the ADA, they can make an appointment to sit down with town manager to discuss what those reasonable accommodations were. Um, so they did not because it was in the correspondence that there was >> request >> a request from you or end to have a
meeting with and and that never >> that never happened. So the um the initial correspondence that came in um um was from Miss Palazi um and it says I hope this me message finds you well. I'm
writing on behalf of myself and Sher Lart in response to the letter we received regarding our dogs running on McNelly Field. First, I want to express our appreciation for your commitment to maintaining the field and creating a welcoming space for everyone. I would like to clarify our situation. Our dogs are registered service animals and we
believe we are following the guidelines in place. Specifically, if we feel we are being denied access, we have the option to file a complaint under the ADA. We understand the importance of keeping the area enjoyable for the entire community and take our responsibility as pet owners very seriously. We exercise our dogs for
about 20 minutes each morning, ensuring we keep a close eye on them and always cleaning up after them. I truly hope we can reach a mutual understanding on this matter as it's important for us to enjoy our time in the field without feeling targeted. She then sent another one and said, "I noticed that at Marshall Park there are no significant signs regarding
the fines related to our current discussion. I understand that years ago Marshall Park was closed because dogs were because people were not picking up after their dogs which created a mess. According to Jack, given this history, I'm sure you can understand why we feel a bit targeted in this situation. Um, so
town manager then responded to this and I want to make a side note here. The McN Park has two open. We have two gates that close and then one of those gates has a wider opening that any dog
could slide through. We also have two openings that have no gates over by the dugout area. And we found last year um and this was confir um Lake View who does the maintenance or the landscaping over there had called to let Chris Ruth
know about this last year. um things were attached to the the fencing to barricade that so no dog could go in and out. Uh Lake View had to actually cut those off in order to do their landscaping. And it didn't just happen once, it happened multiple times. when I
went over there to put the um the signage up on the um um on the entrances, the five signage that I put up, the there was some portable units that had been dragged over to cover those um openings so that if somebody
was over there letting their dogs out, the dogs couldn't slip out. So, they're moving things around on that field and installing things, for lack of better word, in order to so that they don't their dogs aren't getting out. So it's fully enclosed >> mean that they're installing that. I
just I don't want to make that assumption that they're installing. >> So I somebody is installing somebody's official capacity. Correct. I want to make sure we're clear that somebody is somebody's installing something is not. >> Um so what what I ended up doing was
taking the two back stops for lack of a better word. They're like these portable things. We actually put them together in the um behind home plate and they're actually now chained and locked up so that they can't easily be moved um just
because that's not what their purpose is and to to block somebody's exit no matter who's doing it is not an appropriate thing to do anyway. So I just side note there on on that um that piece of it before I forgot. Um and then the um
um town manager had responded um and um um and had said um you know she was forwarded the email correspondence last week between you and Angela Clement. Uh as I understand it, you sent the August
26th email in response to a letter sent by Miss Clement regarding the use of McNield. As town manager, I also serve as ADA coordinator for the town. From your email, I see that your dogs are registered service animals. I also see that you believe you are following the guidelines in place. I have attached a copy of the regulations to this email.
It is not clear to me whether you are requesting a reasonable accommodation or a modification of the park properties dog regulations under the ADA ADA. If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation modification, I would invite you to discuss your request with myself and the chair of the parks commission. please let me know if you
would like the time to discuss this matter further. Um, she got right back to town manager and said, "Thank you for your email. I have reviewed the guidelines and I can confirm that we are within our rights to have our service dogs in the mentioned feet park. No additional accommodations are needed. We
simply ask that the Little League executives refrain from harassing us regarding this matter. I believe we are all on the same page now and I trust that this issue will not occur." Fast forward. Um, and she clarified that she was not, we have not and will not be at the ball field with our dog dogs during
little league events. We respect the community in the little league. Thank you. Um, then a day went by and I believe that's when the next complaint came in and I immediately responded to her and I said, "Please set up a meeting with town manager. It actually does not sound like we are on the same page and I
would appreciate the opportunity to discuss the reasonable ADA accommodation you are seeking." Town manager also followed up regarding the email from last night as well as Miss Manard's response this morning. It does appear that a meeting is warranted. Per the regulations, dogs are restricted from all sections of parks fenced or not
maintained for athletic youth to include all ball fields and courts. The regulations also state service and medical support animals, and this is in bold, when acting within their official service capacity are welcome at the park properties, even those where pets are otherwise prohibited. Emphasis added. It
sounds as though you are requesting that your dogs be allowed on the ball field when the little league is not using this field. If that is the case, then we should indeed set up a time to discuss the accommodation modification request. Would a time next Tuesday or Thursday accommodate your schedule? We heard nothing back after that. Instead, that
was so that was 93. Um, we've had multiple complaints since then >> and no response back. >> No response back from them. So tonight we're looking to determine whether we want to put forward with issuing a fine for their non
>> We can do whatever you want. We can we can do a fine. We can we could take no action. We can do a fine. Um I we've already given them written notice which we didn't have to do. Um but we did. Um and we can go as far as if somebody
feels so strongly um issuing a no trespass order for that field. What if we sent another letter that, you know, says that, you know, refers to this communication that took place and says that, you know, we we feel that a
violation is still occurring and um town manager concurs and um we urge you to set up a meeting with the town manager and chair of the parks commission at your earliest convenience.
