HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-01-08 Recreation Committee Minutes N OFR
Town of Reading RECEIVED
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Minutes TOWN IVERK
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READING, MA.
Board - Committee - Commission - Council: 2019 FEB 14 PM 12: 15
Recreation Committee
Date: 2019-1-8 Time: 7:00 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General- Version: Draft
Attendees: Members - Present:
Emily Sisson (M), John Parks (M), Chuck Robinson (M), Mike DiPietro (A),
Mary Ellen Killion (A), Michael Coltman (A)
Members - Not Present:
Dan Foley (M), Lori Russo (M), Rich Hand (M) , Eric Gaffen (M), Adam Chase
(M), Patrick Sheeran (A)
Others Present:
Genevieve Fiorente, Recreation Administrator & Liaison to Recreation
Committee
Tom Coffin - Arts Reading
Joe Leto- Arts Reading
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente, Recreation Administrator
Topics of Discussion:
E. Sisson opens the meeting up at 7:06pm. E. Sisson elevates M. Killion to voting member
in absence of a quorum. M. Killion makes a motion to accept the November 7th, 2018 and
November 13th, 2018 minutes as is. J. Parks seconds. Motion passes 5-0.
G. Fiorente presents an amplified sound permit for Jams for Jake at the Birch Meadow
Softball Fields for June 22, 2019 from Spm - 6pm. M. Killion asks that they be respectful of
where their speakers are located for the neighbors. M. Killion also asks if this will affect
youth sports. G. Fiorente states that High School and Youth Sports will be over by this date.
J. Parks makes a motion to approve the Jams for Jake amplified sound permit at the Birch
Meadow Softball Fields for June 22, 2019 from fpm - 6pm. C. Robinson seconds. Motion
passes 5-0.
J. Parks leaves at 7:20pm. E. Sisson elevates M. Coltman to voting member.
T. Coffin and J. Leto from ARTS Reading make their introductions. T. Coffin says they are
there to increase awareness and have been around for 5 years. He continues to say that
they were told to come talk to us by David Maroney who said Recreation runs so many
events and programs and they should get involved. J. Leto expands on the goal of the ARTS
Reading.group. A long conversation ensues as members ask questions about the group and
ideas are brainstormed. C. Robinson and E. Sisson bring up big school events like the
Reading Arts Fest and the MLK day that perhaps ARTS Reading can get involved with. The
end of the conversation ends as ARTS Reading plans to reach out to Reading Recreation and
collaborate on events. G. Fiorente states she is more than willing to team up to further
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promote their initiatives and help them gain awareness. T. Coffin invites members of the
Recreation Commmittee to the meeting next week if they would like to come.
G. Fiorente gives a brief update on the Birch Meadow Master Plan Survey Results and says
the subcommittee will be working on charts, graphs and keywords to outline the survey.
She explains how the results are similar to the ones in 2015. There is a long discussion on
the drainage/lighting at the Birch Meadow Complex. The committee agrees that upgrading
existing and getting new lighting is needed. Committee would like G. Fiorente to provide
details of the project from years back so they can refresh their memories. Committee briefly
chats about the list of fields by priority.
The committee also talks briefly about the potential renovation of Turf 2 project and the
need for portable lights in the Fall Season if Turf 2 were to be offline.
G. Fiorente gives an update on the division. She states how she has received a few inquiries
about a dog park and that there is a grant out right now. She says the tricky part is finding
the appropriate land area. G. Fiorente talks about current programs including skiing and
says how the program continues to expand. She goes on to say that Shannon Fratto, the
part-time program coordinator, continues to be a great asset to the division. G. Fiorente
states that she created several new programs Including Camp Bournedale which is the first
overnight program to be offered by the division.
M. Killion makes a motion to adjourn at 8:27pm. C. Robinson seconds. Motion to adjourn
passes 5-0.
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