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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-11-13 Recreation Committee Minutes o�p ix Nkgai I , Town of Reading ' Meeting Minutes rwox• Rr . _, t . c7A. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Recreation Committee 2919 JAN 23 AM 10: 55 Date: 2018-11-13 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General- Public Meeting with Version: Final Sturges Park Neighbors Attendees: Members - Present: Emily Sisson (M), Adam Chase (M), Rich Hand (M), John Parks (M), Chuck Robinson (M), Kate Kaminer (A), Mary Ellen Killion (A), Patrick Sheeran (A), Michael Coltman (A) Members - Not Present: Dan Foley (M), Lori Russo (M), Mike DlPietro (M), Eric Gaffen (M) Others Present: Genevieve Florente, Recreation Administrator & Liaison to Recreation Committee Dan Ensminger, Select Board Member and Liaison to Recreation Committee Bob Hayes, 739 Pearl Street and representative from Reading Softball Little League Tim Higgins, 315 Summer Ave and representative from Reading Softball Little League Angela Binda, 10 Orchard Park Drive Peter Coumoundoros, 24 Smith Ave and representative of Reading United Soccer Club Leslie McGonagle, 140 Pine Ridge Rd, Sturges Park Neighbor Val Sachetta, 141 Pine Ridge Rd, Sturges Park Neighbor Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente, Recreation Administrator Topics of Discussion: E. Sisson opens the meeting up at 6:30pm. E. Sisson introduces B. Hayes from Reading Softball Little League (RSLL) to present the proposed gift renovations to the neighbors. L. McGonagle asks if anyone looked Into the Master Plan for Sturges Park. G. Fiorente states that she did look back into the Sturges Park Master Plan from 2013 and dugouts were not part of the Master Plan. She continues to say that typically organizations give more of an advance notice on gifts and that If there were time, she would have reached out to some prior members on the Sturges Park Master Plan Committee. She adds that although the dugouts were not part of the Sturges Park Master Plan that she did not see it interfering with anything that is currently on the plan and that the backstop and fencing around courts are projects that would be part of Capital Planning. E. Sisson says that the RSLL organization has Indicated that the project is very time sensitive as far as materials and labor. page I v B. Hayes presents the power point. L. McGonagle expresses concern about kids jumping and climbing on top of the dugouts. V. Sachetta asks about warm-up area for hitters and if the benches were going to be larger than the existing ones. B. Hayes states that they cannot prevent kids from climbing and that yes, the bench will be longer. B. Hayes assures everyone that if someone climbs on top of the dugout, they will not fall through the structure. Both neighbors state that they are happy with the project. A conversation ensues about the length of the fence on the third base side. G. Fiorente states that both Reading United Soccer Club (RUSC) and RSLL took measurements at Sturges after the last recreation committee meeting. She says that, in hindsight, it would have been beneficial for the leagues have coordinated these measurements to occur at the same time since there still seems to be some confusion. She explains that the boundary lines for soccer are not a fair indication of what RUSC needs and that they do use the open space behind the outlined field for practice space as well. She says that after speaking with the Director of Soccer that In order to keep the field multipurpose that it would need to stop at third base. M. Coltman agrees that if the fence is longer that It could affect the multipurpose use of the open space. T. Higgins indicates that the specifications as presented by B. Hayes was approved by the RSLL board and that he would have to go back to the board and ask if the fence can be shortened. K. Kaminer states that she is confused why shortening the fence to third base Is an issue as last week B. Hayes saw no problem with it. B. Hayes said that is what he genuinely thought. P. Coumoundoros suggests a removable piece of fence that can be taken out during the soccer season. T. Higgins says he doesn't know if that is something they could do. E. Sisson states that as everyone knows there Is a field crisis among youth organizations in town and that every last Inch of open space needs to be utilized. M. Coltman asks why the league needs 40 feet of fence beyond the dugout. B. Hayes answers that It was for spectator safety. Committee members give comments such as Morton not having the fencing and collectively agree they think the entire 40 feet may be unnecessary especially if it impedes on open space. J. Parks makes a motion to approve the project as presented by RSLL pending additional conversations with RSLL and RUSC and empowering the Recreation Administrator to make the final decision on the length of the fence to ensure that the field remains multipurpose. A. Chase seconds. Motion passes 5-0. J. Parks comments that he noticed that a member of the RSLL board who is also a member of the Select Board voted on the approval of the RSLL project when he probably should have recused himself. E. Sisson states that she believes that for this particular vote, it was an innocent oversight and there was no malicious intent. J. Parks states that the vote should have been conducted properly. E. Sisson agrees with J. Parks, but notes that it was not a deciding vote. K. Kaminer states that he should disclose the association and identify himself prior to the vote or conversation when conflicts are present. Committee agrees. G. Fiorente states that she received an amplified sound permit today from the Reading/North Reading Chamber of Commerce for the Annual Tree Lighting on November 25th, 2018 from 3:30pm - 4:30pm. She says that they are requesting to use sound equipment and musical instruments for general announcements and to play seasonal music. J. Parks makes a motion to approve the amplified sound permit as presented. A. Chase seconds. All in favor 5-0. J. Parks makes a motion to adjourn at 7:25pm. C. Robinson seconds. All in favor 5-0. Page 1 2