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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-12-13 Recreation Committee MinutesOF q � V. Town of Reading Meeting Minutes J5J9. lNC044�P*� Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Recreation Committee Date: 2016-12-13 Building: Reading Town Hall Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Monthly Meeting Attendees: Members - Present: Time: 7:00 PM RECEIVED QN TOWN CLERK I`Er,UING. MASS. Zarb CEC I q P Z. 25 Location: Conference Room Session: General Session Adam Chase, Kate Kaminer, Emily Sisson, Frank Driscoll, Rich Hand, Lori Russo, Mary Ellen Stolecki Members - Not Present: Dan Foley, Jeanne Borawski, Gil Congdon, Mike DiPietro Others Present: Genevieve Fiorente Dan McGrath, Larry Hurley, Bob Hayes - Reading Little League Softball Tim Higgins, John Yurewicz, Caryn Hayes, Albie Cail, Ronald Iapicca, John Berardi, Eileen Wilkes, Cara Leonard, David Brian (all parents and coaches in support of Reading Little League Softball) Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente Topics of Discussion: A. Chase opens the meeting at 7:06pm. L. Russo makes a motion to approve the minutes. M. Stolecki seconds. All in favor 6-0. G. Fiorente introduces the first item on the Agenda which is to hear from Reading Little League Softball with their new initiative and request for field space. F. Driscoll recuses himself from the conversation. B. Hayes opens up with a statement about the intentions of the new league. He states that this is a chartered league and that it is the largest youth sports organization in the nation. He states that they had a pre -registration and information day on December 10th and that there were 80 parents who signed that they would be in support of the new league. He adds that this was all done by word of mouth and no real advertising efforts. D. McGrath introduces himself and explains his background and involvement with Reading Little League. He says he was part of the transition from RYB (Reading Youth Baseball to Reading Little League Baseball). He mentions how successful it has been and that he hopes this new softball league will be as well. He talks about the Little League skill development platform as well as the league and playing structures. He adds that there will be various trainings for coaches and players under the Little League organization. D. McGrath says that the league will be offered to more ages than the current league. He states the new league will be offered to ages 5-16. J. Berardi introduces himself as the District 13th President and adds his support to the league. A Page 1 1 handout is passed out from the new league to the recreation committee members on the benefits of Reading Little League. R. Hand asks about Little League being for both boys and girls? D. McGrath says yes, for boys, girls, and they have a challenger league for children with special needs. R. Hand asks about other Towns who currently have Reading Little League Softball. D. McGrath says several towns offer it like Wakefield, Woburn, Wayland and Lexington. B. Hayes says that this league is about the kids. L. Hurley adds that this league will be for everyone even if they are not as interested and just playing recreationally. A. Chase asks if there will be cuts in the league. L. Hurley says no. D. McGrath follows by saying all the league rules of Little League need to be followed. A. Chase asks if they have had experience running leagues. D. McGrath states his past involvement with RYB and Reading Little League and also says that L. Hurley has run the Middlesex Magic AAU Basketball Organization for the past several years. L. Russo speaks and says that she loves everything the league has presented as far as goals and objectives. She adds that her daughter is in softball, she is a High School Coach, and a recreation committee member. She states she is concerned about the two leagues in town since softball is already a dying sport. She continues to say that she is worried about the volume of kids being able to play and the confusion of two leagues existing in the town. D. McGrath responds that he understands and thinks this league will be successful due to response from RYB to Reading Little League. He also mentions back when there was a private organizer of T -ball and then Recreation took it over. B. Hayes asks Lori Russo which league she would want her daughter in. L. Russo responds that her daughter has been involved in RYS (Reading Youth Softball) for the past two years and this year was better than last. She adds that she would have to evaluate each of the leagues again before making a decision. K. Kaminer states that the goal of the Recreation Committee tonight is not to approve of the organized league but to award them field space if available. K. Kaminer asks G. Fiorente if the other league had been notified of the meeting. G. Fiorente answers that yes, they had been contacted and the past couple of times they were contacted, they did not respond. K. Kaminer adds that she has been around for a while and saw the T -ball conversion and also knows that two basketball leagues have coexisted for a long time. M. Stolecki asks L. Russo what her definition of a feeder program is from a coaches perspective. L. Russo responds that it is building kids at a young level and molding them into a potential high school athlete. M. Stolecki says that there is a feeder system in Reading then in the current league. K. Kaminer says that every junior league in theory is a feeder program. M. Stolecki mentions the new league posting comments on the Reading Parents Network and how that is a form of advertising. She asks how many teams the league is expecting to have. D. McGrath says the number of teams will be based on registrations. Page 1 2 K. Kaminer says she wants to be fair and give a voice to the existing league and asks why there is pushback from them? L. Hurley explains the timeline of events from the past year and his efforts to reach out to Bob Hunt, the organizer of the existing league, RYS (Reading Youth Softball). L. Hurley mentions speaking with J. Feudo candidly about RYS and discussing complaints about the current league. B. Hayes also states that B. Hunt had mentioned him taking over the league on several occasions but never followed through. R. Hand states that it is good for them for reaching out to try to collaborate and for trying to up the league to a better structure. K. Kaminer makes a motion to provide Reading Little League Softball space while considering the field requests of the existing league. E. Sisson seconds. M. Stolecki amends that the field space allotted to the leagues be proportionate to the volume of kids. All in favor 5-0. A. Chase appoints K. Kaminer to a voting member since E. Sisson needs to exit the meeting. All are in favor 5-0. G. Fiorente gives an Administrator's report which includes details on the ski and snowboard program for January and updates on the skating rinks. In addition, she states that the Reading Recreation Magazine will be sent to the printer on December 15`h and programs will be live online on Wednesday, December 21st. She said the hard copy of the magazine will make it out to families after the holidays. She also speaks briefly on the Hunt Playground Renovation and asks anyone on the committee if they would like to be involved on a subcommittee. A. Chase and F. Driscoll were interested and G. Fiorente said that E. Sisson had been interested in being involved as well. G. Fiorente states she will send out email to finalized subcommittee and keep the plans moving forward. R. Hand gives a brief update on RCASA and says that one of their main focuses is currently the legalization of marijuana and its effects on the community. F. Driscoll makes a motion to adjourn at 8:35pm. M. Stolecki seconds. All are in favor 5-0. Page 1 3