HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-03-30 Middle School Fields Improvement Committee Minutes Meeting No. 6 Minutes March 30, 2017
Middle School Fields Improvement Committee
Meeting No. 6 Minutes
Date: March 30, 2017
Time: 6:30 PM
Location: Joseph Hermann Youth Center, 33 Johnson Street North Andover, MA
Conference Room Upstairs
Attendees: Committee Members: Amy Mabley, Terry Holland, Rosemary Smedile, Todd
Dow, Rick Green
Minutes Recorded By: Rick Green
Copies To: Andrew Maylor, Rick Gorman, Joyce Bradshaw
Item No. 1 Public Input
• No public input.
Item No. 2 Approval of Minutes for Meetings No. 4 and No. 5
• Minutes were approved as drafted for Meetings No. 4 and No. 5
Item No. 3 Comments from Meetings with User Groups
• North Andover Soccer Association — March 5, 2017
o The planned improvements to the Middle School Field Complex were presented
to NASA's Board by Rick Green and Derek Wessel. The feedback was generally
positive.
o Comments included a request for an additional basketball court and how many
toilets there would be in the restroom buildings for woman.
o A comment was made that the redevelopment of the field complex would affect
the Columbus Day Tournament.
o A question was raised about having changing facilities in one of the buildings.
o The ability to have fireworks at the new facility was also raised.
o NASA was in favor of turf fields understanding that with the amount of field usage
that grass fields would probably not hold up. Also, turf fields eliminate issues
with geese droppings.
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Meeting No. 6 Minutes March 30, 2017
• North Andover Little League— March 13, 2017
o The planned improvements to the Middle School Field Complex were presented
to the NALL Board by Rick Green.
o The feedback was positive with comments raised about dugouts and a batting
cage(s) which are not shown on the conceptual plan.
o It was explained to the Board that dugouts and a batting cage were not shown in
the conceptual layout and would be added in the final design.
o Additionally, it was clarified that the proposed softball diamond could be used as
a 50-70 field for baseball and a 90' diamond is proposed.
o There was discussion about turf fields which the Board was in favor of due to the
usage.
• Joseph N. Hermann Youth Center Board — March 21, 2017
o Comments from this meeting are included in the minutes for Meeting No. 5
which were approved at this meeting.
• An additional comment came in from the School Committee that suggested possibly
moving the amphitheater closer to the North Andover Middle School for better access to
the Music Room and to make it an easier walk for the elderly attending concerts.
Item No. 4 Schedule of Upcoming Meetings with User Groups
• Planned meetings with User Groups are as follows:
o School Committee —April 6, 2017
o Senior Center— Early May, 2017 (date to be confirmed)
o North Andover Booster Club—week of April 24th
• Other groups that the Committee needs to meet with include:
o North Andover High School Athletic Director
o North Andover Police and Fire Chiefs
o North Andover DPW
o Public Hearing to be scheduled at North Andover Middle School likely the first
week in May 2017
o Contact to be made to Lawrence Eagle Tribune and North Andover Citizen for
articles to be written in each paper about project prior to Town Meeting
• For Town meeting, the committee discussed preparing a support letter to be sent to the
various user groups. At Town meeting, the committee discussed having poster boards
on easels with the Conceptual Layout Plan displayed, preparing bulletized items of the
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Meeting No. 6 Minutes March 30, 2017
benefits of the development including handicap accessibility, flat walking paths,
playgrounds, and other ways to present the project.
• The issue with having the fireworks at the redeveloped field complex was discussed. It
was suggested that Jeff Coco be contacted about alternative sites to host the fireworks.
Some alternative locations included Barker's Farm, Sargent School, Lawrence Municipal
Airport, Land of the Trustees off Andover Street, Reynolds Field, Weir Hill.
Item No. 5 Update on CPA Request for Funding of Final Design of Middle School
Fields Improvement Project
• Terry Holland who serves on the Community Preservation Committee indicated that the
request submitted for design funds was approved. The Town Manager spoke about the
project and is enthusiastic about the planned redevelopment.
Item No. 6 Next Meeting
• The next meeting will be scheduled through email.
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