HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-08-08 Recreation Committee Minutesd `OFR i
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Recreation Committee 2818 FEB 15 AN 11: 26
Date: 2017-08-08 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: Monthly Meeting Session: General Session
Attendees: Members.- Present:
Emily Sisson, Frank Driscoll, Dan Foley, Gil Congdon, Kate Kaminer, Mary
Ellen Stolecki, Lori Russo
Members. - Not Present:
Jeanne Borawski,' Rich Hand, Adam Chase; Mike DiPietro
Others Present:
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente
Topics of Discussion:
D. Foley opens up meeting at 7:05pm. F. Driscoll makes a motion to accept the June
meeting minutes. E. Sisson seconds. No discussion and all in favor 5-0.
G. Fiorente states the first item in the Agenda is to elect a new Chair and Vice -Chair for the
committee and asks for the committee to make a recommendation. K. Kaminer makes a
motion for. D. Foley to be the new Chair -of the Recreation Committee. F. Driscoll seconds. D.
Foley accepts. No further discussion and all -in -favor 5-0. D. Foley nominates E. Sisson as
the Vice -Chair of the Recreation'Committee. F. Driscoll seconds. E. Sisson accepts: All in
favor 5-0.
G.. Fiorente mentions that she would like to come up with a cohesive rules sign for each of
the playgrounds. A majority of the committee was receptive to the idea and everyone has a.
brief conversation on new rules. G: Fiorente says she will come up with a list to bring to the
next meeting and says before. anything is implemented, she will have to wait for the hire of
the Parks Supervisor.
G. Fiorente gives a brief Birch Meadow Master Planning update and says they plan on
starting to meet more frequently intheupcoming months. She said that.they did .meet in ' .
July to go over the existing plan and give a recommendation on the location for the Reading
Little League Batting Cage project. She states that the Birch Meadow Master Planning
Subcommittee recommended that the- batting cage remain in the current location (location
#1 on handout) and that a second one be placed right next to it. The committee discusses
and agrees on the importance of the existing dedication.
M. Stolecki makes a motion to accept the Birch Meadow Master Planning Subcommittee's .
recommendation of location #1 on the proposal for the Reading Little League batting cages.
K. Kaminer seconds. No discussion and All in favor 5-0.
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G. Fiorente gives an update on Memorial Park Bandstand and asks.committee their feedback
on what they would like to see go on in the location. The committee agrees that a deck-
would
eckwould be a good option. G. Fiorente will contact a couple contractors to give quotes for new
decking in the area. G. Fiorente says that a meeting will be planne&-with engineers and
DPW to determine whether or not the bandstand will need to be demoed if a deck were to
get built. G. Fiorente states that this. is an ongoing discussion and no final decisions are set
at this time.
G,Fiorente . brings up the success that Pickleball has had over the summer at the Memorial
Park Courts. G. Fiorente adds that there have been no reported issues with tennis players
and picklers vying for the space. She states that she is concerned about the popularity of
the tennis lessons that are at the Community Tennis Courts. She believes that the tennis
lessons may have to stay at the Memorial Park courts for the summer as well at least on
some days to ensure people with tennis passes can get on the Community Tennis Courts.
G. Fiorente says -that the picklers are asking for lines to be painted on the Memorial- Park
Courts. K. Kaminer fears that the warranty on the courts will not hold if additional lining is
put down. G. Fiorente, says she will look into this. The Recreation Committee has a brief
discussion on the topic. The committee agrees that the existing tennis program lessons will
need to be figured out. G. Fiorente states again that she also would like to wait for the
Parks Supervisor to be hired before any decisions can be made. K. Kaminer suggests that
the Picklers start to fundraise for a court at a location like Barrows. The committee thinks
this is a good idea. G. Fiorente says.she will continue to work with all parties.
G. Fiorente gives updates about the completion of Hunt Park. She also states that Wood End
Elementary Playground and Birch Meadow Playground received new engineered wood chip
surfacing. She adds that some areas needed to be topped off and others needed to be dug
down 8inches and completely resurfaced.
G.-Fiorente says the Recreation Fall Magazine has been completed and programs will be
online and ready for registration in a couple weeks.
M. Stolecki makes a motion to adjourn at 8:40pm. F. Driscoll seconds. All are in favor.
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