1998-12-09 Recreation Committee Minutes

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Recreation Committee Minutes Wednesday, December 09, 1998 to The Recreation Committee meeting came to order at 7:30 PM in the Conference Room of Town Hall. Committee members in attendance included Claire Bolger, Jack Downing, Kate Kaminer, Alan Beaulieu, and Dennis Lucyniak. Also in attendance were Associate Committee Members Marc Nelson, Bernie Winne, Sudie Fay and Recreation Administrator Joe Connelly. Mr. Beaulieu made a motion to approve the minutes of the Wednesday, November 04, 1998 meeting, Mr. Lucyniak seconded the motion, approved 5-0-0. Committee member Lorraine Salter entered the meeting at 7:40 PM Request from Reading Youth Softball for League Expansion Mr. Connelly' reviewed the request from Reading Youth Softball to expand their existing league to include second graders. Mr. Connelly reviewed the year old motion by the Recreation Committee to place a moratorium on new leagues. Mr. Connelly reviewed conversations with both Frank Driscoll of Reading Youth Softball and Jack Webster of Reading T-ball. Mr. Driscoll explained the details of his request. Committee Chairperson Dave Bryant entered the meeting at 7:45 PM. Mr. Webster stated his objections to the proposal. 1) If it works don't fix it. 2) Two leagues competing for the same population is not healthy. 3) It would destroy the existing franchise system. Ms. Kaminer discussed participation numbers with Mr. Driscoll and Mr. Webster. Mr. Connelly and Mr. Webster discussed the administrative workload of the program. Mr. Webster stated that he believed that the proposal by Mr. Driscoll is in fact a new league. The Committee discussed this issue. Mr. Connelly reviewed the jurisdiction of the Recreation Committee. Mr. Connelly reminded the Committee that Mr. Driscoll's request was in fact a courtesy to the Committee. Mr. Connelly stated that the Recreation Committee had no authority on how individual leagues were organized or administered. Mr. Connelly stated that the Committees only authority was to schedule fields. The Committee discussed other leagues that have reduced their age population without Committee approval (T-ball, Soccer). Mr. Connelly and Mr. Winne discussed the possibility for this portion of the softball program to begin only when the other divisions start their games. Mr. Winne stated that the busiest field time was in early April before the leagues start playing games.. Mr. Driscoll agreed that the second grade program would not begin until the other teams in the league begin playing games. W. Bryant placed the following statement on the record: The Committee determined that Reading Youth Softball's proposal did not fall into the category of a "new league". Because Reading Youth Softball was only increasing