Medway lacrosse program rallies for more field usage

By Christopher Gavin Daily News Staff

Posted Jan 17, 2017 at 10:22 PMUpdated Jan 17, 2017 at 10:22 PM

  

MEDWAY – Dozens of sports supporters made their case during a Parks Commissioners meeting Tuesday night for why Medway Youth Lacrosse should be allotted more time on turf fields this spring, citing a need to prioritize local organizations over out-of-town, private teams.

But the Parks Commissioners, who voted Tuesday for the program to use both turf and grass fields, say the reason between splitting field time comes down to their responsibility to generate enough revenue from field rentals to replace the artificial turf surface in a decade.

“We’re just trying to accommodate lacrosse and other organizations,” commission Chairman Ross Rackliff said at the meeting.

According to an email signed by board members from Medway Youth Lacrosse sent to parents this week, program officials were notified in late November that they could only use one turf field at Medway High School, breaking from its usage of two artificial turf fields.

The organization is made up of about 200 boys and girls across 14 teams, according to the email.

In a separate email to Daily News reporters Sunday, the board wrote that the program requires two, turf fields “based on the number of youth players and the quality/offering of instruction.”

Under the Parks Commissioners’ proposed scheduling - which was approved in a 3-0 vote Tuesday - the league has one turf field Monday through Friday, another just on Fridays and the grass Charland Field Monday through Friday.

Scorpions Soccer Club, a private out-of-town league, is set to use the other artificial turf field Monday through Thursday, according to officials.

The Medway lacrosse league pays $30 per hour for the facilities, according to league president Ernie Buonaccorsi. Sean Murphy, a member of the Parks Commissioners, said private clubs – such as the Scorpions - pay between $180 and $200 an hour.

While league representatives said Tuesday night that grass fields present possibilities for rain-outs and other issues, Buonaccorsi said program officials are concerned that private clubs are being valued over the local residents who paid for the facilities for use by Medway children.

Town Meeting voters approved the construction of two new turf fields in 2014 for $4.2 million due to how often older fields were utilized by local sports.

“When we built these fields we thought this was for the kids,” Buonaccorsi said in an interview, adding he is concerned that the board’s decision to not let the league use the field more could set a precedent. “We want them to play on the best possible surface they can.”

But parks officials said money generated from renting the fields to out of town groups helps the town reach a $150,000 goal each year for money to put toward replacing the turf in 10 to 12 years.

Between the fall and spring seasons, Scorpions Soccer Club pays approximately $82,000 to use the fields, according to officials, who said they have lost renting to other private clubs as more leagues build their own fields.

“There’s an opportunity for the town fields to sort of self-fund and not be reliant by trying to get funds from the taxpayers,” said Park Commission member Paul Mahoney.

A majority of residents who spoke during Tuesday night’s meeting spoke in favor of the lacrosse league, many asking if town officials could negotiate with the soccer club.

Buonaccorsi said the league would be willing to give up two days a week to the club if it meant the lacrosse league could use the second turf field as well, but officials said the soccer club may decide to seek athletic space elsewhere if they did not meet their request for turf.

Christopher Gavin can be reached at 508 634-7582 or cgavin@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @c_gavinMDN

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/20170117/medway-lacrosse-program-rallies-for-more-field-usage

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Questions About Article 1 asked by Medway Youth Lacrosse: Answered

Medway Youth Lacrosse sent out an email to it's subscriber's list on June 7th.  The petitioners have collaborated to answer some of the questions posed in Medway Youth Lacrosse email, our responses are in green, links in blue.

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From: Dan Doherty <Notification@leagueathletics.com>

Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Subject: We need your support: Special Town Meeting on 6/9!

Supporters or Medway Youth Lacrosse,

There is a special town meeting being held at the Medway HS on 6/9.  We are asking for your support and attendance as there is an article that is very important to the youth sports programs in Medway.  The proposed article would put a moratorium on building and construction improvements too our new turf fields: This is incorrect.  In a meeting and discussions with the Town of Medway in early May, the petitioners agreed to include language in the article to clarify that Article 1 does NOT affect the maintenance, repair or use of current fields is to be inserted into the article on the floor through our main motion.  This Moratorium addresses NEW construction, NOT existing fields.

