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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-08-12 Recreation Committee MinutesTown of Reading RECEIVED TOWN CLE'kK 16 Lowell Street REA DING. MASS. Reading, MA 01867-2685 2009 SEP 30 P 4: 31 FAX: (781) 942 - 5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075 READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES August 12, 2009 Town Hall - Employees Room Attendance: Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member, Beth Claroni, School Committee Rep., Mary Ellen Stolecki, Vice Chairmen, Nancy-Linn Swain, Rec. Committee Member, Adam Chase, Associate Member, Joe Rossetti, Associate Member, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator M. Stolecki called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. J. Feudo stated the minutes for the previous meeting will be approved in September. J. Feudo introduced Joe Rossetti as the newest addition to the Recreation Committee. Joe will serve as an Associate Member for his first term. Joe introduced himself to the committee. N. Swain entered the meeting at 7:05 PM. Field Subcommittee Recommendation: ---J eu~io-spoke-about-the proposals-agreed-upon by-the-field sub-committee-.The-following was---- - what they proposed: The Sub-Committee reviewed of Current Policy and Procedures as it relates to: • definition of Reading Resident Teams/Organizations • non-conforming teams bases on percentages • issue of Home Venue Sites/Travel Teams • field allocation notice in the Fall prior to registration for Spring • Issue for the Month of March - use of Turf for all organizations. Topic Current System Recommendation Definition of Reading Resident Reside in Reading Keep the same Teams/Organization Work in Reading Enrolled in Reading School System Organization Composition Organization must be at least Increase the percentage by 25 % 50% Reading populated to be minimum to 75% Reading given any preference and to Residents. receive resident field rates. Current Field Rates for Reading Reading Organizations are Reading Organization will be Organizations currently charged $10 (grass)/$12 charged $100/$120 per Non (turf) per Resident/Season Resident/season. Venue Teams Venues are currently allowed Keep the same The Committee considered allocation based on season; however the group felt that the leagues are all now established. Youth soccer is predominantly a spring sport as is youth Lacrosse. This makes it difficult to give priority by season based on HS sports season because the two are not directly related. Field space for the Spring time will be allocated before October in a similar fashion as in the past. Allocation of time before registration will give the organizations a better understanding of what they have for space upfront. Month of March - All organizations can apply for time on Parker Field during the month of March all requests must be in by mid-Feb (TBA). Any requests after that date will be accommodated on a first come, first serve basis. Those requests submitted before the Mid-Feb deadline will be allocated by the Recreation Administrator as equitably as possible. Through research the sub-committee found that the RUSC Spring Travel Soccer is 100% Reading players. However, Red Thunder is made up of 66% Non-Reading Residents. Micro Soccer is 97% Reading Players and RUSC has 95.4% Reading players overall. The Recreation Committee discussed the recommendations. They discussed working with peak and off peak hour rates, assigning a priority system based on Reading residents populating the program. The committee also shared a spirited debate on what defines a Reading Resident. J. Feudo stated he would try to meet with the field sub-committee before the September meeting to go over some the committee's discussion. The committee will need to come back together in September and make any necessary changes. Administrator's Report: J. Feudo went over the current numbers for the Summer Camp program. Overall the numbers were down about 12%. There was a definite increase in payment plans, perhaps by 75 The sports clinics and other programs were pretty consistent across the board in comparison to the prior year. J. Feudo spoke about the SYEP. The youth employment program hired 7 HS or Middle School students to work for the Town for a 7 week period this summer. The funds came through a grant secured by the Recreation Division and including funding for a supervisor, rental vehicle for transportation and some supplies. The staff has been completing projects such as clean-up of parks, painting, moving furniture in the schools etc. The program also features education forums each week on different elements of development such as finance, how to get a job, communication, healthy lifestyles and teamwork. The program has gone very well and has helped which tasks that would not normally even get accomplished. The Fall edition of Recreation Magazine is due out around the last Friday in August. The rededication of Collins Field at Parker Middle School will take place on September 16th after the Girls Soccer game at 3:45 PM. The Reading Community Tennis Courts are now open. The will be open M - Sunday from 8 AM - 10 PM. J. Feudo stated he is working with a neighborhood group on raising funds for the Washington Park Playground. He anticipates the playground being completed in Spring of 2010. The Reading Baseball Club was before the Board of Selectmen recently proposing a scoreboard for Morton Field. The Club will meet with the Board again on August 17t for a site walk. J. Feudo announced that Nancy-Linn Swain's term is up as RCASA representative to the Recreation Committee. F. Driscoll made a motion to Re-appoint N. Swain as the Rec. Committee representative for RCASA. M. Stolecki seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor by vote of 5- 0-1. N. Swain gave a report for RCASA. The committee is hosting it's annual meeting on October 1St Time is to be determined. The student youth PSA's are about to be released. Some are very well done. F. Driscoll made a motion to adjourn. B. Claroni seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of adjournment by vote of 6-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM.