Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-01-10 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 January 10, 2007 Conference Room -Town Hall Attendance: Chris Campbell, Rec. Committee Member, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rec. Committee Member, Mary Ann Kozlowski, School Committee Rep, John Downing, Rec. Committee Chairmen Mike DiPietro, Associate Member, Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member Nancy Swain, Rec. Committee Member, Bernie Winne, Rec. Committee Member, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator J.Downing called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM and asked the committee to review the minutes of December 13th. M. Stolecki recommended striking the last sentence of the second paragraph under the topic of Itty Bitty baseball. M. Stolecki made a motion to accept the minutes of December \ N. Swain: Second Motion passes in favor of acceptance of the minutes by a vote of 6-0-0. C. Campbell entered the meeting at 7:07 PM. Wood End Update for Wood End School field area was given by Nancy Swain. There had been discussion whether or not the grass area at Wood End was supposed to be a field or a lawn. N. Swain sent an email to Superintendent Pat Schettini and he sent it on to the contractor who said that at the time the field was turned over two years ago they did find a variety of foreign debris on the surface of the field. Much of the field there was preexisting. It had appeared to be that dumping of debris had been occurring there for many years. No new material had been brought onto the sight so all the material existed on sight. The construction contract did not require the contractor to move all the existing material, only to grate and spread the existing material. In the spirit of cooperation the contractor did re-rake the entire field area for debris two years ago and reported that the debris was inherent in the existing material and we would continue to see it over time. The field was designed as lawn area. The school department added irrigation to the field in order to assist in the recreational use but if the field is to provide additional recreational use it will need ongoing maintenance including seed, fertilizer, and raking for debris. The bottom line is the contractor did meet the contractual obligations in the area however, P. Schettini did understand there is significant interest in using this field and it may warrant additional maintenance. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES CON'T 1/10 Unfortunately this work will have to be funded and completed outside of the original construction costs. Birch Meadow The Town Manager has asked the Recreation Committee to select a subcommittee to develop a master plan for the Birch Meadow area, and give a report before town meeting in April. They are looking for some alternatives for the Imagination Station site. They would like to incorporate the Higgins property. A subcommittee would report back to Recreation Committee and then go to Town Meeting in April with their report. They also want us to discover other development opportunities. They want a master plan for the April 23rd Town Meeting. The Recreation Committee had concern that the amount of time allocated to complete this task was too short of a time period. They also had concerns with doing a complete master plan and the Board of Selectmen making an independent decision in the end. F. Driscoll: Motion to send the Recreation Administrator back to Town Manager requesting more time to come up with a proper perspective report as well as the Recreation Committee request more descriptive guidelines for a master plan. N. Swain: Second the motion. Motion passes in favor of sending the Recreation Administrator back to Town Manager requesting more time to come up with a proper perspective report as well as the Recreation Committee request more descriptive guidelines for a master plan by a vote of 7-0-0. Tennis Courts on Bancroft Ave. Update given by J.Feudo: The FORR Tennis Task Force had asked that the Recreation Committee accept an article for the warrant at the April Town Meeting. The Article is requesting Town Meeting to allocate about $300,000 in debt services to for the construction of six new tennis courts on Bancroft Ave. with the premise that the money will be paid back between the capital plan, grants they obtain, and private funding. The grants they seek are requesting to see a monetary commitment from the town before awarding anything. Motion N. Swain: To see what sum the town will vote to appropriate from the tax levy or by borrowing in anticipation of reimbursement from grant receipts and private funding for the reconstruction of six tennis courts on Bancroft Avenue. Second by B. Winn Motion passes in favor of submitting the article for the April Town Meeting warrant by a vote of 7- 0-0. Administrator's Report J. Feudo mentioned that the Imagination Station demolition will happen soon and we are waiting to here back from a contractor that will remove the wood because it is considered hazardous waste. We estimate the demolition and removal will cost between 12k and 15k. E J. Feudo mentioned that now that the field house is back on-line, it has created somewhat of a jockeying for position amongst some of the contractors for the summer programs. J. Feudo felt it READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES CON'T 1/10 might be appropriate for the Recreation Committee to develop a policy on seniority of time and space. This is a new issue as programs were typically the same week year in and year out. However, when the High School went under construction, the whole summer schedule had to be redesigned. F. Driscoll made a motion that would allow the Recreation Division to look at seniority as the first criteria and then financial output (based on one week) as second criteria. However, the committee will allow the Rec. Administrator to use their best judgment to make decisions based on the greatest benefit for the kids. J.Downing: Seconded the motion Motion passes in favor of allowing the Recreation Division to look at seniority as the first criteria and then financial output (based on one week) as second criteria. However, the committee will allow the Rec. Administrator to use their best judgment to make decisions based on the greatest benefit for the kids by a vote of 7-0-0. Motion F. Driscoll: Reducing field fees back to $10.00 per game. C. Campbell: Seconded the motion. Motion failed to carry by a vote of 1-6-0. ADHOC Committee CPA - Creation, Preservation and Acquisition of open space. Update given by Mary Ellen Stolecki. M. Stolecki: On March 1St 2007 at the senior center we are having meeting with administrators of Recreation, Conservation and Historic to outline any of their _needs and identify how the CPA would directly impact them. Reading Coalition against Substance Abuse N. Swain mentioned that the next board meeting is in late January. They have a consultant coming in to help the ward and non profit begin to shape itself. The Reading Public Schools is offering a Community Guide to Wellness. Its purpose is to educate on different types of drugs as a resource for parents. B.Winne: Motion to adjourn meeting. N. Swain: Seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of adjournment by a vote of 7-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:51 PM.