The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2024-04-09 Recreation Committee Minutes FH c F� �'. Lt� Vt � - TownofReading 1'0'Nht CLERK � � � r Meeting Minutes � � %; „a� I � � _ �� qpq y � �' MCOPYOP�t C1LY '.iL � �� Ni I 'O' !l� . Board - Committee - Commission - Council: Recreation Committee IDate: 2024-04-09 Time: 6:30 PM Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session Purpose: Version: Attendees: Members - Present: Bob Weiden (M) Acting Chair, Chuck Robinson (M), Kate Kaminer (M), Mike Coltman (M), Peter Lydecker (M), Richard Hand (M), Ben Ream (A), Kevin Leete (A), Eric Boemer (A). � Members - Not Present: Eric Gaffen (M), Angela Binda (M) Others Present: None Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Kate Kaminer, Recreation Committee Topics of Discussion: Call to Ordec 6:32 PM in the Berger Room,Town Hall, Reading, MA. Recreation Committee Members Present Bo6 Weiden (M), acting chair, Chuck Robinson (M�, Kate Kaminer (M), Mike Coltman (M), Peter Lydecker (M�, Richard Hand, Ben Ream (A�, Kevin Leete (A�, Eric Boemer(A). Recreation Committee Members Absent Eric Gaffen (M),Angela einda (M�. Miwres Aporoved: • February 20,2024, meeting: 7-0-0. Motion: M. Coltman/R. Hand. Changes: R. Hand was present at the meeting. M. Coltman darified that rock salt was on basketball cour[s, not pickleball courts. • March 5, 2024, meeting: 7-0-0. Motion: K. Kaminer/R. Hand. Public Comment None CPA Committee Appointment: Motion: K. Kaminer/R. Hand to appoint E Gaffen to CPA Committee. 7-0- 0. E. Gaffen formally eapressed interest in being appointed. Amolified Sound Reques[s: Reading Lion Club requested two dates: • 6-8-24 Reading Friends and Family Day at Birch Meadow. M. Coltman/R. Hand 7-0-0. • 7-18-24 Road Race. M. Coltman/R. Hand 7-0-0. Memorial Park Donation: M. Terry, Reading Masonic Lodge. The organization proposes the dona[ion of six flag poles and military service flags to be erected around [he WWI veteran's memorial at Memorial Park. Masonic Lodge will support maintenance of poles and flags in perpetuity. Currently the American vage I � iq T� � � Town of Reading ��, Meeting Minutes �e �� a =Jf:l}COP��P flag flies there on a 25' pola Each of the six poles will 6e 20', shorter than the American Flagpole. The six new poles will NOT be lit Each pole will Fly the color of one branch of U.S. military. The town manager, veterans' affairs, and DPW all in agreement as to this bcation after other locations were mnsidered. A dedication ceremony is planned for Memorial Day 2024 and a larger ceremony planned for Veterans Day 2024. Several neighbors abutting Memorial Park wrote in s[rong favor of such proposal. Motion: C. Robinson/R. Hand 7-0-0. BH+q presen[ation of Senior/Communitv Center Locations: Representative loel Bargmann presented a lengthy detailed overview of the site selection process. (See the entire presentation on file). Three locations are under consideration: • The current Senior Center on Pleasant Street • Available land on Oakland Street across from RMHS • Available land on Symonds Way abutting the Burbank ice rink. Final selection is expected at the end of May 2024. Schematics and plans will be completed in September 2024. Proposed center would be "18,000 SF, ^26,000 SF with gym and suspended track. Estima[ed 70 parking spaces (95 peak) are needed to acmmmodate activity at this size facility. Es[imated cost [o build: "$27 million with gym and track;$22 million without gym and track. 