HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-06-17 Recreation Committee Minutes - Draft ,�wv `"F+o RECEIVED
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�3 .�^= . Meeting Minutes
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Board - Committee - Commission - Council:
Recreation Committee
Date: 2024-06-ll Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell S[ree[ Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Mon[hly Meeting Version: Drak
Attendees: Members - Present:
Eric Gaffen (M), Peter Lydecker (M), Bob Weiden (M), Michael Coltman (M),
Chuck Robinson (M), Richard Hand (M), Angela einda (M), Ka[e Kaminer
(M), Kevin Leete (A)
Members - Not Present:
Meli55a PucCi (M), Ben Ream (M), EriC Boemer (A)
Others Present:
]im Sullivan - Recrea[ion Administrator
Edward Shambo - Recreation Coordinator
Carlo Bacci - Select eoard �
Peter Coumounduros - Readinq United Soccer
Eileen Manning - Riverside Drive, Reading Pickleball Players Association
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: ]im Sullivan, Recrea[ion Administra[or
7opics of Discussion:
Call to Order:
Eric Gaffen calls the meeting to order at 631PM in the eerger Room,Town Hall, Reading, MA.
E.Gaffen does roll call(see above)
A¢enda Item:Aoproval of Minutes:
Rich Hand makes motion to accept minutes as presented. P. Lydecker semnds[he motion.
Vote: All in favor, minutes approved, passes 8-0
Public Comment:
Eileen Manning, Riverside Drive RPPA Board Member thanked mmmittee for having pickleball on
agenda E Manning mentions Ihat RPPA has raised $120,00� to date, states they have pledges up to
$30,000 pending choosing a site for pickleball courts. States that when a site is chosen she is confident
they will 6e a61e to raise more funding. She then asks for guidance from the Recrea[ion Committee on
how to move forward.
A¢enda Item:Temoorary Li¢htin¢Reauest.Coolid¢e Middle School Field.RUSC ISoccer)
va9e I �
Peter Coumounduros representing Reading United Socrer Club. P. Coumounduros thanks the Recreation
Committee for their support this past spring in approving previous light request He requests lighting for
Fall socrer season,with the similar set up/equipment.
E. Gaffen asks if abutters were notified. J.Sullivan confirms that letters were sent out to a6utters and he
states he did not rereive any pushback or phone calls from[he reques[.
Chuck Robinson makes motion m approve light request,Angela Binda seconds the motion.
Vote:All in famr, request passes 8-0
1. Sullivan and Recreation Committee thank Peter Coumounduros for his work with the Friends of
Reading Recreation firework show as it drew a very large crowd and it was an overwhelming success.
Azenda Item: Si¢naze at Bancroft Ave Communitv Tennis Court. Update evistin¢ si¢nace as it has
become worn and include new sienaze with hours/location of new bathroom fa<ilities and include a
"COURTS FOR TENNIS USE ONLV"si¢n at Bancroh Ave.
J. Sullivan states that the signage at Ihe Bantroft Ave. Tennis Courts has become old/weathered and he
would like to update them. He also mentions that the tennis community recommend new signage that
should indude"Tennis Use Only".J Sullivan wants to indude new "way finding"signage for bathrooms at
the Tennis courts and also indude signs that have hours of use. Recommends ge[ting signage for new
batting cages at Symonds way that will replicate the ezisting signage at Morton Pield.
A¢enda Item: Do¢s/Animals on Athletic Fields
1. Sullivan s[ates he has received a num6er of calls fmm residents/youth organizations ahout dogs being
off leash on playing fields. 1 Sullivan spoke with layne Wellman, Assistant Town Manager and Matt
Kraunelis, Town Manager to get some guidance. They recommended that we hold the public to the
current leash law to help prohibit anyone from using endosed areas to let dogs roam freely off leash. 1.
Sullivan mentions that the Cemetery Board created a bi-law prohibiting dogs from entering any cemetery
grounds and there is a possi6ility that Recreation muld piggy back on that 6i-law in the future to indude
athletic playing fields. 1. Sullivan also states he made the eoard of Health aware of the current issues on
the field. 1. Sullivan then brought up the point of who wili be in charge of enforcing the leash law on
playing fields and mentions he would prefer it not be the Re�reation Division orany of its staff
E. Gaffen asks if we are discussing school fields/turf. 1. Sullivan states dogs are not permitted on any Turf
Field. A. Binda 6elieves we should only look to enforre the leash law. She made mention of when Parker
grass field was ronverted into Turf and the public was upset that we were taking grass away from those
who had previously walked their dogs on Parker.
K. Leete also agrees that we push the leash law and believes it will be very tricky to enforce keeping dogs
off fields especially at Birch Meadow,Washington Park or anyfields that are open spaces.
R. Hand states the importance of being consistent, and also believes the leash law would be the best
route moving forward.