Absent that taking place and put a like a deadline, we will be issuing fines for future occurrences. >> Okay. >> I would agree with that. I think I think that's the right way to go. I think just a timeline on it like beyond your
earliest convenience. It's >> like >> Yeah, I would I wouldn't necessarily earliest convenience. I would >> prior to October or whatever. I mean I yeah I would put a date simply because they've h the request it was already
stated that they're really seeking an accommodation and they need to have a meeting to determine whether that is appropriate or not and they just went silent you know and that was a couple of weeks
ago and so at this point like I agree I mean I think we would be well within our rights to just issue funds. >> Yeah, I don't think we're in our rights to do that, >> you know. But I I don't think that's the way we should go. >> No, >> but I do think there needs to be a
meeting. >> And I mean, I don't really understand. >> It's a slippery slope of >> if we don't address it, >> then we're, you know, we're leaving it open to others. I I drive by Marshall and I look
like when there's dogs walking around the track, they're they're on leash. Those dogs are on leash. Like I don't I have not driven by Marshall and seen dogs running loose getting exercise. >> Yeah. >> Um at Marshall, I've seen dogs on leash walking around the
>> And they can be off leash in the um T-ball field area at Marshall. They do not have to be on leash. That's one of those areas that we had. >> Yeah. And I actually as I say that I didn't update the policy and I need to um I have slightly different opinions
than all of you folks which shouldn't surprise you but I would like to um >> Well, you're also getting >> it's not just >> receiving the complaints. >> It's not just the receiving of the complaints. It's um and I'm going to have Mr. Gilman and Jay um make some comments because I think they're going
to add some stuff to it. Um this is not this isn't a new occurrence. So all right, which one of you guys want to go first? whoever can unmute and um just introduce yourself and name and address. >> I mean I can go first if you don't mind. >> Sure. Um so uh you already know who I am
JC. Um so I actually live right next to Mali. Um so and I work from home so when I go out on my lunch break I walk around um to exercise. They are out there um and they lease their dogs. I've watched
them release their dogs. They do put blockage. Um I've actually seen them put blockage um in front so their dogs do not run out. Um they let them run around and do whatever they want. I've seen them the dogs actually poop and they don't clean it up. Um once they're done,
they just put the le they put they grab they call them and they put they bring them to their house. Um but it's multiple times they have done this. Um, I've seen them do it right before the game. I've done I've seen it do it um
when there aren't any games. My other issue is um I know it was mentioned about like you know in there like you were reading that email about it should you know it's not a big deal um if the league is not using the field but uh people like me who live right there who
my son wants to practice. I have neighbors that have kids. I have other people see that bring their kids that want to practice in the offseason. Um just like me, I was hosting a kickball uh game this past Sunday. I was using the field. I had a bunch of people come um family and friends. I don't think it's fair that I have to check around
the field to see if they cleaned up the dog poop. Um so I honestly I feel like it it's been going on for a while. Um it's a constant topic that I bring up at our board meetings. I I honestly think that, you know, you guys should just go
the uh this way as it's already been mentioned multiple times. >> Great. Thank you, Mr. Gilman. >> Thank you. Uh Matt Gilman, 186 Reservoir Road. Um I am here both as a board member of the Lunberg baseball and
softball, but also as a coach that coached at McN for now the past three years. Um, not only do we have kids that are now getting dog poop stuck on their cleats, it is interfering with um the
the equipment as the equipment is dragging through what is being left there. But more importantly, I think why I'm actually here is it's not just that the dogs are are there. Um these two individuals have become actually very
hostile um threatening to kids. Uh they have called parents who are bringing this up to them while they're there. They're calling their parents losers to to these little kids that are at the ages of 10 and younger. Um they know
what they're doing. They I can say I've talked to uh officer McNamera about it and the Lunberg police are aware of what's going on. Um I myself as a coach also hung up laminated I took time out of my day to laminate the dog policy and
hang it up during the baseball season beginning in April. Um so it's not something that's new to them. >> It is very clear. >> Excuse me. I was those taken down? >> No, so they were still there when I went to put the new ones up. Not all of them
were still there, but there was definitely one or two that were still there. >> Thank you for putting those up, by the way. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. I mean, they clearly could they know what they're doing. Um, and they could care less. And it is it's actually