1. Fiorente asked M. Coltman as ReCalc representative to speak about the project. M. Coltman thought the gym would be a BIG plus for the senior community. The facility would get constant use in varying func[ions. J. Fiorente offered that events could be run simWtaneously. A facility used by mul[i- generations Suggestion that perhaps it could host rown general elections,allowing school facilities to be free af the election functian. The cos[to build is similar at all Ihree bcations. L Fiorente spoke of large capital projects mming off the town ledger: RMHS, Library, Killam School. Discussion of who would manage the new facility: 1. Fiorente said that determination would be made by stakeholders with town. Probably recreation and muncil on aging parmership. J. Sullivan has eaperience working in this scenario during his time at Marblehead Recreation Department Please refer to the full presentation on file. Pickle6all: 1. Sullivan appointed M. Col[man as the volunteer pickleball liaison. Duties indude keeping the Recreation Committee updated as to PB activi[ies in [own. In addition, M. Coltman will assist 1. Sullivan in handling all the complaints coming to the Recreation office about PB activity in town. M. Coltman repor[s[hat it has been a good spring with little mmplaint. He will be drafting a set of PB rules for recommended court behavior. The Reading Pickleball Players Association (RPBPA) hos[ed their 2ntl annual fundraiser April 7, 2024, at the RMHS fieldhouse. All Selectboard members were present. Approximately $5,000 was raised. M. Coltman plans to run an open play night every Friday nigh[ at Memorial Park specifically for new players. This will allow new players of all levels ro find players of like ability. Reportedly, [he courts are booked most mornings and akemoons. There is Face600k page for Reading PB players. This is a social and IPa9e I 2 � � � Town of Reading o� �, � r Meeting Minutes MCOP��n scheduling site NOT a fundraising si[e. The RPBPA is the fundraising arm. To date, [he organization has raised approximately$115,000. �. Town Hikin2 Pa[h: 8. Ream discussed the new hiking path from Matera Ca6in on north Main Street to Haverhill Street. 1. Suliivan would like to publidy acknowledge the work and efforts of the Reading Boy Smuts for their work on Ihis. ProRram Coordinator Report: E.Shambo presented some programs for upmming spring break: • Science Clinics • SportsClinics • Ninja WarriorCamp Summer Programs went live March 8`". High school maches clinics will mntinue [o be offered this summer with cross muntry and foo[ball as new additions. SNL and Sportmne programs are again offered. E. Shambo and 1. Sullivan oversaw the interviews of 45 munselor candidates. 11 of those were hired. Great experience for all who were interviewed. 25 munselors re-applied for the job. All ou[side entertainment for summer camps has been booked. Recreation Supervisor Aeport: 1. Sullivan introduced Reading resident Nelson Lau as a tennis facility advocate. Nelson is working with 1. Sullivan and J. Fiorente to write grants to the USTA as regards funding for comt repair to [he Birch Meadow Tennis facility. The courts, opened in 2009, have received minimal maintenance and no repair since inception. Cracks and diwts are readily apparent Nelson has a 7'h grade daugh[er who would like to play tennis for RMHS. Nelson reports that the courts "are packed" in the summer and they absorb lots of wear and tear as a resWt. Several 6ids for repair from reputable tennis facility companies have been received. In general, the repair/paint func[ion would cos[ approuimately$500,000 for the six courts. There is a USTA grant that would cover 15%of that cost. 1. Sullivan jus[ comple[ed the procurement process for all vendors earning more than $10,000 from Reading Recreation. The Little League field at Barrows School just received a re-sod of the infield, done by the town DPW and Water Department. J. Sullivan presen[ed photos of the job. Well done and thank you to Ihe town staff for all their efforts. A new field! J. Sullivan reported abou[ [he trip ro the Boston Celtics basketball game recently attended by a group with special needs and buddies. This was a colla6orative effort with Reading Recreation, The Burbank YMCA, and the Reading School Department. The group travelled into Boston Garden on Ihe mmmuter rail. Fun was had by all. Adjournment 8:14 PM. Motion R. Hand/C. Robinson 7-0-0. vage I 3