K. Kaminer mencions in the past the Recreation Committee asked the animal control officer to be a bit
more vigilant at fields Ihat are frequently abusing the leash law. K. Kaminer also agrees that the
Recreation Division should not be enforcing the leash law.
1. Sullivan followed up that he had spoken with the fteading Police Department and they have a
mntractor who deals with specific animal calls Ihat very rarely indude dogs off leash.
P2g¢ I 1
Azenda Item: Pickleball Court uodates from Michael Coltman on discussion & meetin¢ with Burbank
Ice Authoritv in re¢ards ro the ootential location of rourts in the hack-oarkin¢lot area.
M. Coltman informs the Re�reatian Committee of a mnversation that Carl McFadden had with his wife
ludy Coltman. M. Coltman reported that C. MCFadden had some roncems that the Ice Authority would
not approve lights on pickleball courts if it was located near the Ice Arena. M. Coltman asked C.
MCFadden if they would 6e open to lights if Ihe courts where located in the back of the Ice Arena doser
to the rifle range. C. McFadden remmmended setting up a meeting to discuss. Cad Mc Fadden met wi[h
lim Sullivan,ludy Coltman, Michael Coltman, Peter Lydecker, Mary Ann Devlin and Ed Paduto(Ice Arena).
Carl and Ed stated they would be open m this location and further discussions. It was recommended
that the Select Board speak with the Burbank Ice Authoriry to keep the mnversation movingforward and
to find out what needs to be done with the current lease agreement with the Ice Authority and Town.
M. Coltman reminds everyone that Pickle6all was high up on the SWEC commi[tee data.
E. Gaffen agrees that it's important to have an open dialogue with the Burbank Ice Authority. E Gaffen
states that he has spoken with C. McFadden and agrees that Symonds way is the best location for
picklebalL E. Gaffen believes the Select eoard needs m reach out m the Bur6ank Ice Authority and have
conversations wi[h them ro discuss any obstades/concems that they might hava E Gaffen ends hy
s[ating he fully supports pickleball courts at Symonds Way as long as it will not impac[ any future
prqects that SW EC or RCAL might have for potential land use at Symonds Way.
C. Bami states the Vermanent Building Committee & RCAL is looking at the three potential sites,
Pleasant St., Oakland Rd,and Symonds Way. He states they will be making their recommendation m the
Selec[ Board in the very near future. C Bacci states if Symonds Way is chosen Ihe Select Board will re-
engage with Edge Sports to see if they are still interested in possibly incorporating a Center for Active
Living in their plans based on recommended location/size.
C Rohinson asks if the wurts are being proposed as temporary or has it changed to permanent. M.
Coltman follows up with stating he wants to put them in a bcation that has heen pre-determined
permanent publi� pickleball rourts. He states that the only location that pickleball murts would he a61e
to go would be Symonds, not Oakland Road or Pleasant Street due to space constaints.
1. Sullivan asked Carlo Bacci if Edge needed the entire space of the parking lot to maximize their potential
earnings, and whether it was all or nothing. Cado Bacci states when a site is sele[ted they will go back to
Edge to see if they still have potential interest in a public/private partnership based off land.
E. Gaffen asks how long it will take until we get to the point where we are asking Edge if [hey are
interested.
C. eac�i s[ates it's in the hand of PBC(Permanent Building Committee), he said there is still a process lek
in derermining if the land is clean, that would include a few phases. C. Bacci stares he would hope that
there would be mnversations with the Edge Sports group by the end of this year.
A. Binda states there are many unknowns at this point for the Recreation Committee to make a
recommendation in full support of having the Select Boa�d open up talks with the eurbank Ice Authority.
She states the land muld be used as Community Center or it muld be a Senior Center She agrees that
Symonds Way is the 6est place for pickleball murts however she believes there are too many balls up in
[he air at this point She stares that iYs not just finding out where pickleball murts will gq iYs finding
where parking will be based off[he location of the potential building. She also states that Carl MCFadden
has made it dear that if rourts are huilt in the parking lot, then parking would have to he made up
elsewhere. A. Binda states the Select Board has every right to take this up on their own without support
from the Recreation Committee. She also states that SWEC did not recommend having Edge come back
into the comeaation again.
vage � 3
C Robinson asks M. Coltman if we can call it temporary to berome permanent.
M. Coltman states that speaking about temporary courts has caused the issues and has gotten them
down a rahbit hole for the past yeac C Ro6lnson says we're even further down a rab6it hole now and it
could 6e potentially years out M. Coltman speak of the uses of the mrrent Symonds Way area,
mentioning soccer fields, baseball fields, batting cages and refers to it as a "masrer plan". He then states
the Ice Authority is willing to speak about other uses of Ihe leased land as long as parking can be made
up. He mentions the Zanni Land is 3 acres of flat land that has the potential to be used for a number of
things. M. Coltman 6elieves where RCAL has the proposed building on the Zanni land makes the most
sense.