can be frightening um how aggressive they are. They will follow people around the field and and get right in their face and become very aggressive. We've had a situation where one was there and the other has come running out of the house screaming. Um I asked about, you
know, you know, you're here having your dogs run around when their backyard is fenced in and they say they don't want their dogs running in their backyard. So I think it is past the point of sending a letter. They clearly know and I understand reasonable accommodations.
They're not using these dogs in any capacity aid that to assist them. It's they're throwing a ball to the dog and the dog is chasing it. And I would note these are not small little dogs. These are quite large dogs that jump right up
>> dogs. um >> and I don't think you know the size of the dog I think is irrelevant but I think it goes to the atmosphere that these that they're causing and it is something we've been dealing with now for several years. Um we've done what we can and I know that there's another
board member or another coach who lives in the complex uh with JC. He's had interactions with them and they've called you know like I said called him a loser right in front of his dad. >> Yeah. I'm going to read that um letter in a second um because I'm not sure
>> they had >> you guys were CCd on it, but I'm not sure you remember it. Um can I jump in for a second, Matt? Is that okay? >> Of course. >> Okay. So, um the email that came in um around the 13th of June um first
highlighted the fact that, you know, there were no dogs allowed and he was concerned about um you know, these two residents bringing their dogs. He then went on to um elaborate some more and this is why my feeling is I think
slightly different than you guys. Um he went on to say, "I've been feeling helpless about it all season as these individuals continue to use the park for their unleashed dogs. I live at the apartments next door and personally see them out there several times a week. They have a fenced in backyard right next to the park and they choose to use
our baseball fields as their dog park." Several coaches and others in the area have made comments telling them they are not allowed on the fields. called animal control and reported them to the police for continual disregard of the rules. Looking at the policy which has been in place since 2021, I do not understand how they are not subject to disciplinary
action, non-excluding being subject to eviction as the policy states. We are not asking for something inappropriate, but they should be spoken to and reprimanded. I told these individuals that I would be taking the matter up with the town and they said, "Go ahead. We will win. This is a public park." Both dogs who are very large approached
my son who had to hide behind the gate in fear as he does not know these dogs. Another policy violation allowing your dogs to approach others. The dog also grabbed a ball out of the ball bucket that was a wedding gift inscribed to my son for being a ring bearer at her wedding. Upon telling these two that the
ball was sentimental, they made made fake crying sounds and said, "Oh, who cares? You want two bucks for it?" They continued to yell from the gate while I walked my children to the dugout to conduct our baseball practice, telling my 10-year-old that his dad was a loser. A loser for standing up for the rules and helping to maintain our park. As a
coach for the last two years at McN, I've taken pride in maintaining the field, set, spending out-of- pocket money to help with upgrades, lining the field for all home games, and picking up trash from patrons. And for the record, I may not I I watch many, many other people walking their dogs around Mc
around the McN grounds causing no issues. These dogs as a policy states are in a restricted prohibited area. All sections of park fenced are not maintained for athletic use to include all ball fields and courts. So the to be clear on why there was no action
taken and I'm a little disappointed that nobody from either the animal controls office or the police department reached out to either facilities town manager or us to say they had been receiving complaints because I didn't I heard nothing from any of those groups about
that until this email came in. Um, so the reason why it didn't happen though, this is a noncriminal disposition situation and because it's noncriminal, the police don't have involvement in it, which is why the last meeting um, we I had worked with town
manager and it was still a discussion at that point to figure out who could enforce our policy and she threw some names around. She just hasn't finished completing that circle of who that person could be. Um, so while we have nobody, it falls back to the commission
to be the enforcer of this. So, um, in my in my opinion, the signage went up in August. So, they they obviously saw it. They received a letter in the mail from
Angela because they responded to it. They cited the ADA. So, town manager got involved and sent an email back. she responded and then I sent a response back saying please set up a meeting and town manager said so there they've had
