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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-06-12 Recreation Committee Minutes� r 0 Town of Reading e�= Meeting Minutes 6J9.Ip YAP' � Board. Committee - Commission - Council: ?f13✓ u n (FFG. Recreation Committee p�j Date: 2023-06-12 Time: 6:30 PM �'f'j0 Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Conference Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Purpose: General Monthly Meeting Version: Final Attendees: Members - Present: Michael Coltman (M), Bob Weiden (M), Melissa Pucci (M), Angela Binda(M), Rich Hand (M), Chuck Robinson (M), Kate Kaminer (M) Members - Not Present: Eric Gallen (M) Others Present: Jim Sullivan - Recreation Adminsitrator Genevieve Fiorente - Community Services Director Pam McMahon 289 Franklin Street, Reading, MA Claire Newman 9 Harvard Street, Reading, MA Joel Newman 9 Harvard Street, Reading, MA Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente, Community Services Director Topics of Discussion: AGENDA • 6:30pm — 6:35pm Discussion/Approval of Meeting Minutes • 6:35pm — 6:40pm Public Comment • 6:40pm — 6:45pm Select Board liaison Report • 6:45pm — 6:55pm SWEC liaison Report • 6:55pm — 7:05pm Recreation Administrator Report • 7:05pm — B:OOpm Discussion on proposed Birch Meadow Master Plan Phase II suggestions and PARC Grant application process Meeting is called to order by B. Weiden at 6:32pm. J. Sullivan introduces Claire Newman and states that he had the opportunity to meet with her concerns about the current structure of Pickleball at the Memorial Park Courts. B. Walden states that he would like the committee to listen to the comments and further discussion can be added to a future agenda. C. Newman states that it is very difficult to get a court at Memorial Park by booking on the playlocal.com software. She says that players seem to be more of a private club and she would like to see more of an opportunity for open play. C. Robinson asks about the current procedure. G. Fiorente answers that there is a scheduling process through playlocal.com. J. Sullivan states he will get more information from local towns on how they operate their pickleball courts and bring it back to the committee. Page 1 1 M. Coltman makes a motion to approve the May meeting minutes as written. R. Hand seconds. Vote is taken and motion passes 7-0. G. Fiorente says that since C. Bacci isn't here this evening, she will give a quick update on RECALC. G. Fiorente discusses the amended charge for RECALC and how they will now sunset in June of 2024. A.Binda starts her update on SWEC. She states that M.Dockser mentioned keeping Symonds Way open as a possibility for a Senior/Community Center. She outlines the criteria of which SWEC went over in the meeting: -Generate income/Break Even -Highly Rate on Survey -No Parking loss -Fits Town Goals of Master Plan and Open Space Plan -Minimal Taxpayer Expense -Provides wide range of public use -Compatible with surrounding uses -Multigenerational use -Maintaining Town Ownership of Property -Coordinating with other town projects She says that there is a lot of discussion with the building being private/public with the example given of Wellesley and that the committee will be talking about the RFI. M. Coltman states that if you build private that the income generated is not uniform and that it may generate income and may not. G. Fiorente states her worry on a private/public partnership since there are existing partnerships that have not been honored or maintained as the years have gone on. She says she hopes that there will be perimeters to give the town priority indefinitely. She goes on to say it should be advantageous for the town. She also mentions that she is supportive of a community center. J. Sullivan states that when he worked in Marblehead their community center had both Elder Services and Recreation. He goes on to say they had their separate areas for activities but also did have some shared space. He says that the relationship worked really well. J. Sullivan also states that he knows private companies who have built facilities like Teamworks have come into towns and have directly competed with town run youth organizations and recreation divisions. G. Fiorente asks why there seems to be a big push for public/private partnership? K. Kaminer answers that you get a private partner because you cannot afford it. R. Hand states the benefit of having a Master Plan to go over pros and cons. J. Sullivan states that just from being here a short time, more fields and pickleball courts are a big need. He says that if a structure goes up it should be a joint community center. J. Sullivan gives an Administrator Report and goes over the following: -Intros with Youth Organizations and future meeting with all to discuss expectations and create relationships -Improvements to the Parker Middle School Fence to prevent lax and soccer balls from flying over -Coordinating AED locations at Turf Fields Page 1 2 -Making sure organizations take their items out of the existing shed and in the process of ordering a new shed for temporary storage -Moving out a large trailer that was used to store items used by Friends of Reading Baseball -Hiring and coordinating trainings for Summer Staff -Posted Rao Coordinator Job and holding interviews soon -Had a meeting with Melissa Pucci and John Feudo at the YMCA on inclusive events this Fall -Coordinating Summmer/Fall Field Scheduling -Porta potty policies on ADA compliance G. Fiorente goes over the PARC Grant details and the conceptual design. She states there will be a Community Forum held to discuss as well prior to the application submittal in July. Committee briefly discusses the Conceptual Design. M. Coltman states the need for Pickleball courts somewhere in town. G. Fiorente answers that she agrees and that it just needs to be in the right location. Committee is supportive of Conceptual Design and PARC Grant Application. M. Coltman makes a motion to adjourn at 8:tOpm. C. Robinson seconds. All in favor 7-0 Page 1 3