2003-04-30 Recreation Committee Minutes

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Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street 'a D Reading, MA 01867-2685 C L E Cv {5 4: rU FAX: (781) 942 -.5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075 READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING CALLED for APRIL 30th, 2003 Attendance: John Feudo, Recreation Administrator, Jack Downing, Recreation Committee Chairperson, Dave Bryant, Bernie Winne, Christopher Campbell, Alan Beaulieu, Claire Bolger, Mary Ellen Stolecki Guests- George Ravanis, Jack Shea, Dennis Lucyniak, Norm Harvey, John Halsey, David Gray, Pat Iapicca, Patti Gray, -Tina Ravanis, Robert Allard, Jeff Pierce, Linda Snow-Dockser Jack Downing called the meeting to order at 7:45 PM. J. Downing invited members of Reading Youth Baseball to begin the discussion. David Gray, RYB Parent, stated that currently the Town of Reading has the worst baseball fields to play on. They have had instances where other teams came to Reading and did not want to play due to some of the safety issues that were evident on the field. D. Gray sited a Marblehead coach who didn't want to play on Hunt Memorial Park because of the dangerous lip and lack of a warning track among other things. Dennis Lucyniak, President of RYB baseball stated that over the past few months he and D. Gray had been working.with Bob Keating from the DPW trying to make some improvements to Hunt Memorial Park. D. Lucyniak went on to describe what had transpired over the previous week that brought everyone to the Special Recreation Committee meeting. Initially, Reading Youth Baseball put up a Black mesh screen material on the fence to see if it would fit. The mesh screening was left up over night. The next day RYB received a phone call from Recreation Administrator John Feudo stating that neighbors were concerned about the screen and it needed to come down until the Recreation Committee was able to take up the issue. The screening was removed the next day. Dennis stated that the plastic yellow covering was never actually put up. John Halsey stated that there were a number of reasons why the screen was necessary. He mentioned even though Reading Youth Baseball is not part of the National Little League Organization, they still try to adhere to the safety standards. Currently, Little League regulations call for a warning track in all outfields. If there is not a warning track, there needs to be some type .of covering on the outfield fence. A. Beaulieu entered the meeting at 7:55PM. D. Bryant asked the group why they didn't come to the Recreation Committee in the first place.