three emails that we know that they've received because they've responded well we they I can't say for sure because they didn't respond to the last two but they've been told three times to request a meeting with town manager and myself they have not done it they received a
letter in the mail which they acknowledge that they received a letter in the mail with our policy at this point in my opinion they're just blatantly disregarding ing parks policy. >> Well, and the town manager attached the policy and they referred to the policy saying that they were certain that they
weren't violating it. So, they clearly are aware of the policy and just have a different >> correct >> perhaps flawed understanding of. After those um after the letter was sent out,
we have received one report with pictures and we have received one complaint with no pictures. It has been told to me by numerous people on the town side that if we were to issue a a fine for them being out
there, we need to make sure that we are we have evidence that they were out there. the pictures that I have from the latest one um that fell after those letters received are just Miss Lard out there. I do not see Miss Palazi out there. I just see Miss Lard out there.
So, it would be my suggestion um at a minimum to issue a fine to u Miss Lard for the date of um 91625.
I have the time on that as well. that was at 7:31 a.m. um to issue the first fine on that. um she will then have the choice to be able to she can she can request a hearing and that would just mean that lucky me would get to go
down to the courthouse and you know stand up for parks and our policy and present that information to them if she decides to you know fight it that way or she can do what I would hope would be the right thing which would be stay off of the parks until she sets up a meeting
with town manager um to verify whether whether or not we can offer reasonable accommodations under the ADA um for what they're looking for. But I will stand by the fact I do not believe that what they are doing out there is anything that would fall under the ADA because it's
not while it's not happening while in >> it's not it's not a service >> service capacity. So, and again, you know, the letter that I the original complaint that came in in June, you know, it's I do remember reading that now that you read it. I
didn't it didn't >> cuz I remember reading about the the ball. >> It didn't occur to me when these new ones came out that it was the same. >> Yeah, it was all the same people. >> It's all the same. Um I just it just concerns me where we've now issued
we've put posters or um signs up. We've issued a letter. We've had email correspondence and they continue to do it. And I don't know how short everybody or how long everybody's memory is, but we've had issues in town with other
dogs, both fatal incidents with other dogs in town as well as other just, you know, over on um um Hickory Hills area. There was an issue with some dogs over there. And it's that's just not something that I want to see happen at our parks. I think when you put children
out on a field with dogs of any size that they do not know, that is and they're not leashed and they're not acting in their service capacity and the owners don't want to heed notice from the town to set up a
meeting. I I'm I'm pretty done with it. I'm pretty done. >> Well, the fact that they didn't respond to set up a meeting is, you know, pretty disappointing. It also sounds like they're not cleaning up after the dogs. It's not a one time early in the morning
for 20 minute thing. if they're if they're being, you know, photographed at other times and running into practices. >> The pictures that we have >> being there when kids are there and >> they're like 7:31 a.m. 7:37 I'm sorry,
7:31 a.m. 7:34 a.m. 4:25 p.m. Um, one with no pictures was another evening one. Um, they came after a practice had just let out over on that field. Um so they seem to be put you know in the morning and then in the afternoon and
there could be some mix in the day. I you know I I don't know. We've been fortunate that the um gentleman who has been reporting most of these has been taking pictures because without those pictures it's he said she said conversation. This is actual >> this is proof. There's
>> you know you're out there exercising your vows. Well, it's very disappointing to hear that they're trying to interact so aggressively with people who are just concerned about the safety of the field and the kids and people using it. That
to me kind of changes the whole atmosphere of it. Um, if we send a letter um, issuing the first fine for that date and time that you noted, um, I think that the letter should say
that if they disagree with this, they are, you know, they need to set up a meeting with the kind of minister and yourself and, you know, go through that request for accommodation on the under the ADA. Um,
what do we do if they do nothing? If they don't contact the town manager, if they don't pay the fine, >> does it become a criminal? >> It could become So, so is there some point though where if it really needs to be enforced, it's not you?
