Commission begins review of league fees and field-maintenance costs; staff asked to compute baseline formula

The Lakeville Parks Commission opened a discussion about revising league-fee structures and calculating the true cost of providing athletic fields, and asked staff to prepare a maintenance-cost baseline to inform any fee adjustments. Commissioners reviewed neighboring towns’ approaches — per-player fees, hourly fees and season-block rates — and discussed the fairness of a flat fee that had previously been used for baseball. Members asked staff to estimate the total cost to provide fields (mowing frequency, trash pickup, electricity, bunker raking, specialized contractors) and to model alternatives (per-head, per-hour, or season-block pricing). One commissioner recommended phasing changes over multiple years rather than a single, large jump in fees. Staff said they have comparative rates from nearby towns and will prepare a cost baseline and proposed formulas for a future meeting so the commission could consider a gradual transition that balances town costs with league affordability.