2009-01-14 Recreation Committee Minutes

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a- Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street 1v E 1) Reading, MA 01867-2685 CLERK R ILE Apt, zool S EP 30 P w. 3°1 FAX: (781) 942 - 5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075 READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES January 14, 2009 Conference Room -Town Hall Attendance: Chris Campbell, Rec. Committee Member, Mary Ann Kozlowski, Rec. Committee Member, Mike DiPietro, Rec. Committee Chairman, Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member Nancy Swain, Rec. Committee Member, Beth Claroni, School Committee Rep., Bernie Winne, Rec. Committee Member, K. Kaminer, Rec. Committee Member, Eric Hughes, Associate Member, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator B. Winne called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM. M. DiPietro and E. Hughes entered the meeting at 7:05 PM. Travel Basketball 8th Grade Basketball Situation J. Feudo stated that the Rec. Division has encountered a very complex situation with several symptomatic issues. The central issue was the Recreation Division received several complaints regarding an 8th Grade Girls team policy of players being benched for missing practices, even excused. The miscommunication surrounded a discussion between the coach and Rec. -Administrator as-to-what was acceptable-for-playing- time prior to the-season.-The result was_the resignation of the 8th grade Girls Travel coach due to a philosophical difference in the program and miscommunication with the Rec. Administrator. Prior to this season the Rec. Division had received numerous complaints from one parent about this particular coach. Some of the complaints were communicated to the coach, some were filed. J. Feudo felt giving feedback that was not only critical, but unfounded was not an easy thing to do. Whenever possible the Recreation Division tries to shelter the volunteers from the day to day, week to week criticisms we hear and filter what needs to be addressed. This whole situation led to a requested meeting by the Coach and her husband with the Chairman and Vice-Chairmen of the Recreation Committee and myself. The discussion was lengthy and somewhat productive. It was agreed that the Reading Travel Basketball program needed an agreement for parents and players to sign at the outset of the season. This agreement may help in the future to aide coaches and administrators with some of the complaints that are received by the Recreation Division. M. DiPietro spoke about the Reading Youth Hockey agreement and recommended that the Recreation Staff look to adopt something similar. J. Feudo felt bad that the situation was not able to be resolved. He prepared a letter to send to the team, explaining that the coach left on her own accord at the request of the coach and husband.