>> So, um, because that doesn't seem appropriate, right? Right. So, >> you're out of town. >> Yes. And that is something that we're working on. We're trying to figure out who can
be the enforcing officer here. Um we had thrown it out to our town manager had thrown it out to Chief um Tibido to see if um our animal control officer could do it, but I think it got just lost in the jumble of he was on vacation when it went out, that sort of email stuff. So,
yes, that would be figured out. I have been very fortunate that when I was meeting with um Adam Costa and Jen Warren last week on a whole bunch of topics that town council and town manager um that Brian Gingris the the
building inspector walked in. This is this is his fieldhouse. Like this is stuff that he understands and he knows how to do. So he's then like even today I asked um town manager like if the commission for some reason wants to issue a fine for every single one of
these events that we have pictures on, can we do that do three sets of fines in one time? And she basically said go back and ask Brian what you know what he would do in that situation. And Brian got back to me super quickly, gave me guidance, told me how he would go about
um sending the the ticket for lack of a better word. Um you know, which he recommended certified mail, but he he has a whole process. So, but yes, it would I would be trying to wash my hands a bit faster than you can Blake and I. >> Do we have constables assigned?
>> We do have a constable. >> It's Michael Jeff. >> Oh, he's our constable. Yeah. >> So, like we could send it certified letter, but then if it didn't get paid in in a whatever, we would put it. I'm sure it would come with a deadline of some sort.
>> I don't know. I and at some point if it wasn't followed up on we would send >> so this is howable this is my and I'm hoping that somebody watches this so that they understand where that I don't want what I'm about to say to actually happen but my gut is telling me that if
we issue the first offense fine for $50 that they they're not going to heed any of these warnings because they think that they are in the right on this and if they are in the right on it all they have to do is set up a meeting to have this discussion So then I feel like we'd be setting out another one and another one with the
final straw being we would no trespass them and then because it's a no trespass at that point would be >> that would get served by somebody >> and the police would get involved and they wouldn't be allowed on the property. I'm hoping it doesn't go there. >> I I hope so too, but I don't think we
can go straight to the no trespass process. I think >> but I don't want to. >> Exactly. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> So I think we need to go through the >> Yeah, I do as well. Matt, do you have another comment? >> He looks so professional in his office.
>> Oh, please. Um, you can't see the the butter and peanut butter next to me. But anyways, um, so I agree the next I I think the way ultimately I think they're going to say take a $50
fine and say, "Oh, well." Um, the way it escalates is the no trespass. And then when law and then police if they're notified that this continues, they can issue citations and then it goes into a
criminal proceeding and then the police will represent the town at criminal clerk's hearings and ultimately it can be resolved there or it can go beyond that and to the district court. Um
but if I don't think sending letters it it they're this has been going on for years and I think at some point when it be it's becoming hostile and they are uh you know speaking to to kids and
screaming at uh parents of these kids and and it's not just conversations it's it's beyond that that I I think just sending a letter isn't going to do anything but I Just wanted to raise my hand with regards to how where could it go and I think the no trespass and then
and then the Lunberg police can get it revolved and if they d they know you know it's not hard to drive by McNell you can see it right from the from the main road and um they can take appropriate action at that point if it's necessary but hopefully it won't be. >> Yep. Exactly. Thank you. Um I was going
to say something. >> What does town council have to say? Jen basically said to him like what is their next step because and she laid out what she has already done and his his comments were you've done what you were
supposed to do on the ADA side and they don't want to set up a meeting with you. So now the parks commission and he literally told me what to write exactly what to write on this. So this is his this is his guidance um you know on on this piece of it. Um, so in and I want
to be very clear to anybody that's watching this after the fact. This is not the this is not the the youth baseball programing program targeting this this residents and their family. This is community members who use this
field, whose children use this field, who are now out there in conditions that they should not have to be in. Whether or not your dog has been picked up after, doesn't matter. When you have a dog that uses that field as their bathroom, even if you were to clean up
after them, these kids are, you know, sliding in the grass, they're, you know, playing catch, picking up balls. You, it just, it's one thing for it to be a wild animal. It's something totally different when you are taking a domestic animal and putting it in in those fields. Um,
so this is not targeting by the baseball program. Um, I actually see it as the contrary. I think that this is this is how we are supposed to work as a town, as a parks commission who has user groups who are have residents that are
that use our fields. When everybody works together to make sure our fields are safe, that everybody is following the rules and they're communicating with us, that's how we get things done because we can't be everywhere. I've driven by those fields so many times at
all hours of the day from first thing in the morning till late in the afternoon and I have not caught anybody there. It's it's taken a resident that cared enough to send me the pictures to say here is the proof that you're looking for that they were actually here.