K. Kaminer states that temporary would mean long-term in Ihe municipal world. She says that the
pickleball community has been very active and motivated with raising a good amount of funds to this
point. She states she supports what A. einda says Ihat the Recreation Committee should not have to
push this to the Select Board. She states that if the courts can he 6uilt on the 6ack end, they could have
the potential of being replaced at another location at another point in time.
e. Weiden states iYs worth the gamble to try and get murts at the back lot of the ice arena.
M. Coltman follows up with asking how does RPPA go forward at this current point in time.
C Robinson states that RPPA needs to figure out what "[emporary" refers to.
P. Lyde<ker states the finance committee shot it down before because it was called temporary.
E Gaffen states that no board is "all powerful" and states that the Select eoard is on the road to opening
up these conversations.
C. eacci states that they will put the Burbank Ice Arena/Lease diswssion on an upcoming agenda ro open
up mnversations about potential of murts going on the leased land.
R. Hand states that the eurbank Ire Authoriry has to agree to have mmersations prior m the Recreation
Com mit[ee taking a vote.
K. Leete asks C. Bacci if he wi�l be making a liaison report 6ack m the Select Board in regards to the Ice
Authoriry and opening comersations about the lease and pickleball murts.
G Bacci confirms he will.
A. Binda asks what was the point of SWEC making recommendations to the Select Board. She states they
spent a year and a half ezamining the land and we are hack at the beginning.
C. Bacci states Ihe Ice AuthoriTy has always held the cards to the land that they currenHy lease.
Amending the lease has to be agreeable with both parties.
K. Kaminer asks, if you are a member of the Selec[eoard and this mnversation starts, a naturel ask from
[he Select Board wauld be "What does Ihe Recreation Committee think?"
E. Gaffen states that he can see the Recreation Committee give the ok to go forward in the spirit of the
committee however he does not want to go to a vote or recommendation without knowing exactly
where the murts would be. He states we need to rest the 2anni land to see what is buildable first.
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A. Binda states having a more definitive answer of what rould go on that land is important.
M. Coltman follows up that picklehall came up high on the list of what should go on that land through
SWK and RCAL. And mentions that pickleball due to the size would be a great fit on that land.
P. Lydecker asks if there was potential of getting bathrooms at Memorial Park in the iuture. E. Gaffen
azks that this ronversation be had off-line with 1. Sullivan
,S¢enda Item: Uodate and ootential discussion on Ad Ho<Communitv Preservation A<t Studv
E. Gaffen gives update on Ad Hoc Community Preservation Act Study group. States CPA is a surcharge on
your property tax that ranges from 1%to 3%that the Town muld potentially get a match from the state
that could be put towards, preservatiory housing and recreation. Matching retes could be up m 100%
but can also go lower,typically it's been 22%on average over the past 5 years. E Gaffen asks,the
Recreation Committee what wuld be some potential projects we could have or could use these funds
for in the future and what the opportunity loss we could have if we didn't have funds.
A.Binda asks what is the make-up of the people who allocate the money.
E.Gaffen says the Ad Hoc committee would make rewmmendations that would be passed on to
another potential mmmittee.
R. Hand states he believes that something such as lights, would be a good use of CPA funds.
1.Sullivan states it could be used forturf replacement and resurfacing rourts.
A. Binda states that pushing the CPA right now with the Killam School Project and Senior/Active Living
center would be a very big ask.
C Robinson then asks the question,what didn't we get to do because we didn't have a CPA and reply's
nothing.
E. Gaffen states we could have had more turf fields or more lights and the CPA would have a direct
impact now with savings on large projects.
E Gaffen states that iYs important to get the ask of the CPA percentage as dose fo right[he first time
when it goes m mwn meeting. Discussion of when this would be voted on or presented ensues.
C. Batti talks about the town's free cash going down and budgets going up and that the CPA would help
free u p money to be allocated for other prqects.
A¢enda Item:Pro¢rem Coordina[or/Recrea[ion Administra[or Reoort
E Shambo states summer programming just kicked off this week with the High School Football Clinic.
Summer Daycation Orientation scheduled for Tuesday. He [hen states that the summer program really
kicks into high gear next week.
1. Sullivan states that the Recreation Division's income has increased and has already exceeded last
year's numben and attributes it to E.Shambo and the new programming he has developed.
1. Sullivan Reports Batting Cages have been completed at Symonds Way and repairs on the Birch
Meadow Batting cages are done.
The Reading Youth Baseball/Challenger game was a very big success.
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1. Sullivan states he attended the Friends of Reading Recreation Fireworks at Birch Meadow and it was
huge success with an estimated S00 residents in attendance. He made mention that DPW did a great joh
post event deaning upthe eirch Meadow Area, induding using the field sweeper to dean the debris that
was left behind fmm fireworks.
R. Hand makes a motion to adjourn at 8:O1PM, B. Weiden sewnds.
Vote:All in favor 8-0, meeting adjourned 8:O1PM.
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