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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-05-09 Recreation Committee MinutesOWN OFq� Town of Reading "RECEIVED e�s Meeting Minutes TOWN CLERK �°- READING, MA. `.ra,maoao°`� VK 34 Board - Committee - commission - council: 2022 AUG -4 AM 9:34 Recreation Committee Date: 2022-05-09 Time: 7:00 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Meeting Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: General Monthly Meeting Version: Draft Attendees: Members - Present: Emily Sisson (M), Michael Coltman (M), Rich Hand (M), Kate Kaminer(M), Angela Binda(M), Eric Gaffen (M), Bob Weiden (M) Members - Not Present: Chuck Robinson(M),Mike DiPietro (M), Pat Sheeran (A), Katelynn King (A), Gina Nelson (A), Others Present: Genevieve Fiorente - Recreation Administrator and liaison to committee Dom Savino - Reading Softball Little League Steve Puglielli - Reading Softball Little League Joe Barletta - Reading Little League Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente, Recreation Administrator Topics of Discussion: E. Sisson calls meeting to order at 7:05pm. E. Sisson gives an update on the Sturges Park temporary fence. She states that Reading Softball Little put up the fence about two weeks ago and bypassed appropriate procedure. She goes on to say that since then that Town Staff has told Reading Softball Little League the process. G. Fiorente adds that the agreement is that Reading Softball Little League must provide a fence inspection, updated insurance and sign a waiver. D. Savino states he didn't consider this item a gift because it is not a permanent structure and is collapsible. He also says that DPW can mow around it. M. Coltman asks if they intend to take it down at the end of the season. D. Savino states that they would like to take it down at the end of summer. R. Hand asks if soccer uses the field. G. Fiorente says that in the spring and summer season that soccer does not typically use that field but Turf 2 is down at the High School. She states that she perhaps would have not recommended the fence this season due to that field may have to be used for soccer. Page I 1 E. Gaffen states that he lives near Sturges. He says that some people reached out to him in the neighborhood and were upset that the fence was put up. He adds that his family has used the outfield for throwing around a football and he was taken a back that it was put up without abutter feedback. He says there are families in the neighborhood that want it taken down and see the right process followed. He states that it seems there is no consideration for other sports or activities at Sturges in the neighborhood. M. Coltman states he is concerned that it takes away from the open space of the area and asks if the fence is a requirement. D. Savino answers that it is not. A.Binda states that she thinks the fence is semi-permanent like her pool security fence that requires digging of holes and sleeves in the ground. She asks what the actual purpose of the fence is. D. Savino answers that it enhances play and the girls get excited about hitting it over the fence. He says that it also stops the balls from rolling. He goes on to say how much the organization has grown in the past few years. E. Gaffen asks if Sturges is ever needed as a back-up in an emergency for field space. He states that fields need Flexibility and fences limit the possible uses for the open space. He also asks if there is an option to take it up and down each game. D. Savino says that would be too difficult. G. Fiorente says that she wants to add that she finds it hard to believe that Reading Softball Little League did not know the process for such a large temp fence to go up especially after the neighbor complaint with the scoreboard. She states that she would love to see the girls have a fence since the boys have one at Majors however there is a process in place. She goes on to say that she and the committee have worked hard on transparency with abutters and also there are legal obligations. K. Kaminer mentions that Reading Softball Little League is the only organization in town that does not know how to follow the rules. She says that the League continuously stresses the resources of the staff and the committee by not following the process. She asks what the consequence should be for organizations not abiding by the rules. A.Binda states that she is having a hard time viewing this as a temporary fence if the league is asking for it to be up for two seasons. She asks how long it takes to take up and down. D. Savino says it is very time consuming to take up and down. Committee has a brief discussion on liability and abutter feedback K. Kaminer that states that maybe the compromise is to keep it up until end of the Spring season so that when all the families are home for summer, they can access the open space. Page 1 2 E. Gaffen makes a motion to recommend the semi-permanent fence at Sturges Park stay up until June W and prior to any future use of fences, Reading Softball Little League will follow the process moving forward. M. Coltman seconds. D. Savino asks if they can put the temporary fence up at Birch Meadow for championship day. Committee agrees that there is not enough time to make that decision. Joe Barletta and Bob Welden from Reading Softball Little League present the gift of the new field at Joshua Eaton. Joe Barletta states that the field was already discussed with Parks and the principal. Joe Barletta also discussed the Barrows field gift to the Committee. J. Barletta states they would like to put up a possible fence. G. Fiorente states that the outfield is used for open space for other activities. Committee discusses issues in regard to issues with open space for Recreational programming and for sledding in winter. M. Coltman makes a motion to recommend to accept the gift of the new Joshua Eaton Baseball Field from Reading Little League. R. Hand seconds. B. Weiden recuses himself. Discussion occurs on neighborhood impact at Joshua Eaton and Barrows. Committee agrees there is no impact at the Joshua Eaton Field location. Final motion passes 6-0-1. A.Binda makes a motion to recommend to the Select Board that the gift of the updated field at Barrows be accepted with the intent that neighbors will be notified. Committee discusses that neighborhood input should happen first. A. Binda withdraws motion. Bob Weiden asks if there is an appetite to have lights at the fields at Birch Meadow. G. Fiorente states that it is on the Master Plan so she would say yes. The Committee agrees. G. Fiorente presents amplified sound permit for Reading Softball Little League Championship Day. M. Coltman makes a motion to approve the amplified sound permit as presented. E. Gaffen seconds. Motion passes 7-0. E. Gallen makes a motion to adjourn at 9:10pm. R. Hand seconds. Meeting adjourned 7-0. Page 1 3