(see article below and entire town meeting articles attached)

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ARTICLE 1: (Synthetic Turf and Tire Derived Materials Moratorium) To determine whether the Town of Medway will adopt a moratorium on the engineering, planning, construction or installation of any synthetic turf (monofilament carpet with infill), any surface covering of loose fill and playground pour-in-place surface covering made from tire derived material on any land, of any size, owned by the town for a three-year time period starting on June 1, 2016 and ending on June 1, 2019: or take any other action relative thereto. This moratorium does not include pour-in-place surfaces that are currently in use on running tracks or intended for use on running tracks e.g. the Hanlon Field running track. Town land includes, but is not limited to, that of the Medway Public Schools but does not include private land. CITIZEN PETITION

1. Citizen’s main motion will include a strike of the playground pour-in-place language as noted above.
2. Language to clarify that Article 1 does NOT affect the maintenance, repair or use of current fields will be inserted into the article on the floor through our main motion.

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Although Medway has no plans to build any new fields, there are some open questions regarding potential unintended consequences if the town is to pass this moratorium with specific language related to "monofilament carpet with infill" or "tire derived material".  These include, but are not limited to:

• Why should we do this now?

            ANSWER from PETITIONERS:  

With regards to building of new fields: The best time to say you are not going to do something, is the time when you don't intend or plan to do something. 

Even though tire crumb rubber sport and play surfaces are widely played on, little is known about their risks to health and safety -- especially to vulnerable populations, like toddlers, and to participants with especially high exposure who come in frequent contact with the tire-derived rubber infill. To date, studies on the health effects from exposure to tire-derived crumb rubber have only been partial assessments or did not accurately reflect realistic playing conditions.

In February 2016, Mount Sinai announced a very clear position on the use of Crumb rubber advising a moratorium nation-wide:  Dr. Robert Wright, chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City states:  "We are advising against the use of crumb rubber fields until safety is proven. This is because the product is made from recycled automobile tires, which are well known to contain metals and other toxic chemicals. Some components of tire rubber are linked to cancer and others are toxic to the nervous and other systems."  

Furthermore:

“Position: Based upon the presence of known toxic substances in tire rubber and the lack of comprehensive safety studies, The Children’s Environmental Health Center of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai urges a moratorium on the use artificial turf generated from recycled rubber tires.”

In February of 2016, the Federal Government announced the launch of a multi-agency investigation into the safety of tire derived materials, find out more here: https://www.epa.gov/chemical-research/federal-research-recycled-tire-crumbs-used-playing-fields

A quick synopsis of the Federal Study taken direct from their website: “This coordinated Federal Research Action Plan on Recycled Tire Crumb Used on Playing Fields and Playgrounds includes outreach to key stakeholders, such as athletes and parents, and seeks to:

   

•  Fill important data and knowledge gaps

•  Characterize constituents of recycled tire crumb

•  Identify ways in which people may be exposed to tire crumb based on their activities on the fields.”
 

• Is there a risk of suspending use?

ANSWER from PETITIONERS:  
The petitioners are not suggesting suspending use of the current fields, Article 1 simply pauses the use of any more tire-derived materials for 3 years, on NEW creation only.  The current fields will be open for use, repaired or maintained and replenished as the Town and various sports groups see fit.

• Could we potentially have to stop using these fields completely?

ANSWER from PETITIONERS: No, Article 1 does not affect the use of the current  synthetic turf fields in the Town of Medway.  Until the Federal agencies complete their study, there is no advisement or direction from the Federal agencies on use of current fields.

• Does this now imply that the Town of Medway acknowledges some sort of health risk?

ANSWER from PETITIONERS:  No, this is a citizen’s petition of fellow parents and residents. A vote YES would simply pause any NEW engineering, planning, construction or installation of tire-derived loose material for three years.

 

• Is there any potential financial liability to the Town as a result of this if passed?

ANSWER from PETITIONERS: We suggest this question be answered by the Town of Medway Finance Committee, at this time (June 7 2016) there has been no response from Town Legal Counsel on the fiscal liability question.
The petitioners believe that the potential financial liability to the town would be greater if the Federal Government/EPA comes out with guidance that negatively impacts the use of tire-derived loose material without the moratorium in place.
Additionally, the main concern of the petitioners is the health and safety of our children.  

