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Home My WebLink About2009-10-14 Recreation Committee Minutes - Draft FtCEIV tz °rR Town of Reading TCS+N CLERK k 16 Lowell Street R E,"P I N G MA e Reading, MA 01867-2685 2819 Jl1N IH PM 4: 03 ,B39�IpC00.P0� FAX: (781)942-5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781)942-9075 READING RECREATION COMMITTEEMINUTES October 14 2009 Town Hall Conferge oom Attendance: Bernie Winne, Chairman, Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Med*f;,r, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Vice Chairmen,Nancy-Linn Swain, Rec. Committee Member, MikePietro, Rec. Committee Member, Chris Campbell,Rec. Committee Member, Adam Chase, Ailociate Member, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator Guests: James Bonazoli, BOS and Charlie Ehl, Youth Baseball of Reading B. Winne called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM. C. Campbell made a motion to accept the September 9th Recreation'loommittee minutes. M. DiPietro seconded the motion. N. Swain added that under heading RCASA the Town of Reading should be swapped in for Reading Police. Motion passed in favor of accept4nce 6-0-0. Lines on Collins Find - J. Feudo stated Jacmet with the Town M'at Bt,J,ames Bonazoli, M. Stolecki and Members of the Reading UuittdllbsberClub(Ake Sheedy and Peter Coumounduros). The meeting had a good dialoguelietween all parte and a eaWlusion was reached. RUSC felt that a fine was very steep due toxdi6 that there tido maliei93isintent. RUSC also disclosed that they understood that the situattt is about setting ti4cedent,but asked if the restitution might be able to go toward an enhancemeniat:the field. The'Town Manager and BOS representative felt that a package of goods and services equaling the amonat to remove the lines was a fair middle ground. This package of goods and services would need to be determined by the Recreation Administrator and the Recreation Committee,`. J. Feudo introduced James Bonazoli from the Board of Selectmen and asked both Mr. Bonazoli and M. Stolecki to further comment. M. Stolecki felt the decision was a win/win for those involved. J. Bonazoli stated that he was ok with a fine in kind. He had weighed the situation as innocent mistake vs negligible. He too felt there was no malicious intent, however he also spoke about many of the groups taking liberties to do things with out permission and this was another case. F. Driscoll did not understand why the situation needed to be a win/win. An organization did damage to a field without permission. They needed to be punished for it. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14, 2009 Con't B. Winne stated that it was important for the RUSC to understand that this is a serious reprimand and felt the outcome was a punitive action that did not satisfy the violation. N. Swain felt strongly that the organization and others know that the sanction is a fine and not a donation. In the end, they vandalized the property. J. Bonazoli stated they could have gone with a stiffer penalty. The other Board of Selectmen members were willing to go as far as taking their permits away for the yep. The Board of Selectmen will back the Recreation Committee 200%on decisions. J. Bonazoli also added that RUSC asked if lining of fields could be adil to the rules and regulations on the permits. F. Driscoll made a motion to fine RUSC $2000 with the money being paid to the-Aec Revolving Fund and be used for care and maintenance of the fields. C. Campbell seconded the.tfpotion. Motion passed in favor by a vote of 6 -0-0. New Policy on Solicitation/Acceptance of Donations J. Bonazoli spoke about a new policy set by'tba Board of Selectman lu address solicitation of gifts and donations. He stated the genesis of the policy is to prevent the toWli'from being pitted into a comer with regards to gifts we do not want or gifts we i ros'tquite ready for. He stated there are groups of well intended folks coming up with a small portidti6ftnoirey for some very large projects leaving the Town to figure oft how to pay for theme He sited the Reading Community Tennis Courts and Wood End ElententaryI.Sidiool playground as two recent projects thatjumped on to the capital plan perhaps pith, g other$neatly valuable projects back. He added that the policy will,,iso-help s i;$ess standards for commemorating projects. He sited the tennis courts gtatoe ane man example of something that just appeared without the Selectmen knowing about it. He'd that the BOS are now trying to find a way to remove the monument and maW.it so it is not so 8s1ve. B. Winne fatt.it was unfair to tuuple the tennis courts with the Wood End playground. The Friends of Reading Teidifi;went throu0i all the proper channels including the Recreation Committee, BOS, Fin Comm and Tows Meeting twice. J. Bonazoli responded"}f stating that the commonality was neither project were funding in that current years CIP. The master planning being done now will hopefully help address these types of issues going forward. The Recreation Committee asked it the BOS would add them as an agency with jurisdiction under the heading of Town Site with out Master Plans. J. Feudo introduced Charlie Ehl to the Recreation Committee. Mr. Ehl is the new commissioner of Youth Baseball in Reading. He stated there has been a lot of tum over in the governance of the organization. The organization is working hard to improve communication. He was interested to learn more on how to work with the Town, BOS and Recreation Committee. They we really focusing on promoting playing baseball for all kids age 8— 12. He stated that RYB would like to READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES October 14, 2009 Con't gain advocates for the use of Strout Ave. if and when it is determined that it will be used for active play. F. Driscoll asked if they had any plans to actually become a"little league" program. Mr. Ehl stated they have invited both Cal Ripken Baseball and Little League Baseball to present at a future meeting. M. Stolecki stated that the Town faces a lot of issues with scheduling&Ids and carving out niches make it even more difficult to schedule. The Committee thanked Mr. Ehl for coming to visit with them. Administrators Report: J. Feudo mentioned he was looking for the Boys and Girls Basketball Evaluators."newould send out a schedule via email. The Annual Halloween Parade will take place on October 25#at Coolidge Middle School. The BOS are set to conduct a public hearing on the Field Fees rec6iftruended by the recreation Committee on October 20th. At the same meeting the Birch Meadow ter plan will have public hearing to discuss the written component of the plan.Rankly,,the Washington Park playground fundraiser will be presented to the Board of Selectmen. Sub-Committee Reports RCASA N. Swain mentioned she wasi8gaw elede 1president of RCASA. She mentioned folks should check out the photo erect done by the youth walition at the library. The project was funded by the same group that fundedRCASA to*in with. N. Swain also talked about results from the Youth Risk Bevior Survey. Boards Comlvlitees and Commissions Summit M. Stolecki said abe attended the BCC meeting hosted by the BOS. It was basically a round table discussion covering pr%ocols, how to run meetings, taking minutes etc. She stated there will soon be a law requiring every Volunteer to take an ethics test on line. N. Swain made a motion to adjourn. F. Driscoll seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of adjournment by a vote of 6-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM. Respectfully submitted by: John A. Feudo Recreation Administrator