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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07-10 Recreation Committee Minutes Orq 0 Town of Reading 9 „ e Meeting Minutes RECEIVrL) ICWN CLERK READiPin MA, Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 9H1 OCT -9 PN 6: 23 Recreation Committee Date: 2018-07-10 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, Emily Sisson, Rich Hand, Chuck Robinson, John Parks, Eric Gaffen, Mary Ellen Killion (associate), Michael Coltman (associate), Patrick Sheeran (associate) Members - Not Present: Mike DIPietro, Adam Chase, Lori Russo, Kate Kaminer (associate) Others Present: Genevieve Florente - Recreation Administrator Angela Binda Jean Delios Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Florente Topics of Discussion: D. Foley opens up the meeting at 7:10pm. Existing committee members and new committee members give introductions. D. Foley states at the June 12, 2018 meeting there was'no quorum and that discussion points need to be revisited for votes. E. Sisson states that since F. Driscoll had passed away before the meeting and that the committee innocently thought the quorum was 4 and not S. She continues to say that the committee would have elevated M. Killion had they been aware that the quorum always had to stay at S. She said that as a result, the minutes are just discussion points from the June 12, 2018 meeting. E. Sisson asks G. Fiorente about the approval process for the discussion. G. Florente states that she just asked L. Gemme the process and she indicated it is a board decision. Committee decides to start with agenda item of nominating a new chair and vice-chair. R. Hand nominates E. Sisson as chair. C. Robinson seconds. D. Foley states he thinks E. Sisson Is an excellent choice. Motion passes 6-0. M. Killion states that she thinks R. Hand would be a great vice-chair. J. Parks nominates R. Hand for vice-chair. E. Gaffen seconds. Motion passes 6-0. G. Fiorente presents an amplified sound permit she received for Arts Reading submitted on behalf of Amy Lannon from the library. She states that the amplified sound request is for Saturday, October 13`^ from 10am-2pm on the Town Common and the group would like to use speakers and equipment for performances. C. Robinson states that he can reach out to performing arts at school to see if they may want to be involved in event. C. Robinson also asks if groups typically come in for amplified sound. G. Florente says sometimes yes, if the event is going to be very large. She states that since she talked to A. Lannon about details Page I 1 and had no concerns on the even that she didn't think Amy needed to come in. Committee members express that they think this is a great event and want to know more details as the event gets closer. G. Fiorente says she will let A. Lannon know. R. Hand makes a motion to accept the amplified sound request as presented. C. Robinson seconds. Motion passes 6-0. A. Binda enters the conference room. E. Sisson states the next order of meeting minutes from May 8, 2018. E. Sisson asks committee members if they had time to review. G. Fiorente offers copies to anyone who needs them. E. Gaffen makes a motion to accept the meeting minutes from May 8, 2018. J. Parks seconds. M. Killion makes a comment that she was playing tennis and RLL was playing music during the week and it was loud. She says the meeting minutes indicate the committee only gave them one Saturday. E. Sisson says that yes, only that one and that they would have needed to get permission from Select Board if they wanted to do more. M. Killion asks G. Florente if she had complaints. G. Fiorente says she cannot recall off hand but if she did get a complaint, she would have forwarded it to RLL. G. Fiorente says she will look back to see If she had an emails come in on it. G. Fiorente also says she will mention to RLL of M. Killion's observation. Motion passes 5-1 (C. Robinson abstains). The committee talks about the mock playground rules from prior discussion and meetings. A conversation ensues and members make adjustments to some rules and offer suggestions to the Recreation Administrator. The committee agrees to table the discussion for a future meeting. E. Sisson brings up the next discussion topic on the Birch Meadow Master Planning Subcommittee and that the committee has said in the past they want at least 3 members on the committee. Discussion occurs on getting a neighbor appointed to the committee at some point. The committee agrees that would be beneficial. M. Killion expresses an Interest in joining the Birch Meadow Master Planning subcommittee. C. Robinson makes a motion to appoint M. Killion as a member of the Birch Meadow Master Planning Subcommittee. R. Hand seconds. Motion passes 6-0. J. Parks and M. Coltman also express