There are many questions still to be answered but there seems to be a lack of awareness that this meeting is happening outside of the group of petitioners.  In cases such as this, often the organizing group attends the meeting and is able to approve the article as proposed with little or no opposition. This may NOT be in the best interest of the programs that are using the fields! ANSWER from PETITIONERS: it is in the best interest of our entire community because:

A three-year moratorium will allow time for the current research on synthetic turf and tire-derived surface materials to be carried out.  From the data gathered, scientists and public health professionals will be better able to assess the risks involved in using these materials.  We will continue to monitor this research and its conclusions and wish to communicate it to the relevant town boards. Since there are no known artificial turf fields or playgrounds currently being planned, this moratorium will ensure that the Town of Medway will have ample time to make a considered and informed policy about these materials for the future use.  A vote in favor of this Moratorium would provide our Community the option to avoid the unknown while still improving our recreational facilities.

Please take an hour Thursday night and come and be heard.  We spent a lot of state and town money to create great facilities that are now the envy of our neighboring towns. It would be a shame to risk that because we are unaware or too busy to attend this meeting.

Thank you for your support!

We hope to see you Thursday night!

Sincerely,

Medway Youth Lacrosse

 

 

Keavany: Put moratorium on synthetic turf

June 06. 2016 11:51PM

There has been much discussion and a great deal of heated rhetoric lately regarding the use of synthetic turf (comprised of monofilament carpet with tired derived “crumb rubber” infill) in Medway. Those in favor argue that synthetic turf is a cost effective alternative to natural grass. However those opposed to synthetic turf are very concerned about the long-term effects that these materials may have on our children. To date limited studies on synthetic turf have estimated that any potential release of toxic chemicals would be “below the levels of concern.”
On February 12, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) launched a multi-agency action plan to study key environmental human health questions related to crumb rubber exposure. In April 2016 a group of concerned parents from Medway got together and filed a citizens petition (Article 1) which would put a three-year moratorium on the installation of synthetic turf with crumb rubber infill in the town. Their goal is to obtain more information about the long term effects of tire derived crumb rubber infill and its potential effects on the children that play on these fields.
For the record I am not a scientist, researcher or doctor. I am simply a concerned parent of three school-aged children (10, 9 and 5 years of age) who play sports regularly. I do not know what the results of the EPA study will be but I see NO downside to approving a temporary halt of any further installation of tire derived crumb rubber until we have a better idea of the long term impact to our children.
On Thursday, June 9, the residents of Medway will vote on Article 1, which will put a 3-year moratorium on the engineering, planning, construction or installation of any synthetic turf (monofilament carpet with tire derived infill). What does this mean? Voting YES on the article only affects the future use of tire-derived crumb rubber, nothing more. Existing fields can still be used and public parks projects can still move forward using alternative materials. I urge all Medway residents to vote YES on Article 1 to allow the EPA the time to research this topic more extensively.
LUKE KEAVANY
Medway

http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20160606/OPINION/160607119

MEDWAY: Vote YES on Article 1, June 9th 2016

Learn more at:

EPA WEBSITE

MOUNT SINAI STATEMENT

MEDWAY LONG DESCRIPTION OF ARTICLE 1

On Crumb Rubber Moratoriums: is there "fiscal liability" ?

Medway: Concession stand operation out to bid

By Zachary Comeau 
Daily News Staff 

Posted May 29, 2016 at 5:18 PMUpdated May 29, 2016 at 5:18 PM

MEDWAY - The operation and profit of a concession stand will be put out to bid after the operation of the building was transferred to a youth football organization.

The building, also known as the Coakley Building, was formerly run by the Friends of Medway Athletics, a local booster organization that would divide the profit made from concessions to local groups based on how much time they worked in the stand.

That decision, according to Parks Commissioner Sean Murphy, was made last spring.

A March 2015 agreement signed between the School Committee and Board of Selectmen gives the Parks Commission authority over operations, maintenance and scheduling of three (two recently built) artificial turf fields at the high school.

Murphy said the commission, along with the Board of Selectmen, wanted more control over the concession stand “to know what it made.”

Instead, a youth football group now runs the stand and operates largely in the same way as the Friends of Medway Athletics, but the group keeps 35 percent of net profits after another 35 percent goes to costs, meaning other groups that work the stand at events receive less than before.

Friends of Medway Athletics, however, would not keep any of the profit.

Murphy said the youth football group was previously using a grass field at the middle school, which included a concession stand completely run by the group, but when the league made the switch to the turf fields, that extra cash was gone.

In addition, the youth football group has to pay rental fees on the turf fields.

