HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-05-07 Recreation Committee MinutesFAX: (781) 942 - 5441
Town of Reading ; ECEIYED
16 Lowell Street OWN CLERK(
Reading, MA 01867 -2685 -NDING. MASS.
1015 APR IQ P 5� 31
RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
May 7th, 2013 TOWN HALL — CONFERENCE ROOM
Attendance: Nancy -Linn Swain, Vice -Chair Rec. Committee, Eric Hughes, Rec. Chairman, Adam
Chase, Rec. Committee Member, Kate Kaminer, Rec. Committee Member, Richard Hand,
Recreation Committee Member, Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member, Jenna Fiorente,
Recreation Program Coordinator, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator
E. Hughes called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
N. Swain made a motion to accept the minutes from the March 2013 meeting. K. Kaminer
seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of the motion by a vote of 6 -0 -0. Note the committee
did not meet in April in 2013.
The Recreation Committee reviewed four (4) amplified sound applications. They were as follows:
The Rise Pre - school for Memorial Park- Concert, Birch Meadow School for use of the Lighted
Softball Field — Field Day, Reading Youth Baseballs All -Star Game at Hunt Park
Resident Request for the Stadium Field for a "One Fund" Fundraiser
The Recreation Committee discussed the particulars of each permit. F. Driscoll made a motion to
accept each of the amplified sound permit requests. K. Kaminer seconded the motion. Motion
passed to accept all four requests as presented by a vote of 6 -0 -0.
J. Feudo presented a field request to the Recreation Committee for a private Fitness Group to use a
town field for the purpose of running a boot camp. The proposal was for programming at 6 AM, 7
AM and 9 AM.
A. Chase asked what time the fields were open. J. Feudo stated he believed that parks open at 8
AM but would double check. The committee seemed to agree that anything before 8:OOAM could
be a disturbance to neighbors.
J. Feudo stated that there were many groups running programs on Town property with out
permission. He felt strongly that the Recreation Committee needed to look at programming for
private gain on public property. The current field rental program needs to be looked at as the costs
for using are not commensurate to the amount of revenue being raised privately, thus creating a
circumvention to the system. J. Feudo stated the committee should consider a policy that either
tightens that loophole or evaluate a system that would not allow groups program, even with a field
permit, without permission.
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES May 7th, 2013 Con't
F. Driscoll made a motion to deny the field use application from the fitness group. N. Swain
seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of denial 5 -0 -1.
F. Driscoll made a motion for the Recreation Committee to establish a sub - committee to discuss
field permitting and how it relates to private businesses making money through programming.
N. Swain seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of the establishment of a sub - committee to
discuss field permitting and how it relates to private businesses making money through
programming by a vote of 6 -0 -0.
Chairman E. Hughes, F. Driscoll and A. Chase will serve on the committee with staff.
Peter Coumounduros from FORR visited with the Rec. Committee. He reviewed FORR's
upcoming programming including Fireworks at Town Day, the kids Fun Run before Town Day, a
summer track clinic and XC Running in the fall.
F. Driscoll asked if FORR would consider any events for the seniors in Town. He thought a bocce
league might go over well. The committee discussed the possibility of hosting a bocce court for
Town Day in June.
J. Fiorente gave a brief programming update. She also mentioned the Rec. Division has added 3
new staff for the summer. There were 30 applicants. She also stated she is working on marketing
and the various theme weeks.
J. Feudo mentioned the Tennis pass program is again underway. The program pass can now be
purchased on -line at readingrec.com.
J. Feudo gave an update for a few recreation projects. The safety netting at Turf 2 is complete. It
came out nice. That was a nice collaborative effort with the School and Town to make that project
happen and fund it.
The lights at turf 2 have been updated. They are still being repositioned but the work has been
completed. The lights are a big upgrade for those sports with air borne ball play like lacrosse and
football.
R. Hand gave an update for RCASA. He mentioned the showing of the Movie — Point of no Return.
They also reviewed the guidelines for Marijuana sales in MA. Apparently Middlesex County is
only allowing 5 permits.
N. Swain made a motion to adjourn. F. Driscoll seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of
adjournment by a 6 -0 -0 vote.
Meeting adjourned at 8:35 PM.
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