HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-22 Recreation Committee Minutes�R
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Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Recreation Committee
Date: 2024-01-22 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Pleasant Street Senior Center Location: Great Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Monthly Meeting Version: Final
Attendees: Members - Present:
Melissa Pucci (M), Chuck Robinson (M), Angela Binda (M), Kate Kaminer (M),
Eric Gaffen (M), Peter Lydecker (M), Eric Boemer (A)
Members - Not Present:
Bob Weiden (M), Ben Ream (A), Kevin Leete (A), Michael Coltman (M),
Others Present:
Jim Sullivan - Recreation Administrator
Edward Shambo - Recreation Coordinator
Carlo Bacci - Select Board Member and Recreation Committee liaison
Genevieve Fiorente - Community Services Director
Brian Mahoney - 30 Ashley Place, Reading, MA, pickleball
Carole Mahoney - 30 Ashley Place, Reading, MA, pickleball
Susan George - 15 Longbow Road, Wakefield, MA, pickleball
Susan Cameron - 11 Whitehall Lane, Reading, MA, pickleball
Carolyn Lamson - 88 Timberneck Drive, Reading, MA, pickleball
Karen Janowski - 30 Azalea Circle, Reading, MA, pickleball
Heather Hulse - 20 Harrison Street, Reading, MA Memorial Park abutter
Jack Scott - 48 Salem Street, Reading, MA Memorial Park abutter
Mary Scott - 48 Salem Street, Reading, MA Memorial Park abutter
Patty McGoldrick - 60 Hanscom Avenue, Reading, MA, pickleball
Leslie Narahara - 20 Puritan Road, Reading, MA, pickleball
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente, Community Services Director
Topics of Discussion:
E. Gaffen calls the meeting to order at 6:30pm
K. Kaminer makes a motion to accept the December 1V, 2023 meeting minutes as presented.
C. Robinson seconds. A. Binda makes a friendly amendment that she was listed as both
present and not present. All in favor 6-0.
E. Gaffen thanks the members of the public for being there and asks them to only comment if
there is something new they would like to add. He asks the public to please state their name
before they speak.
M. Scott from 48 Salem Street introduces herself. She states that the past couple years there
has been an increased concern with the amount of pickleball play and the abuse to courts with
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C. Robinson states that he is hesitant to vote on anything until more is explored about the deed
G. Fiorente states that when the courts were first lined in 2017 for pickleball, it was in an effort
to accommodate another growing sport. She says that it was innocent but now that pickleball
has become more popular and people are using multiple reservation systems, it has maybe
become too big for the area.
E. Gaffen says that there are still activities in Memorial Park that occur that would affect the
deed like the summer concerts.
A.Binda says that there are no practices or games allowed to be permitted down there for
organized sports.
E. Boemer adds that the fences also appear to violate the deed.
Committee discusses history of when the fences were put up and J. Sullivan states he would
research if anything was explored when the fences were added.
K. Kaminer states that deed aside, at the last meeting it was voted on that we would revisit what
has happened over the course of the month.
K. Kaminer states that she has been on the Recreation Committee for 30 years and in the past,
there had been exceptions made by the committee due to lack of field space. She says that the
envelope has been pushed to use more space over there. She adds that the intention of the
fencing was not to promote organized sports and she thanks the neighbors for coming. She
says it is a good wake-up call for the committee.
P. Lydecker says there is no mention of shoveling not being allowed. He said it is helpful for
people to know it isn't allowed. He says that some courts that were reported to be closed were
not like Winchester, Wakefield and Woburn. He says that pickleball players will not leave
anything on the courts and may want to donate benches inside the courts. He adds that there
are not a lot of places to play indoors in the winter.
J. Sullivan says that he spoke with Wakefield and the courts are not open but they are not
locked. He states that resting all courts and fields in the winter is important for longevity. He
adds that while he loves to play softball, he would not go onto a field and shovel off a baseball
diamond. He adds that there has to be some common sense that is town property and that
damage could be done.
Leslie Nahara from 20 Puritan Road says there are two ice skating rinks with lights which brings
a lot of kids coming with snack and trash.
Heather Hulse of 20 Harrison Street states that skating is a first come, first serve basis just like
the concerts. She says that pickleball is a 12 -month activity and the root of the issue is it is
being played for 12 hours a day. She adds that if everyone waited their tum and it was less
organized then pickleball and neighbors could coexist. She says that there has to be equal
comparisons being made.
A.Binda states that other organizations are not allowed to play in the winter and we need to be
fair. A.Binda asks if other organizations have wanted to play in the winter.
J. Sullivan answers that the President of Youth Lacrosse, Chuck Webberly, came to the last
meeting.
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E. Shambo gives updates on programming where he comments that the Sunday Basketball
staff is great and that the High School girls coach has volunteered to run a practice for the girls
as well. He goes on to say that the Summer Daycation Program registration is opening in
February and they are currently accepting applicants for Summer Counselors.
E. Boemer asks if there are waitlists. E. Shambo says yes and states that the ages 3-5
programs have the most waitlists and indoor pickleball.
J. Sullivan gives updates on the public ice skating rinks, field scheduling and the Barrows capital
pan. He states that he and Ed have been attending MRPA regional meetings and plan to attend
the state conference at the end of March.
A.Binda tells the Recreation Committee about the Edge Sports presentation.
E. Boemer asks if SWEC had seen the presentation.
A.Binda answers that SWEC had seen the RFI but Edge Sports had not come in to speak with
committee members prior to the Select Board. She adds that SWEC has not met in several
months and she does not know why.
A.Binda makes a motion to adjourn at 8:00pm. K. Kaminer seconds. All in favor 6-0
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