HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-07-22 Recreation Committee Minutes - Draftv:N orx4
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Recreation Committee
Date: 2024-07-22 Time: 6:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street Session: Open Session
Purpose: General Monthly Meeting Version: Draft
Attendees: Members - Present:
Eric Gaffen (M), Chuck Robinson (M), Richard Hand (M), Kate Kaminer (M),
Melissa Pucci (M), Laura Noonan (A), Eric Boemer (M), Matthew George (A)
Members - Not Present:
Bob Weiden (M), Michael Coltman (M), Giuseppe Fodera (A), Kevin Leete (A)
Others Present:
Jim Sullivan -Recreation Administrator
Edward Shambo-Recreation Coordinator
Angela Blnda-Resident
Jim Murphy- Friends of Reading Basketball
Justin Bakst -Friends of Reading Basketball
Carl McFadden -Burbank Ice Arena
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Melissa Pucci, Recreation Committee Member
Topics of Discussion:
Call to Order:
Eric Gaffen calls the meeting to order at 6:31 PM in the Berger Room, Town Hall, Reading MA
E. Gallen does roll call (see above)
E. Gaffen informed the Committee of a recent open meeting law violation. He explained it's
important that committee members understand open meeting laws and when you may be at risk
of violating them. The Town Clerk reviews open meeting laws with new Committee Members
and ongoing members can reach out to the Town Clerk H additional review is needed. Specific
reminder: do not reply all to emails, however it is okay to email Committee Chair and Recreation
Administrator, but do not add other members. Recreation Director Jim will send emails to the
committee using blind copy to help mitigate any future violations.
Kate Kaminer makes motion to accept the meeting minutes as presented. Richard Hand
seconds the motion.
Discussion: Kate Kaminer requested a correction of her membership status in minutes from
associate to member. Discussion continued that the Committee Members would take turns with
being responsible for meeting minutes. Melissa asked for clarification about the challenge
baseball game that was held earlier this spring. It was explained that the Challenger League
was from a neighboring town that used the town field for a game.
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VOTE: All in favor, minutes approved, passes 6-0
Public Comment:
Angela Binds who had been a member of Recreation Committee and most recently served as
Vice Chair for the committee announced that she has resigned from the committee in protest of
over treatment of town volunteers and how they were treated during the last round of
appointments. With CPDC where a very qualified engineer was removed after 1 year and other
appointments that she felt were political and not in the best interest of those committees that
need dedicated volunteers with experience for the best interest of town. She continued that she
felt appointments were made for personal and political reasons and being a longtime volunteer,
that seems wrong. She thanked the committee and stated it had been a pleasure working with
all.
Aaenda Item: Amplified Sound Request at Sturges Park from Friends of Reading
Basketball.
Jim Murphy and Justin Bakst explained that Friends of Reading Basketball is looking to hold a
free throw contest/knockout day to generate excitement for the upcoming basketball season for
gins/boys high school basketball teams. The plan is to play music during this event which will
be held on September 14'^ from 104.
Rich Hand makes motion to accept amplified sound request for Friends of Reading Basketball.
VOTE: All in favor. Motion passes 6-0.
Apenda Item: Recreation Administration Report provided by Jim Sullivan
Bancroft Tennis Court Resurfacing: We have $100,000 in capital for playgrounds, courts and
parks. Town engineer is working on setting up contracts to go to bid within the next 2 weeks
and hopefully bids will come in within the next month or so. Will try to plan resurfacing as early
as this fall. It takes two -three weeks to complete the resurfacing.
Barrows Elementary School courts are in disrepair. Field work was completed earlier this year.
Jim has spoken to DPW and town engineer and they would like to look at this area as a whole.
Irrigation is needed, there are 2 oversized courts, but drainage is an issue. Jim would also like
to consult with school regarding updating playground so it fits their needs.
Lions Club Road Race was a success. They've run this event for several years and all went
smoothly, and they had a great turnout.
Jim is in discussion with John Feudo, Burbank YMCA to have him attend the Recreation
Committee meeting in August to give an update on ARPA funds that the Recreation Committee
oversees.
Agenda Item: Burbank Ice Arena's annual contribution to the town.
C. McFadden, Select Board rep for Burbank Ice Arena. Carl explained that Nelson Burbank
wanted ice rink to be a community asset. He was a proponent of recreational activities. His
wish/verbal agreement was that if there were ever excess proceeds from the ice arena that they
would be earmarked for recreational activities. In 2007-2008 when the town was in a financial
crisis the profits from the rink were contributed to free cash to save jobs of teachers, police, fire,
town workers. Now the town is in good financial shape so what the Ice Area Board and Burbank
family would like to see is honor Mr. Burbank's request and if there are proceeds above the
Burbank rainy day fund, that those resources be turned back over to Recreation Division.
Discussion was how to operationalize this. E. Geffen suggests that the Recreation Committee
may want to ask the Select Board to investigate the mechanisms needed to be put in place so
these resources can be allocated to recreation projects verses added to free cash.
Jim Sullivan also commented that he would like input from the Recreation Committee on where
to allocate these funds.
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C. McFadden explained that the funds could also fund programs that may lack funding to run.
E. Boemer asked who the ice area tenants are and are they going to question how excess
proceeds are used?
C. McFadden explained the tenants rent ice and don't have input on where the excess funds go.
C. McFadden explained that under the ice area lease, the ice rink controls the parking lot. The
Ice Arena has this lease for the next 18.5 years and the ice rink will not amend their lease to
allow use of the parking lot for another ice rink.
C. McFadden also reported re: pickleball is they are open to working with town organization but
if they lose X parking spots the town will have to find X parking spots.
K. Kaminer asked about clarification about Pickleball proposing courts abutting back of the
arena and the rink was not in favor of this, why?
C. McFadden explained the rink met with pickleball association and there was a discussion
about where courts could be placed and arena is willing to work with pickleball on this.
R. Hand makes a motion that Recreation Committee recommend to the Select Board to create a
mechanism for the excess proceeds from Burbank Ice Authority to be earmarked to the
Recreation Division for recreational purposes and use only.
Melissa Pucci seconds the motion.
VOTE: All in favor. Motion passes 6-0
Aaenda Item: Recreation Committee reoraanization discussion and vote.
J. Sullivan invites nominations for recreation chair. M. Pucci nominates E. Gaffen. R. Hand
seconds the nomination. J. Sullivan requests other nominations and there are none.
VOTE: All in favor. 6-0. E. Gaffen voted in as Recreation Committee Chair.
E. Gaffen opens nominations for Recreation Committee Vice Chair. E. Boemer nominates R.
Hand. K. Kaminer seconds the nomination. E. Gaffen invites any other nominations and there
are none.
VOTE: All in favor. 6-0. R. Hand voted in as Recreation Committee Vice Chair.
K. Kammer makes motion to adjourn at 8:00 PM. M. Pucci seconds.
VOTE: All in favor 6-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.
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