The Programs and Services Committee voted to No Action Necessary on the following (see Report and watch video on NewTV):
- Request for a meeting with the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department to discuss best practices and materials used for athletic field surfacing, both natural, and synthetic. Topics to be covered include playability, safety, durability, environmental impacts, replacement, maintenance, and cost over time.
There was a brief presentation on the field replacement project from both the Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department (Commissioner Banks, Demorizzi, Millet) and CDM Smith Consultant (Glenn Howard). The plan is to replace the turf and tracks at both high schools, resurface the track at Newton South, and install turf at Albermarle. The project team discussed the desirability of using turf — increasing the playability of the fields into the winter as well as during bad weather conditions and especially when the fields are lighted. According to the report, “The team has developed a preferred recommendation for the projects previously mentioned which consisted of public outreach and meeting with various stakeholders.” There was discussion about PFAS, recognition of concern over use of these products and recyclability of synthetic turf. The project team’s recommendation includes a synthetic turf field surface with the turf carpet being a dual fiber turf (Slit Film and Microfilament) and the Infill Mix being a TPE and sand mixture. Committee members raised concerns regarding use of PFAS and concern with the use of synthetic turf. The team responded the efforts were being made to mitigate PFAS and that there would be a substantial burden to convert the synthetic fields to grass. The Committee voted 8-0 for No Action Necessary.
All other items were held.
NOTE: The Committee had a substantive discussion on the two proposed Tree Preservation Ordinance Amendments (Councilor proposal and Administration/Tree Warden proposal). Fees, review period, abutter notification, possibility of limiting the Commissioner of Inspectional Services power to issue a building permit prior to the completion of the Tree Warden’s review were discussed. The Committee voted 7-0 to hold the item (Ryan not voting).
