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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-02-13 Recreation Committee Minutesi Town of Reading, Meeting Minutes RECEIVED TOWN N GL ERK READING, V11 A.. Board - Committee - Commission - Council,:. Recreation Committee Date: 2018-02-13 Time: 7:00 PM Building:. Reading Town. Hall Location: .Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Purpose: Monthly Meeting Session: General Session Attendees: Members - Present: Dan.,Foley, "Gil Congdon, Kate Kaminer, Lori Russo, Adam Chase Members - Not Present: Jeanne Borawski, Frank Driscoll, Mike DiPietro, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Emily Sisson Others. Present: Greg Richardson ,125 Prescott Street Kate Coppins 25 Parsons Lane Eileen Wilkes 10 Governors Drive Jeff Mullen 99 Charles Street John Yurewicz 10 Fairview Ave Bob Hayes 739 Pearl Street Ron Iapicca 257 South Street Caryn Hayes 739 Pearl Street Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente Topics of Discussion: D. Foley opens up meeting at 7:09pm. L. Russo seconds. D. Foley makes a motion to accept G.. Congdon. and K. Kaminer in as voting members. A. Chase seconds. All ;in favor 5-0. G. Fiorente presents the first amplified sound permit that 'needs to be presented to the committee. She explains it is Jams for Jake who had .the event last year with much, success: She says that they have already applied with other departments for appropriate permits as well. She states they.are looking for amplified sound from 11am-5pm on Sunday, August 4th, 2018. K. Kaminer asks if there -was any pushback for the event. G. Fiorente says there were no issues from the event and, that she was in the follow-up meeting after the event with police, Town Manager,,engineering, and health department. She says everyone had good reports about the event: A. Chase :moves to accept the amplified sound permit for . Jams for Jake on Saturday, August 4th from 11am-5pm. K. Kaminer seconds. All are. in favor 5-0. G. Fiorente presents the second amplified sound permit to the committee. She says.this event is .;for the Reading Softball Little League for the date of June 9th, 2018 from 10am-7pm for their championship day. G. Fiorente says she will check with T. Zaya to ensure that the 10am start does not interfere with softball practice: B. Hayes mentions their potential rain date of June 10th. G. Fiorente: states that could affect Men's Softball League but she will speak with them as well. K. Kaminer asks.if they will be getting other appropriate permits such as food. B. Hayes says they have already received paperwork to get all other . appropriate permits. L. Russo makes a motion to accept the amplified sound permit to Page 1 1 Reading Softball Little League on June 9th, 2018.from 10am-7pm. D. Foley seconds. All in favor:5-0. G._.Fiorente asks D. Foley to present his agenda item of the early start at Birch Meadow Fields. D. Foley gives the background of the bylaw that indicates that there cannot be play P.riorw ato �12pm on any of the fields. He goes on to say that the Genesis came from puritan land by=laws: 'He'mentions the need for discussion based .on the new softball league growing, and the men's softball league turning people away. He says that with only 4 fields being available for the two leagues during the same season, the committee should explore pros and cons. D. Foley also adds that the failed lighting project would have been a huge help to the lack of field space, especially at Birch Meadow. He also states that Killarh has been pushed off the Capital Plan twice and in its current condition cannot handle competitive play. He'says let's have a discussion of the possibility of opening up the fields at Birch Meadow for earlier play since these particular fields do not directly abut neighborhoods and will help these organizations to get more participants to grow their sports. He also . states that any decisions made by the recreation committee are only suggestions and the final vote would have to go to the Board of Selectman for changes to the actual by-law. K. Kaminer states that early play prior to 12pm on Sundays has been an annual discussion. She recalls before G. Fiorente was around there had been a public hearing on early starts for all of the fields that received a lot of negative feedback. She says many church. groups and neighbors came to this meeting to express their opposition to the early start on. Sundays. A. Chase mentions adding Symonds Way to the discussion -as the field also does not directly impact the neighborhood and you, can hear guns there at 8am every day - because of the gun range. K. Kaminer asks where this discussion is stemming from. G. Fiorente says that there are current scheduling issues with Reading Softball Little League and Reading Men's Softball. B-. hayes says that Reading ,Softball Little League has expanded from the original league of 140 to the new league in 2017 having 240, and the league this year, in 2018 having, 290. He says that he thinks early play on Sundays specifically at the Birch- Meadow Complex is long overdue. K. Kaminer asks B. Hayes what time he would like the start. B. Hayes. says that 8am would be best. G. Congdon mentions that Pop Warner is on the stadium turf and turf"2 at the Birch Meadow Complex prior to 12pm on Sundays. G. Fiorente states that those turfs are not rented by her by but facilities and that to, her knowledge Pop Warner is grandfathered in due to the fact that those two fields are the only ones they can use: She also states that anyone using those turfs prior to 12pm on Sundays needs special permission from the Superintendent. K. Kaminer suggests a public meeting. and the recreation committee agrees that that would be the best route to inform abutters and the public of what is going on. D. Foley asks if they will be exploring using amplified sound prior to 12pm. B. Hayes says no. E. Wilkes mentions Birch Meadow. Fields and Symonds Way ;Field .being open "prior to 12pm-will open -up opportunities for other organizations'as well. G. Fiorente adds to that point by saying that if anyfields do get voted to open early that all organizations will be able to request them based on needs and that these fields are not guaranteed to one specific organization. C. Hayes asks if both fields get voted to go to the Board of Selectman will they be individual assessed. G. Fiorente says yes that they can be separate items of approval. The committee asks who would present to the Board of Selectmen -if the vote were to pass. G. Fiorerite says that this will be a committee recommendation on the Board of Selectmen agenda if that is the way the committee votes. D: Foley says the next step will .be to figure out a date for -the -public meeting. The, committee agrees. D. Foley says the committee should aim to have it the next meeting on Tuesday, March 13th. He states that if -it can be scheduled earlier within reason then we will explore that too. Page 1 2 sc G. Fiorente brings up the next agenda item of appointing an official Birch Meadow. Master; Plan Subcommittee. K. Kaminer makes motion that there be at least 3 voting members on the committee with unlimited liaisons to assist when needed. D. Foley seconds. All in favor 5-0. A. Chase makes a motion to nominate Dan Foley, Rich Hand and Shannon.Fratto as subcommittee members. K. Kaminer seconds. All in favor 5-0. G. Congdon indicates he needs to depart and as a result the meeting must end. D. Foley .makes a motion to adjourn at 8:15pm. G. Congdon seconds. All are in favor 5-0. Page 1 3