HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-02-20 Recreation Committee Minutesa Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes^` Yrt7'L
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Recreation Committee
Date: 2024-02-20 Time: 6:30 PM
Building:
Reading Town Hall
Location:
Berger 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), Michael Coltman (M), Bob Weiden (M)
Rich Hand (M), Ben Ream (A), Eric Boemer (A)
Members - Not Present:
Kevin Leete (A)
Others Present:
Jim Sullivan - Recreation Administrator
Edward Shambo - Recreation Coordinator
Genevieve Fiorente - Community Services Director
Rick Houle - 29 Terrace Park, Reading, MA
Karen Janowski - 30 Azalea Circle, Reading, MA
Dan McGlathery - 104 Forest Street, Reading, MA
Kathy McGlathery - 104 Forest Street, Reading, MA
Laura Ryan - 100 Forest Street, Reading, MA
David Ryan - 100 Forest Street, Reading, MA
Phi Perkins - 25 Criterion Road, Reading, MA
Dom Gesda - RMHS High School Coach
Dom Savino - Reading Youth Softball President
Pete Coumoundoros - 24 South Ave Reading, MA, Reading United Soccer
Jeff Pierce - Reading Babe Ruth
Chris Beneke - Friends of Reading High School Baseball
Dan Webb - Friends of Realdng High School Baseball
Martha Moore - Conservation Committee Chair
Chuck Tirone - Conservation Administrator
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Genevieve Fiorente, Community Services Director
Topics of Discussion:
E. Gaffen calls the meeting to order at 6:30pm. Roll call vote.
R. Hand make s motion to approve the January meeting minutes. C. Robinson seconds. Roll
call vote. All in favor 8-0.
R. Hand makes a motion to approve the meeting minutes from bh+a stakeholders meeting. A.
Binda seconds. Roll call vote. All in favor 8-0.
E. Gaffen asks if anyone would like to make public comment.
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R. Hand asks if there will be other signage on the garden? C. Tirone says that is possible and
that educational signage would be great.
Phil Perkins states he thinks it would be a great place for a biology class to come or for a field
trip.
C. Tirone and J. Sullivan state they will work together and inform on next steps needed.
D. Savino proposes the donation of the windscreen on the backstop at Driscoll Field and shows
a picture of a couple options.
M. Coltman asks if it faces out toward field. D. Savino answers yes.
B. Weiden makes a motion to approve the Reading Little League Softball windscreen donation
at Driscoll Field. C. Robinson seconds. Roll call vote. All in favor 8-0.
G. Fiorente asks how much the windscreen would be. D. Savino answers $800.
P. Coumoundoros presents the proposal for portable lights at Coolidge Field on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays until 9pm. He states how the lights would be faced away from the
neighbors toward the school.
C. Robinson asks if abutters have been noted. J. Sullivan states that letters were sent to
neighbors.
M. Coltman asks what source the lights would be powered by. P. Coumoundoros states that
they are hoping to use the solar portable lights.
B. Weiden asks if P. Coumoundoros has reached out to companies yet because they are hard
to get.
P. Coumoundoros answers that they wanted permission first.
G. Fiorente states that the Select Board may need to weigh in on this as it is a repeating
occurrence.
D. Ryan states that he is probably the closest abutter and asks how many lights there will be.
P. Coumoundoros answers 4.
D. Ryan says that a few years ago there was issues with some of the portable lights placed at
Coolidge and that light was shining in his house. He stated that he could also hear the diesel
generators and could sometimes smell fumes.
D. McGlathery asks if the portable solar lights come with a back-up generator.
P. Coumoundoros says he is unsure on that.
M. Coltman explains his experience with portable solar lights.
D. McGlathery says that the last time they were up the organizations were good about shutting
them off at 9:00pm but they were given a number if that didn't happen.
Staff agrees to give a number again.
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M. Pucci makes a motion for Recreation Committee members to rotate taking meeting minutes.
R. Hand seconds. Roll call vote. All in favor 8-0.
J. Sullivan gives an update on the Memorial Park Deed and that he reached out to Matt
Kraunelis. He states that M. Kraunelis will be reaching out to town counsel and J. Sullivan will
let committee know what happens.
J. Sullivan gives the following additional updates:
• J. Sullivan now on the Killam Visionary Group and attended his first meeting last week.
• J. Sullivan working on vendor procurement contracts
• J. Sullivan & E. Shambo will be attending the MRPA Conference
• J. Sullivan reports rock salt on the Memorial Park basketball courts and filed a police
report
• J. Sullivan continuing to work on field policies and field fees
E. Shambo gives update on Sunday Ball and how he sent out a survey to the coaches. He
states that summer camp registration started and one week is already sold out. He adds that
there have been 46 summer daycation counselor applications.
M. Coltman states that there will be a fundraiser for pickleball run through SNL on April r.
E. Geffen says that he wants to mention that he saw a facebook post from someone online
stating that they would like to see a pick-up women's basketball offered in town. E. Gaffen
states that he connected E. Shambo with the contact and within 10 days E. Shambo
coordinated something. E. Gaffen says that the spots are all filled.
A. Binds asks G. Fiorente about the COA Coffee hour.
G. Fiorente explains how bh+a will be at the Pleasant Street Center tomorrow to go over some
conceptual designs for a seniortcommunity center during the COA coffee hour.
R. Hand makes a motion to adjourn at 8:30pm. M. Pucci seconds. Roll Call vote. All in favor 8-0
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