HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-11 Recreation Committee MinutesTown of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2685
FAX: (781) 942 - 5441
RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
April 11th , 2007 Community Room -Town Hall Conference Room
Attendance: John Downing, Rec. Committee Chair, Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member, Mary
Ann Kozlowski, School Committee Rep., Nancy Swain, Rec. Committee Member, Kate Kaminer,
Rec. Committee Member, Beth Claroni, Associate Member, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rec. Committee
Member, Mike DiPietro, Associate Member, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator
J.Downin called the meeting to order at 7:06 PM and asked the committee to review the minutes of
March 14t , 2007
M.Stolecki: Motion to accept minutes for the meeting of March 14tt'.
N.Swain: Second
Passes: 6-0-0
Field Permit Procedure
The current standing on field permitting is that Reading based organizations have to have 50% of
-their participants-be Reading resi-dents. -It has been- asked of the Recreation Committee to review - the current policy for field permitting for residents and non residents and deem if any changes or
amendments are necessary. As it stands right now, there are some organizations with their overall
league consisting of 50% Reading residents but have less than 50% on a particular team. Some
policy change suggestions have been to surcharge non Reading residents or prioritize field space
accordingly. The goal is to have a sub-group of Recreation Committee members come together for
further discussion and review of the whole field permitting process.
Nancy-Linn Swain and Frank Driscoll volunteered to assist the Recreation Administrator in this
process. J. Feudo stated he would also get in touch with the members that were missing from the
meeting to see if there was a third committee member interested in this sub-committee.
Administrator's Report
The Recreation website will be moving to a Virtual Town Hall website. The website will include a
list of the Recreation Committee Members names and if committee members choose to they may
have their E-mail addresses included. It is also in the works to have Web Trac installed within the
year to allow for online registrations of programs.
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES CON'T 4/11/07
The. Memorial Park Project is in the process of being developed. There will be a meeting with the
abutters in May to get their input and suggestions. Parking areas are being determined and also
there are works to reshape the two detentions centers. There will also be an effort to make a
measurable walking path in the park.
The Turf Field funding is in development for the Parker. It has been determined that the Parker is
the best option for the new turf field it allows for the most square footage out of all the other options
available (Coolidge). The intent is to have someone for the Parker School on the development
committee. The goal is to break ground by this coming June. The Town Meeting Warrant will call
for $350,000 of Capital funding to be committed to the project. The State has committed $200,000
and the local youth organizations have committed a minimum of $75,000.
There is an Associate member's position open on the Recreation Committee.
Friends of Reading Tennis
Update Given by K. Kaminer. The project was expected to go to Town Meeting for approval. Fund
raising is going very well with the amount of $40K already raised privately. The group will be
applying for an Urban Self Help grant and a grant offered by the USTA. Kate and Lorraine Salter
have been attending "house parties" every Thursday night to get the word out about the project.
Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse
Update given by N. Swain. The group would be meeting again in April. They are currently
working with a consultant Peg Sallade. Peg has experience with Substance abuse coalitions
working most recently with Waltham.
AquaticAdvisory
Update given by J. Downing. J.Downing offered his seat on the advisory committee if someone
else is interested. If not he would continue as the Rec. Committee Rep. The Aquatic Advisory
board meets the 4th Monday of every month at the YMCA.
C. P. A.
Update given by M. Stolecki. The Community Preservation Act committee is will be looking for
project that would be appropriate for support. Projects such as the Northern Area Greenway group
would be a great fit for CPA money. Another project would be possibly reseeding Wood End field.
F. Driscoll made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
N. Swain: Second
Passes: 6-0
Meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.
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