HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-05-08 Recreation Committee Minutes O N�FR -
Town-of Reading
Meeting Minutes. E C E IV
Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2Qj8 JU14 25 Q 8: 31
Recreation Committee
Date: 2018-05-08 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: General Discussion Session: General Session
Attendees: Members - Present:
Dan Foley, Mike.DiPietro; Rich Hand, Frank Driscoll, Jeanne Borawski, Adam - .
Chase, Emily Sisson, Mary Ellen Killon (associate), Kate Kaminer (associate)
Members - Not Present:
Lori Russo, Gil Congdon (associate)
Others Present:
Genevieve Fiorente - Recreation Administrator
Alan Foulds - 9 Ide Street 375th Read i ng.Anniversary Committee
Ace Foulds - 9 Ide Street 375th Reading Anniversary Committee'
Philip Rushworth - 36 Knollwood Rd 375th Reading Anniversary:Committee .
Jim Murphy - 55'Haystack Rd RLL Organization.
James Murphy.- 55 Haystack Rd RLL.Organization
Jack Keefe- 9 Pennsylvania Avenue RLL Organization
PICKLEBALL
Kathy Rovnak - 86.Sunnyside Avenue
Nancy Enrico -. 424.South Street
Tom Hill - 7 Green Meadow Drive
Chris Hill - 7 Green Meadow Drive
Peter Lydecker - 7 Beaver Road
Dick Lyons - 358 Pearl Street
Jack Drinkwater-- 392 South Street
Mary Kay Watts.- 21 Hemlock Road
Paul Devlin - 44 Estate Lane
Judy Coltman - -18 Milton,Road
Mike-Coltman - 18 Milton.Road
Russell Bond - 144 Prospect Street
Kevin McGrath - 7 Orchard Dr, North Reading
June McGrath - .7 Orchard Dr, North Reading
-Alex-Wilson 21 Milton Rd
Marilyn Freeman - 26 Forest Street
Barbara Sinisgalli - 54 Haystack Road
Paul Sinisgalli - 54 Haystack Road
Mary Ann Devlin - 44 Estate Lane
Deb Gutierrez = 121 Haverill Street.
Dan Gutierrez - 121 Haverill Street
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente
Topics of Discussion:
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D. Foley opens up meeting at 7:05pm. .G..Fiorente asks if anyone else needs meeting."
minutes from April. F. Driscoll makes a motion to approve the April 17th, 2018 meeting
minutes. R. Hand seconds. All in favor 6-0.
*J. Borawski and.M. Killon enter the meeting at 7:09pm.*
G. Fiorente introduces Alan Foulds from Reading 375 who are working on planning events
for the Reading 375th Anniversary. He says that they are looking to have a movie night at.
Memorial Park in July 3rd from 5pm - 10:30pm and would like to request amplified sound.
He goes on to say that although the 375th Anniversary is not until next year, they would like
to use this as a kick-off event and get the buzz going. G. Fiorente tellsthe committee that
the parks are supposed to be closed at 10:0Opm but that can be a collective discussion with
other departments as 'needed..A.-Foulds responds that it does,not.get. dark out until 8:30pm.
so that is why.they were looking to go a.little beyond 10:00pm. E. Sisson asks what movie
will be playing..Phil. Rushworth states that they do not know yet`and will not know until the
secure rights to play it. E. Sisson follows up with asking-about the rating of the movie. P.
Rushworth assures the committee that it will be a "G-rated" movie. F. Driscoll asks why not.
use Hunt.Park since there is more parking down there. Ace Foulds responds that they
thought that Memorial Park was more centrally located and visible and that they were also
hoping that more folks would walk than park anyways. R. Hand asks if,they will be playing
music beforehand. P. Rushworth:says the hope is to get a performer but if they cannot
secure one, they will play patriotic music prior to the movie.
F. Driscoll makes a motion to approve the amplified sound permit from.6:00pm - 10:300m
for the Reading 375 Movie Night on July 3, 2018. J. Borawski seconds. All in favor 7=0.
G. Fiorente moves on to present the next amplified sound permit request from RLL
organization. She states that two middle schoolers are here, James Murphy and,lack Keefe,
to request. having.some announcements and music played'on Saturdays at Majors'Field at
the High School. She continues to say that the committee has authority to permit one
amplified sound request but the multiple weeks of sound would need to get approved by,the
Select Board. James Murphy says that he and Jack Keefe would like to play music and
announce players coming to bat on Saturdays for the next 5.weeks for two games from
approximately 3pm - 7pm. J. Murphy says that the noise level is very low and he does not
.think it will disturb the neighborhood..F. Driscoll asks the boys why they think-,this is
beneficial and why should they get approved. J. Murphy says because baseball is a slow
moving-sport and it will give,kids something to get excited aboutand the fans too. F.
Driscoll makes a point to say that typically the-committee gives amplified sound to All Star
games but not at weekly games at fields.He then asks who will select the music for the
games. J. Keefe says he will play his apple music off of a.small,speaker and will make sure .
all the songs are edited with no swearing or anything like that. F. Driscoll asks if the
committee thinks the tennis players,will be disturbed. J.. Borawski adds that she was at-a
game on Little League Parade day and that the music was so low and she thought it did add
a fun element. F. Driscoll states it is a slippery slope and worries other organizations will
want to-do this weekly,too. E. Sisson commends the boys for coming in to speak with the
committee..Everyone in the_room claps for the boys. G. Fiorente also says that they have
also pitched the idea to RLL organization for their approval.