Without them, again, it becomes a he said, she said situation and we would had no proof. We don't have the staff to to put them down there. Jay, do you have one more comment before we vote on this and make a decision? >> Yeah. Yes. Um, if you do, because I even have it, like Matt said, it's been going
on for a while. I even have pictures of like I took pictures of her in the yard, one of them in the yard with the two dogs. Um, like I said, I walked by. I even have a picture of where she's closing it off. The gates are closed. Um, so if you have it, this was like
back in December of last year. >> Yeah. Send it all away. >> Yep. Send it all away. always anything and I'm I'm going to say it to you guys while you're here because you two don't typically come in front of us very often. Any issues with the fields, whether it's dog related, whether it's
safety, field conditions, something got broken, please send it our way. The parks lunenbergmma.gov email address. We'll catch everybody. My direct email address is kmanard lunenbergmma.gov. I tend to be super responsive to the stuff
because I'm fortunate that I'm home during the day and I don't mind doing the leg work to make sure that this stuff gets done. So, anything that pops up, let us know. There's I'd rather you over tell us stuff than not tell us stuff and we find out about it 6 months later.
>> All right, we'll do that. Thank you. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Appreciate your documentation, guys, and keep being vigilant and let us know what you see. For sure. So, I'm thinking um do a first offense to just Miss Lart, which would be I think it's covering the
best of both worlds. They received the letter, we gave notice, and this is what's happened after that. And you know, the stuff that's before that. Not that it's water under the bridge. It still matters that it's out there. And you know, I want all the documentation, but I think this is a good starting
point where it's the most recent event and all of that documentation and the communications that happens. Um, and again, it would just be to Miss Latard because the pictures that I have from 9:16 25 only show her out there with one
of her with one of their dogs um when the dog is unleashed. And >> it's a big concern of mine. They're blocking off the entrances and using it as their >> There's multiple concerning things. It really is. >> Just the exceeding that kind of deal
was. So, a motion to send a fine to Miss Lutard, >> issue a $50. >> Issue $50 fine to Miss Latard >> using town council language. >> Yeah. Using town council. >> I have a um I have a form. It's actually
a has to be done in triplicate. It's It's a whole It's a whole thing. Um, so this would be a fine issued for the 9:16 2025 violation that occurred at 7:31 a.m. Could I have to put a time on there as well? >> Um,
>> do I have a second? >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I um So, thank you gentlemen for participating in this conversation tonight. Again, send us anything and everything that you feel the parks commission needs. We can't we can't run our parks alone. We just don't have as a
small community. We just don't have the staff right now to be able to support that. So >> yeah, that is right. That goes for anybody at any park, any, you know, whether it's Veterans Park or Mar Park or whatever it is. If there's an issue, you see, >> you know, >> and if you don't get a response from
somebody within a couple of days, usually I respond within an hour or two of receiving it. If you don't get a response and the parks commission has been included on that email, please resend it. It's possible something happened and we didn't get it. Um, I do try to respond even if it's just to say
I need some time to figure it out. Um, you do typically get a response right away. >> Safety issue, the grass is long, the fence is broken, whatever, whatever it is, you know, >> we can't address. >> If you find a 10ft rattlesnake on the field, please do not reach out to me first. >> Just burn it.
