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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-05-12 Recreation Committee MinutesTown of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2685 V - 4 A 6f FAX: (781) 942 - 5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075 READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES May 12, 2005 at Town Hall Conference Room Attendance: Patrick Fennelly, Recreation Committee Chair, Nancy-Linn Swain, Recreation Vice- Chair, Mary Ann Kozlowski, School Representive, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rec. Committee Member, Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member, Jack Downing, Rec. Committee Member, Bernie Winne, Rec. Committee Member, James Bonazoli, Board of Selectmen Liaison, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator. Guests: John Halsey, Reading Babe Ruth David Gray, Reading Youth Baseball Dennis DeBennedetto, Reading Youth Lacrosse The meeting was called to order at 7:05 PM. P. Fennelly introduced new Selectmen James Bonazoli to the Recreation Committee. The Rec. Committee introduced themselves. The Committee was asked to review the minutes from the April 12, 2005 meeting. M. Stolecki made a motion to accept the minutes from the April 12th Recreation Committee meeting. B. Winne seconded the motion. There was a note to cut and paste the same dates for paragraph 8 and 9. The motion passes in favor of acceptance of the minutes with the change noted 6-0-0 as amended. Mary Ellen Stolecki entered the meeting at 7:10 PM. RYB request for Sunday use of Hunt - tabled from April Meeting. J. Feudo introduced David Gray from Reading Youth Baseball. Mr. Gray was before the Committee to present a special permit for Sunday morning game play. Mr. Gray went over the dates he needed - June 12, June 19 and June 26. Mr. Gray explained that the reason for the request was to expand the day to try to accommodate for traffic flow. He stated June 19th was the most important date because of the new playoff system. The new playoff system has more teams making the playoffs, which adds more playing time for kids. He also needs June 26th before noon as a rain location in the event World Series games get rained out the previous day. M. Stolecki was concerned about setting a precedence by allowing all three dates. B. Winne stated June 12th and 19th should be handled together and June 26th is handled separately. F. Driscoll felt the permits needed to be decided during the meeting, so the organization can make plans. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES CON'T F. Driscoll made a motion to allow Reading Youth Baseball permits for June 12th beginning at 11:00 AM, June 19th beginning at 9:00 AM and allow the Recreation Administrator to use his discretion to work with RYB if the circumstances call for a start before 12:00 PM on June 26. J. Downing seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of allowing Reading Youth Baseball permits for June 12th beginning at 11:00 AM, June 19 beginning at 9:00 AM and allowing the Recreation Administrator to use his discretion to work with RYB if the circumstances call for a start before 12:00 PM on June 26 by a vote of 7- 0- 0. Reading Babe Ruth Request for use of Sunday Morning play at Symonds Way J. Feudo introduced John Halsey from Reading Babe Ruth. Mr. Halsey will be presenting his requests for Sunday Morning play. Mr. Halsey mentioned that Reading Babe Ruth has already had to reschedule 40 games due to inclement weather. He stated he has been able to get most games made up during their regularly permitted time, but would need assistance of a Sunday Morning at Symonds Way to finish his schedule. That game is scheduled for May 22nd. Babe Ruth is also requesting use of Sunday, May 29 at 9:00 AM as a rain date for their All-Star Weekend. Due to all the rain the league will be using Sat, May 28th, the original All-Star day to make up games. Therefore, Babe Ruth will move their All-Star games to Sunday, May 29th. B. Winne stated he rather see the group use Symonds way because it has very little impact on neighbors. The committee seemed to agree. J. Downing clarified that the games would begin no earlier than 9:00 AM. F. Driscoll made a motion to permit Reading Babe Ruth for the dates of May 22nd and May 29th to begin at 9:00 AM at Symonds Way. B. Winne seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of permitting Reading Babe Ruth for the dates of May 22nd and May 29th to begin at 9:00 AM at Symonds Way by a vote of 7 - 0- 0. J. Halsey thanked the committee and mentioned he would be back in a few months to talk about building a concession shed equipped with bathrooms at Symonds Way. Jay Jellison Annual Road Race J. Feudo presented the Jay Jellison Annual Road Race permit request. The group is looking for an early start of 8:00 AM at Coolidge Middle School for the race on July 31St. The race will actually begin at 10:OOAM. However, the set-up for the event would begin earlier. J. Feudo mentioned that this is an annual event and has not had any past problems to speak of. N. Swain made a motion to grant Lisa Jellison a permit for an early Sunday Morning start of 8:00 AM on Sunday July 31St. M. Stolecki seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of granting Lisa Jellison a permit for an early Sunday Morning start of 8:00 AM on Sunday July 31St by a vote of 7 - 0-0. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES CON'T Re-Development of Field Scheduling Sub-committee F. Driscoll spoke about re-aligning a field scheduling sub-committee. A long discussion about the topic ensued by the Recreation Committee. N. Swain recommended that the topic be tabled until the retreat on June 11th. F. Driscoll made a motion to table the topic of re-development of a field scheduling sub-committee for a later date. M. Kozlowski seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of tabling the topic of re-development of a field scheduling sub-committee for a later date by a vote of 7- 0-0. Administrator's Report J. Feudo discussed with the Recreation Committee some of the issues that have been presented to the Recreation Division in regards to use of School facilities this summer. Due to the RISE program moving into Birch Meadow for the summer, the Reading Recreation Baseball program needed to be moved. This creates a logistical nightmare for program as it was carefully planned based on the facility. J. Feudo stated he spent many hours planning the summer schedule and was frustrated that so many programs would need to be moved. Aside from Birch Meadow, Wood End Elementary School also would not be available due to the fact that there will be some moving of furniture from schools. J. Feudo has been in touch with both the Superintendent's office as well as the Town Manager to try to work out alternatives. The Recreation Committee asked J. Feudo to send them each a write up via email of the basic information about the programs that were being displaced. - Camp number for the summer are very good for the regular camp. -However, Junior Camp numbers - are still struggling a bit. J. Feudo will work with the Program Coordinator to try to come up with some creative ways to help the numbers along. J. Feudo gave an update on the synthetic turf and softball field. The softball field should be ready for May 23rd and the turf shortly there after. J. Feudo gave an update on Spring enrollment for programming. Field Hockey and Girls Spring Ball both have 25 participants. Spring tennis has become a big hit in the afternoons- we are now approaching 60 kids for the Mon./Wed./Fri. program. J. Feudo thanked Mary Ann Kozlowski for her work with the Technology Fund. Many Ann worked out a trade of services from Recreation for a place on the Reading Monopoly board. Finally, the Recreation Committee discussed the retreat. J. Feudo stated he would include in the June packets all the information needed including schedule. J. Feudo and N. Swain will be working on a presentation of field and facility status report for the retreat. F. Driscoll made a motion that the Recreation Committee not make any formal motions during the retreat and concepts of consensus be put on future regular Recreation Committee agenda. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES CON'T M. Stolecki seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of the Recreation Committee not making any formal motions during the retreat and concepts of consensus be put on future regular Recreation Committee agenda by a vote of 7 -0- 0. P. Fennelly gave an update of the Imagination Station Task Force. The group has met and will be investigating options of what to do next with the playground. B. Winne made a motion to adjourn. F. Driscoll seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of adjournment 7- 0- 0. Meeting adjourned at 9:50 PM. Respectfully50mitted by: A. F .1