A. Chase makes a motion to approve the.amplified sound from.3pm - 7pm on.Majors. .
-Field for Saturday, May 19th. J. Borawski seconds. All in favor 7-0. G. Fiorente
restates that beyond this one permit, the RLL will need to petition the Select Board
for approval of any remaining Saturday.amplified,sound permits.
G. Fiorente presents the next-amplified sound permit for the Reading Babe Ruth
Organization. She states that they will-be having their annual-All Star Game on Saturday,
May 26th from 10:00am - 4:00pm'and are requesting amplified sound for general
announcements and some music. E. Sisson makes a motion to grant the Reading Babe Ruth
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Organization.an-amplified sound permit for their All Star Game:on Saturday, .May 26th. from..
10:00am - 4:00pm. R. Hand seconds. All in favor 7-0.
G. Fiorente moves on to the final amplified sound permit for the Reading Public Library
submitted by Director, Amy Lannon..She says that they are having a Summer Reading Kick=
Off Event on Friday, June.22"d, and are requesting amplified sound-from 6:30pm.- 8:30pm.. .
K. Kaminer asks where exactly they are setting up.-_G. Fiorente says that the permit does .
not indicate the exact location at the library so she is unsure..She, adds that she notices that
there will be food trucks at the event and a few bands playing so she would.assume
somewhere.out front. F. Driscoll makes a motion to:approve the amplified sound permit for..
the Reading Public Library Summer.Reading Kick-Off Event on.Friday, June 22"d from
6:30pm --8:30pm. J. Borawski seconds. All are in favor 7-0.
G. Fiorente talks about the next item on the agenda of lining..the tennis courts at Memorial
Park for Pickleball which will make them dual purpose. She summarizes the conversation
from last year saying that the committee had an overall feeling that the pickleball
community should be thinking long-term and considering fundraising for a dedicated facility.
She also stated that last year they were given permission by:.the prior Parks.Supervisor,
Tom.Ferris, to chalk.lines down.at the courts as a temporary trial period. G. Fiorente says
that this decision was also voted for by the recreation committee. She said that since they
have been chalking lines, she has not received any negative feedback from the tennis or
pickleball community. She-mentions that she;has circled.iri With DPW & Parks and they will
support whatever the recreation committee decides.
M. DiPietro exits the meeting and indicates he will return in a moment at 8:00pm.
K. Kaminer mentions that Gregg Luongo may have:to.move his lessons Memorial Park from
the Bancroft Ave Community Tennis Courts on weekdays in the:summer if there are issues
with space with the lighted courts. G. Fiorente says that if thatdoes happen, Recreation
would take priority on any court.
R. Hand asks about rehabbing courts for the future as previously discussed like Barrows or-
Sturges..G. Fiorente states that Barrows School uses the courts for gym and recess. P.
Lydecker says that Sturges only has:the one tennis court.and that both of those potential
rehabs could take years to fundraise and pian for. G. -Fiorente states that she hopes it is the
intention of the Pickleball Community to still move in a direction of long-term planning
regardless of the committee vote.
F. Driscoll asks is Gregg Luongo,had an opinion.on the lines. G. Fiorente responds.that
Gregg does not have an issue with pickleball lines being painted on the tennis court for
multi-purpose.use. E. Sisson inquiries about the color of the .lines. A Pickleball player passes
around some pictures of colors of lines on other tennis courts in neighboring communities.
G. Fiorente.states that the final color is still to be determined'.
M. Killon asks if there:was input from any other towns who have.done the lines. P. Lydecker
said that there have been lines placed on existing tennis courts.in.Wilmington,-Peabody, .
Billerica, Salem, and Wellesley. D. Foley asks:about the difficulty of changing the courts
back again. G. Fiorente says that she thinks it would be a matter of repainting:them.
F: Driscoll makes'a motion to have the Recreation Division,pay for the painting of.the
Memorial Park Tennis Courts for pickleball for dual use. E. Sisson seconds. Motion passes 4-7
2.
M. DiPietro re-enters meeting at 8:25pm.
G. Fiorente gives an update on the Memorial-Park Bandstand,and she said since the last
meeting,the project has been -put:on hold, She said she still plans to.contact Mr. Pat!no to
see if he would like something at the park to honor his parents.- She states that she thinks it .
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would be nice to do a bench or picnic table with a plaque until.a bigger plan is in the works.
The committee agrees.
E. Sisson leaves the meeting at 8:30pm.
K..Kaminer suggests that the new structure doesn't have to necessarily be at Memorial
'Park. The committee briefly discusses the pros and cons of the Town Common and Memorial
Park locations for a new structure.
G: Fiorente states that she is excited a new part-time program coordinatorwas hired,
Shannon Fratto. G. Fiorente adds that Shannon will assist in.programmingand where
needed within the Recreation Division. G. Fiorente gives the committee a brief background
on Shannon's past involvement with Recreation and Friends of Reading Recreation. The
committee expresses that they are.happy someone will now be there to help and hope that
a full-time position is examined in the future. G. Fiorente also gives an update on the -
division and talks about how the division is gearing up for a busy summer with the
Recreation Summer Camp, several clinics/programs, and a playground improvement project
at Barrows..
R. Hand states that he has no RCASA update.
F. Driscoll makes a motion to adjourn at 9:050m. R. Hand-Seconds. All in favor 5-0.
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