>> Just burn it. If it's if it's near my house, just take my house, done with it. I want nothing to do with that snake. So, >> thank you. Have a great night. >> Thank you. All right, let's try to do the next real quick. um facilities update um where we didn't have much that needed Chris tonight and he has had a
lot of meetings took the night off. He did report that the Wallace court resurfacing has been completed. It looks awesome and they they did and however you know what's missing from those pictures >> the pickle ball striping >> they mentioned it's done. It is done. So
what happened was they put they did the basketball court. Chris took the pictures and then said where's the pickle ball courts? So there is pickle ball over there. So, I will put a side note on there that um you can't get them right now cuz they're in the back of my truck. I will return them this week. You can actually rent a pickle ball fence at
four paddles and six balls, I think, from the library. It's part of your your library card access. It's part of their lending library. Um they do work over there. So, you can, you know, go and set up over there with a little net for yourself. It is first come, first serve. So if you get there and there's a bunch
of kids playing or kids, guys, women, whoever over there playing basketball, you have to wait your turn. You, you know, there's not one user group that has priority over. >> Do we need to add the fact that those are there to our um rental
like field use >> the pickle ball >> agreement? >> Yep. I'm going to hit that all the time. So, and he also Chris also reported that he did some work behind the home plate dugout on the on the 90 foot diamond. It's just stuff that needed to be put some gravel or something down. >> Are they going to store the net? There's
no fall baseball, right? So, are they going to store that? >> I don't know. I didn't ask. I didn't ask. >> That net is >> Yep. >> out. It's It's not up, but it's out kind of sagging and before winter time coming. >> I will I will ask on that. Um I will ask on that. I need to ask on the
toddler playground equipment at um Wallace is not um been installed yet either. I don't know what the update is on that. So I will ask >> insurance. >> Yeah, because the horizon was broken. That was the stuff that was broken during that crazy somebody drove through
it. Do you hear this? >> Has the fence been >> The fence looks to be repaired. >> Fence is Yep. And the um the mulch had been all the mulch was removed because it had broken um glass from the tail light in it. Um and new mulch was put in. So um overall looks pretty good down
there. All right. So, my update yesterday, um, as you all know, Angela, um, has left Na Lunberg for a full-time position. Um, I think it was, um, much needed for her to have those full-time benefits. Um,
>> so I I I saw her coming. Yep. And she was great. So, but yesterday, myself, Chris Ruth, and Julie Belo um interviewed a um a candidate for the rec director position. an offer did go out um >> yesterday. Whether or not this person
accepts it, I don't know. It's um it sounded like they were trying to um make their life a little bit easier going from a full-time position as a working mom to a part-time position, but not sure. We'll see. We'll see. >> Okay. So, the part-time might be a a
plus for that. >> Correct. Correct. And um she's very um very wellversed in everything parks, including um how to run a town beach. Um She has lifeguard certifications. She does PR classes. Um she would be a
tremendous asset to the town. So I I knew about this interview last week. Um and I was going to start pulling stuff together for um as you remember from our last meeting, our um paperwork for um renting of the fields and preserving of
the fields all needs to be redone. And when I saw this coming down the pipeline, I'm like going to stop because we're not nobody's really going to be filling out those forms anytime soon. We did have somebody use the fields in the fall. Um but we don't have anybody coming in through the winter months. So
I'm like I'm going to wait for the assistance of this if this person takes a job. Um or even if it ends up being somebody else, hopefully an experienced person can lend a hand. So, I we do need to update all that and I'm going to work with um with them because I think there's some other policy stuff. I had a
meeting um myself um um town manager um and somebody from the finance committee that has a background in parks and recreation. We had a sit down a month or two ago um and she was asking policies
everything under the sun and I'm like we don't got one. No, we don't have one of those either. Nope. we we definitely don't have one. And she's looking at me. She's like, just create some policy. So, I think there's some policy that needs to be done. And hopefully if we can get a recreation director that has some experience coming in under her belt that
she will be able to offer some guidance on what policy we should start with. So, um just sort of frozen on that. Um you gave the open space committee update. Uh we did anybody take a look at the July 30th minutes? >> Yeah. >> I wasn't there, but they were very
informative. I listen. It was great. I felt like I was at the meeting and it was perfect because I was looking to see what the discussion around like, wow, I was there. >> I I almost felt bad about not having a meeting last month because I'm like, I'm
sure he's waiting for like minutes to come through. He is fantastic. He puts I do minutes for another community um in the state and um I he's risen the bar and I'm like I don't want to hit that bar though. Like it's a lot of work to get to that bar, but he does great. Um,
so if I can get a motion to approve the minutes of July 30th. >> So moved. >> Motion to approve. >> Second, Chris. >> Yeah, >> you can approve it. You can move it. You can do it all. >> All in favor? >> I can vote even though I wouldn't do it.