an interest in the subcommittee. R. Hand makes a motion to appoint J. Parks to the Birch Meadow Master Planning subcommittee. E. Gaffen seconds. Motion passes 6-0. D. Foley makes a motion to appoint M. Coltman as a member of the Birch Meadow Master Planning Subcommittee. J. Parks seconds. Motion passes 6-0. G. Fiorente clarifies the standing appointed members with the recreation board: M. Coltman D. Foley J. Parks R. Hand M. Killion She states she will remain a liaison as well as the Select Board liaisons. E. Sisson refers back to the June 12, 2018 discussion. She encourages new members to read up on the discussion if they have not already. Committee members who were there collectively decide that they should confirm the discussion points related to the conversation with J. Halsey that were made public and comment additionally. M. Killion says she would like to add on to discussion points from June 12, 2018. She adds the following points: 1. M. Killion said that according to her notes on the discussion J. Halsey said It was highly Inappropriate and he felt that his integrity was impugned and it Interfered with his role as a member on the Select Board. 2. M.Killion says that in addition to saying after speaking with his lawyer, he had considered lawsuits against the members of the Recreation Committee that he also mentioned the Recreation Administrator. G. Fiorente says that she does not recall Page 1 2 that. E. Sisson says that yes, he did also Include G. Fiorente when speaking of the lawsuits. 3. M. Killion asks for clarification when J. Halsey referenced the L. Gemme portion in the discussion. G. Fiorente responds that the statement referenced is in the April meeting minutes and is true and accurate. 4. M. Killion would like to add that she said in the discussion as a suggestion that a meeting with a neutral town or state party should be Involved to help negotiate discussion with J. Halsey. E. Sisson says that M. Killion's edits are true to her recollection and she has no additional comments to add from the June 12, 2018 discussion. R. Hand says he has no edits. A. Binda asks why the lune 12, 2018 was edited as discussion not minutes. E. Sisson explains that mistake with the passing away of F. Driscoll as she stated prior to A. Binda entering the meeting and that the committee thought the quorum was 4 not 5 since a member had passed away. E. Gaffen states that the discussion from lune 12, 2018 should state at the bottom why there wasn't a quorum. E. Gaffen asks clarification on the letter not being sent to the Select Board officially. D. Foley said that it was a suggestion of Town Manager and G. Fiorente to first reach out to the Select Board chair, Barry Berman, about the request for a new liaison which he did. D. Foley says he takes responsibility for not continuing the initiative to move forward with the letter but he thought the appropriate message was relayed. A. Binda asks if this was documented in any previous meeting minutes or discussion so the public would be aware. E. Sisson responds that D. Foley was not present at the June 12"' meeting to update the committee on the process of the letter. E. Sisson and D. Foley offer a timeline of events: -State that the April meeting happened where the committee voted to send a letter requesting a new liaison -A letter was drafted -D. Foley made decision to take suggestion from Town Manager and G. Fiorente to reach out to Chairman of Select Board, Barry Berman, before sending the letter -D. Foley thought this line of communication was effective to obtain a positive outcome so the letter was never finalized or sent -D. Foley was not present at June 1P discussion to update committee on these happenings The committee Is satisfied with the breakdown of events and asks G. Fiorente to make note of this timeline in the meeting minutes so public is fully aware. J. Delios enters the conference room. R. Hand gives a brief update on RCASA and he and new members have a short discussion on the initiatives of the RCASA board. G. Fiorente gives an update on the Recreation Division and states that two pickleball courts have been lined and the Barrows playground Improvement project was completed. She states she is still working on the Killam drainage project with other departments. G. Fiorente says that the summer camp has been going extremely smooth aside from the YMCA pool shutdown. She says that since the pool was closed, the division rented water Inflatables and got a slush truck to make sure the kids stayed cool during the heat wave. G. Fiorente goes on to say that the clinics have been extremely successful so far and that the division is running several sports and specialty clinics throughout the summer. D. Foley makes a motion to adjourn at 7:45pm. J. Parks seconds. All in favor 6-0. Page 1 3