“When they went to turf...they lost their ability to fundraise for the program,” Murphy said of the youth football group.

Murphy said the park commission’s goal is to raise enough money each year, about $150,000, to put into a stabilization account to replace the turf on the fields in 10 years.

After concerns were raised from Friends of Medway Athletics and Medway Gridiron Club (a high school booster organization) at meeting last week, the commission decided to put the issue out to bid.

Groups will be able to submit competitive bids for the opportunity to run the concession stand.

Friends of Medway Athletics treasurer Patty MacDonald said the group plans on submitting a bid.

Julie Dennehy, on behalf of the Gridiron Club, said the club had its questions on “operational changes” answered at last week’s meeting.

Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160529/medway-concession-stand-operation-out-to-bid

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Nov 9, 2015 @ 09:07 AM 2,821 views

EPA Misses Congressional Deadline For Artificial Turf Safety Response

Mike Ozanian

Forbes Staff

Traffic cop at the intersection of money and sports

A worker displays crumb rubber for a photograph at the Emterra Tire Recycling facility in Brampton, Ontario, Canada,Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg

Two weeks ago, the House Energy and Commerce Committee sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator looking for more information about the safety of crumb rubber fields. The deadline for the response was November 6. 
The EPA failed to adhere to the deadline. On Friday, EPA spokesperson Liz Purchia told NBC News that the agency was “in the process of responding” to the Energy Committee’s list of questions.
After the congressional letter was sent to the EPA, two senators urged federal officials to lead an “independent investigation into the health risks of crumb rubber” turf, a surface made of recycled tires used on playgrounds and athletic fields across the country, according to NBC. The full letter can be seen here.
Democratic senators Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Bill Nelson of Florida sent a letter to Chairman Elliot Kaye of the Consumer Product Safety Commission asking the CPSC to “devote additional resources to conclusively determine whether these products can be safely played on by young children and people of all ages.”
In May, Kaye testified before congress regarding the CPSC’s stance on the stance on the safety of artificial turf. His response to representative Pallone is incredible. He basically says that a 2008 report that said crumb rubber used in artificial turf field “is safe” did not mean to convey to parents that the turf fields “were safe to play on.” and that the 2008 report does not reflect the CPSC’s current views. You can watch his testimony below.

Recommended by Forbes

But the CPSC seems to be moving in the opposite direction of what congress and the senate would like. Last week, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), a national alliance of local state and federal resource professionals, reported that the CPSC has decided not to enforce toxic lead limits required by law for children’s products in artificial turf playgrounds, and that  the CPSC has been unable to supply a cogent explanation for this action, even in the face of litigation demanding relevant records. 

http://turfgrassforum.blogspot.com/2016/06/rep-pallones-questions-during-cmt-cpsc.html
 

Kaye’s testimony is consistent with a letter the CPSC sent to senator Elizabeth Warren in July in response to questions the Town of Medway Board of Health regarding crumb rubber in artificial turf. In part, the letter to senator Warren says “the agency is not in a position to comment on the potential health risks from crumb rubber infill on artificial surfaces.”

But the letter also says, “Regarding the Town of Medway Board of Health’s reference to a review study of crumb rubber, in 2013, CPSC staff informed PEER that our Office of Compliance wold undertake a review and determine whether any enforcement action was appropriate regarding the issue. Upon further exploration, Compliance staff concluded, at that time, specific product enforcement was unlikely to be the best option, based upon the need for individual health assessments.”
So what the agency said in 2008 doesn’t mean artificial turf is safe. But the CPSC also won’t say that turf is not safe. And they don’t have, nor are they likely to ever have, enough information to rule on the safety of artificial turf.
The House and Senate need answers.

FULL ARTICLE ON FORBES website: http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2015/11/09/epa-misses-congressional-deadline-for-artificial-turf-safety/#421ebe539cb2

Turf fields: Medway health board recommends signs, regulations

By Zachary Comeau/Daily News Staff

Posted Jul 15, 2015 at 12:31 PMUpdated Jul 15, 2015 at 1:27 PM

  

MEDWAY - After months of debate over the safety of artificial turf fields, the Board of Health voted Monday to recommend placing minimal-language signs on the three fields and to work with the parks department and school district to draft a policy or regulation.

The debate comes months after an NBC News report about the research of Amy Griffin, a soccer coach at the University of Washington who has compiled a list of soccer players – who played on turf – that have developed cancer.

