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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-14 Recreation Committee Minutes Town of Reading x Meeting Minutes ricCElVD •,,p" TOWN CLERK °'• "°" REAMING, MA. Board - Committee - Commission - Council: �Y R 2819 JUN 13 PM 4: 27 Recreation Committee Date: 2019-05-14 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General- Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Emily Sisson(M), Chuck Robinson (M), Eric Gaffen (M), Patrick Sheeran (A), Mary Ellen Killion (A), Rich Hand (M), Michael Coltman (A) Members - Not Present: Adam Chase (M), Mike DiPietro (M), Kate Kaminer (A) Others Present: Carl McFadden 33 Wakefield Street James Murphy 55 Haystack Road - Reading Little League (RLL) Genevieve Fiorente Recreation Administrator and liaison to subcommittee Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente, Recreation Administrator Topics of Discussion: E. Sisson opens the meeting at 7:05pm. E. Sisson elevates M. Coltman as a voting member for the meeting. P. Sheeran makes a friendly amendment that he was listed present and he was not at the last meeting. C. Robinson makes a motion to approve the April Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes. R. Hand seconds. Motion passes 5- 0. J. Murphy introduces himself and says he and his friend Jack Keefe would like to announce the games for Reading Little League on Saturdays from Spm-spm at the Tennis court field. He stated that they did it last year with much success and that it made the games a more exciting experience. E. Sisson asks G. Fiorente if she received any complaints. G. Fiorente says she cannot recall any complaints. E. Sisson states that the committee only had the authority to approve one amplified sound date. M. Coltman asks if they bring their own equipment. J. Murphy says yes and explains how they hook everything up. Page I 1 E. Gaffen makes a motion to approve the May 18th amplified sound permit for James Murphy and his friend to announce the games from 3pm-5pm at the Tennis Court Field. C. Robinson seconds. Motion passes 5-0. G. Fiorente presents the next amplified sound permit request submitted by Reading Softball Little League for their June 8th Championship Day at the Birch Meadow Complex. She states that they have submitted a Civic Function Form as well. R. Hand makes a motion to approve the amplified sound permit for Reading Softball Little League on June 8th from 10AM- 8:OOPM at the Birch Meadow Complex. E. Gaffen seconds. Motion passes 5- 0. G. Fiorente presents the next amplified sound permit for the Babe Ruth All star game on May 25th at Morton Field from LOAM-4PM. G. Fiorente states that they have this game annually and she has received no complaints. M. Coltman makes a motion to approve the amplified sound permit on May 25th as presented. E. Gaffen seconds. Motion passes 5-0. G. Fiorente presents last amplified sound permit from DFD Dance Academy in Wakefield who would like to have an anniversary party at Memorial Park on Saturday, June 22 n from 12pm-4pm. M. Coltman makes a motion to approve the amplified sound permit as presented. C. Robinson seconds. Motion passes 5-0. G. Fiorente passes out the tennis court resurfacing proposal at the Bancroft Ave Tennis Courts on behalf of Friends of Reading Tennis. She states that a representative cannot be present this evening but they wanted to get the info to the committee. G. Fiorente says that a member of Friends of Reading Tennis will get to the next meeting to answer questions. The committee discusses some of the following points: • Bids vs quotes for the project • Current warranty on the courts • The collective want for more than one company to quote the project • The concern that other tennis courts in town need to be looked at before or in addition to the current proposed courts on Bancroft • The suggestion that some courts in town should be turned into multipurpose courts • Asking High School coaches their opinion on condition of courts The committee tables the discussion until they can have a discussion with representatives of Friends of Reading Tennis at the next meeting. M. Killion asks about the tennis pass program. G. Fiorente indicates that there was a proposal to reinstate the tennis pass program by Friends of Reading Tennis but G. Fiorente told the group that an internal conversation Page 1 2 with staff needs to occur before that is brought to the committee. She states that there is currently not a pass program and that residents and non- residents can reserve the courts on playlocal.com. She also says she has received no complaints with not having the pass program. E. Sisson gives updates on Sunday early starts and states that Reading Softball Little League and Reading Youth Lacrosse had already used their one time. G. Fiorente states that no other organizations have come forward to use theirs yet. She also says since those early start request days were requested in between meeting dates that she reached out to the chair before approving. E. Sisson gives an update on the porta potty project and says that 3 of the 4 locations have started construction. She said there was one complaint at Barrows that the contractor was rude to staff. She indicates that the Hunt Park porta is still waiting on a decision because Reading Little League wants to be a good neighbor. She states that Mike Wondolowski, head of Reading Little League, has been following up with multiple town staff and neighbors, to ensure everyone can be accommodated. E. Sisson says that the original location is what could still be approved by staff. G. Fiorente says it is up to Reading Little League whether they would like to go forward with the project or not since they have all the appropriate town approvals. E. Sisson states that the next agenda item will be tabled to discuss the Birch Meadow Master Plan Subcommittee as there could be new members next month. G. Fiorente gives division updates on programming and on some playground resurfacing/equipment projects. She also states that she has been receiving a lot of feedback from the Reading United Soccer Club that space is always being taken away from them. A committee member asks who has been communicating about the field issues. G. Fiorente states M. Sheedy and most recently, T. Wise. She states that it is a constant back and forth with questions and she doesn't currently experience it with any other league. G. Fiorente also states that Reading United Soccer Club will reach out to coaches directly to find out their schedules to attain more space. G. Fiorente states that all organizations are told they can be on the fields at 7pm aside from an occasional night game and the Track & Field program that ends at 8am Thursdays. She also mentions the special permission the Reading United Soccer Club requested and received for light use until 10pm on Thursdays at the High School Stadium due to the growth the Recreation Track program. M. Killion states that organizations need to work with the parameter of what they are given. She also states the importance of respectfulness of town staff. G. Fiorente states that all organizations, including Recreation, need a cut off for participants due to the lack of indoor and outdoor space. G. Page 1 3 Fiorente adds that is predominately an issue with the turf fields that are shared with the High School and states that the High School always has priority at any of the fields. The committee has a brief discussion on organizations having less involvement on day to day basis and the need for them being more amendable to changes occurring on turf fields for game and practice accommodations for the High School. R. Hand states he has no updates from RCASA. R. Hand makes a motion to adjourn at 8:10pm. M. Coltman seconds. Motion passes 5-0. Page 1 4