So yeah, they were excellent. >> Um, all right. Upcoming meetings. I'd like to see if we can cover a couple of months just so we can put them on our calendars. Our next upcoming meeting, if we stick with the fourth Wednesday of the month, which is the only Wednesday they can guarantee this room is
available, would be October 22nd. Um, we could also do the 29th because that's the fifth Friday of the fifth Wednesday of the month. And I know that's not taken. Um, so we can do either one of those dates in October. Does one work better for someone? >> I will.
>> They're both free for me. any we have no life but we have >> I'm leaning towards the 22nd only because the 29th that's the >> you start getting into >> that's the second to last night of flute >> that's the
>> homecoming is late so I feel two classes >> let's do October 22nd now November the 4th Wednesday is November 26th that is the night before Thanksgiving I would prefer not to do it that day >> so and then if you look at December the
um the fourth um Wednesday >> is the 24th >> in December is the 24th. I'm also not joining you folks on Christmas Eve. So, I'm wondering if we should um maybe either do something the first week in of
December instead of November. >> Is there another night that >> I can I can always find us a room. I can always find us a room somewhere. It just isn't going to be guaranteed to be here. Worst case scenario, we can always go to Zoom, too. But I can always find this room. We can do the library. We can do
the DPW. Um, we can be in the small room upstairs here. It's just this room specifically. >> Would you say December? Are you saying like December? >> We could do December 10th. >> I mean, it looking at No, if you definitely wanted to do a meeting in November, we could do November 19th. Or if we want to skip November, we could do
December 3rd and then not do another one till or even December 10th and then not do something else until >> I would suggest that we choose a date in November just because there might be something going on with like you know um RDLA and SKA that we need to make
decisions on. Um, so let's book that and then we can cancel it if not needed >> and then look at either, you know, some date in December, preferably earlier in the month cuz once you get, you know,
into that weekend of the 20th, nobody's going to be wanting to do anything. So I agree, earlier is better. >> So what about either the 12th and the 19th of November? >> Those are Fridays. you in 2025. >> Oh, maybe I'm not.
>> Yeah. No, I'm in 2025. >> Special town meeting the 18th, right? >> That sounds right. >> So, what dates do you want to look at? >> We We can look at anything in November. I threw out the 12th and the 19th. >> So, the I'd say the 19th.
>> Any >> potentially should be find that maybe a soccer bank is during the night. Okay. And if you can't come anyways, >> I'll figure that idea push further. >> All right. I'm going to put parks on for the 19th of November and the 22nd of
October. >> Do we want to just deal with December once we hit November? >> Do you want to block Do you want to tend that we add a December date if we don't need to meet on the >> Yeah. I would say >> so we can do early December like an early December date. If we didn't need
to meet in November, we could just meet in >> early December. >> Yeah. >> You want to do >> and then we can just, you know, in January let us go to whatever >> a normal >> back to normal. Yeah. >> Yep. Okay. Perfect. That's done there.
>> So the locations on the 19th and the 10th are questionable. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> Yeah. and I'll go back and look if the assessor's office isn't or the board of assessors isn't doing anything. We'll be able to use this room. I don't know what their their schedules. I think they've discussed it. So, I'll just pull up one
of their meetings dates. Um I don't see any other business. Um correspondence announcements. We did get that email forwarded from Chris Ruth about somebody looking to sponsor a team. Did you see that, Chris? We don't have anybody for them to sponsor. >> I didn't reach out to you suggested she
reach out to team. I figured that was fine. >> I was gonna >> Yep. Um, and oh, one other thing while Jared Jared Bowser's on here and staring me right in the face that I didn't put in my chair. The beach had a successful season after it had to close for a few
days at the tail end of the season because they had um I think it was E.coli um in the water. We had to close for a number of days. It did reopen. We finished off the season. Jared was kind enough to provide um a bunch of updates on things that he thinks could um be
better for next year, things that he might want to change. Um he is um planning he will probably disappoint me again. Um he is planning on coming back. He's told me two years in a row he wasn't coming back and I get very disappointed, but he says this year he's coming back next year. So um hopefully
if that's the case, he'll return in the same position um and he'll be able to implement some of those ideas. So >> thank you Jared. >> Great. Thank you Jared. That's awesome. So, um I think we are all set. Motion to majour 39. >> So, moved. >> Second. >> I want to say
>> all in favor. >> Do you want to approve it? >> So, move. All >> in favor? I 39. Thanks everyone.