Since then, the state Department of Health, citing several recent studies in other states, said that adverse health effects are not likely.

“Although exhaustive research has not been completed, the available studies have shown that although (artificial turf field) components contain chemicals in the material itself, exposure opportunities at levels measured do not suggest that health effects are likely,” the document reads.

But opponents of artificial turf in town also cite the ability for artificial turf fields to reach extreme temperature during hot and humid weather.

Tracy Stewart, who has been among the most vocal in the debate, sent Health Agent Stephanie Bacon documents recording surface temperatures of the town’s three turf fields, and in each case, the temperature on the turf field reached well over 130 degrees while the air temperature was in the low 80s.

However, Board of Health Chairman Michael Heavey said the recordings may not be entirely accurate, as the devise used was an infrared thermometer, which does not measure air temperature.

“It’s more about what the ambient temperature around (the turf) is,” he said.

Parks Commissioner Paul Mahoney said temperatures on the running track and tennis courts also become very hot in the summer.

“Without doing proper testing I think it’s irresponsible to continually hammer that,” he said, adding that he does not have a “problem with a sign” simply stating that the fields can become hot.

Athletic Director Rob Pearl said Hanlon Field, the main football field at the high school, has been there for more than 10 years, and a death on the field was attributed to a student’s heart condition.

Pearl added that coaches and trainers are given a handbook of safety guidelines regarding concussion, player safety and heat acclimation.

“All coaches have to follow and look at what the rules and guidelines are,” he said.

Resident Allan White, a youth soccer coach, said he’s been to Board of Selectmen, School Committee and Board of Health meetings and the “community is not working together” on the issue.

“Someone needs to get past that,” he said. “It’s about what is right for the kids and parents of Medway.”

Bacon said she will contact Interim Superintendent Armand Pires to work on drafting a regulation or policy and to set up a joint meeting between the Board of Health, the Parks Commission and the School Committee.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150715/NEWS/150717973

Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.

Medway Board of Health hears turf concerns

By Zachary Comeau/Daily News Staff

Posted Jan 16, 2015 at 12:01 AM

  

MEDWAY - Before it considers requiring signs warning of potential health risks to be placed on artificial turf fields in town, the Board of Health is reviewing information received from a group of concerned residents.

At Wednesday’s meeting, the board met with several residents who have been asking the town to do more research into the crumb rubber infill of the artificial turf fields.

Crumb rubber, which is essentially tiny pieces of recycled tires, provides stability and cushioning to the synthetic turf that was recently installed on two new fields at the high school. That $4.2 million project included replacing the turf on Hanlon Field, which was also filled with crumb rubber.

At the meeting, the group of residents asked the board to consider requiring signs at fields warning of the health risks some have associated with turf and crumb rubber.

Tracy Stewart, one of the residents involved, referenced signs at fields in other communities in different states that warn of harmful chemicals in the crumb rubber and of rising temperatures on the fields. Stewart and the group of residents provided 31 pages of information to the board, including a list of at least four chemicals in crumb rubber that are known carcinogens.

The temperature on the fields, she added, can reach over 130 degrees, causing the release of harmful chemicals in crumb rubber.

The concern comes after an NBC News story aired in October based on the testimony of an associate head coach for the University of Washington’s women’s soccer team, Amy Griffin. In the report, Griffin said she discovered “a stream of kids” who have played on artificial turf with crumb rubber infill have been diagnosed with cancer. She compiled a list of 38 American soccer players who have developed blood cancers like lymphoma and leukemia.

Health Agent Stephanie Bacon said the board is reviewing the information provided by the residents before it even considers any action.

“It’s all stuff that the board has to definitely sit down and go through,” she said.

Bacon said more research has to be done, as there have been no credible scientific studies linking crumb rubber and artificial turf to cancer to “hang your hat on.”

“Everything is inconclusive,” she said. “Even when people have spent a lot of time on studies having to do with synthetic turf, there are so many bridges and gaps in the data.”

Stewart, however, said there is “definitely” information that proves the temperature on the fields can escalate to well above 100 degrees on warm days.

“Based on that alone, at the very least, the town should be posting something,” she said. “I think we owe that to parents and children of our community so they have the option to make a decision for their children.”

http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20150116/NEWS/150117447

Zachary Comeau can be reached at 508-634-7556 and zcomeau@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZComeau_MDN.