1996-02-15 Recreation Committee Minutes

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1.11 e~_ Recreation Committee Minutes February 15, 1996 The Recreation Committee meeting came to order on February 15, 1996 at 7:30 PM in the Conference Room at the Town Hall. Committee members in attendance included Lorraine Salter, Kate Kaminer, Chris Campbell, John Pacino, Dave Bryant, and Gordon Richards. Also in attendance was Recreation Administrator Joe Connelly and Reading Residents Vinny Pastore and Mary Anne Pastore. Minutes of the January 10, 1996 meeting were approved on a motion by Pacino, seconded by Campbell, 5-0-1. New Business: The Committee reviewed their current program enrollment policy for Reading Residents and Non-Reading Residents. Connelly explained the current situation with the Reading Recreation Travel basketball program. Connelly explained that currently the program is open to Reading Residents only. Currently Reading Recreation considers Reading Residents as any person(s) with residence in the Town of Reading. Reading Resident Vinny Pastore is concerned that this current definition of Reading Resident excluded METCO students who attend the Reading Public Schools. Connelly explained to the Committee that after discussions with the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Town Counsel, Town Manager, and Selectmen, Connelly recommends that this rule should be changed to include any student who attends the Reading Public Schools. V. Pastore again reviewed his desire to see this rule changed to include METCO students. Connelly confirmed with the Committee that this was not a METCO rule, but a Resident verse Non-Resident rule. Bryant explained his experience with the travel basketball program revealed that with limited openings in this program, those residents who did not make the team would be outraged to find out that space was being occupied by Non-Reading Residents. Pastore stated that when these residents attend the high school, teams cuts are made with some spaces being occupied by METCO students. Salter was concerned that this program remain recreational and not a feeder program for the high school basketball teams. Pacino agreed with Salter that these programs are becoming to competitive and should be . recreational in nature.