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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-03-16 Recreation Committee MinutesFAX: (781) 942 - 5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075 READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES March 16, 2005 at Town Hall Conference Room Attendance: Patrick Fennelly, Rec. Committee Chair, Nancy -Linn Swain, Rec. Committee Vice- Chair, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rec. Committee Member, Steve Meehan, Rec. Committee Member, Bernie Winne, Rec. Committee Member, Kate Kaminer, Associate Member, Chris Campbell, Associate Member, Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member, Jack Downing, Rec. Committee Member, Mike DiPietro, Associate Member, Gail Wood, Board of Selectmen Liaison, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator. The meeting was called to order at 7:07 PM. The Committee was asked to review the minutes from the February 9th meeting. F. Driscoll made a motion to accept the minutes from the February 9th Recreation Committee meeting. J. Downing seconds the motion. The motion passes in favor of acceptance of the minutes 6-0-0. - K. Kaminer asked if F. Driscoll was able to be a clinic director for softball. J. Feudo stated that he was not eligible due to his membership on the Recreation Committee. However, Bill Clements has been hired to be the clinic director._ Mr. Clements brings a vast coaching background in softball and basketball. J. Feudo stated he has seen Mr. Clements work with children through the Travel Basketball program and couldn't think of a better person for the position. J. Feudo also stated that RYS would be lending the Division the necessary equipment for the program. Mary Ellen Stolecki entered the meeting at 7:15 PM. Recreation Committee Retreat In February the Recreation Committee asked J. Feudo to begin planning a retreat for the end of spring/ beginning of summer. J. Feudo stated that he was looking at June 18th as it is the last Saturday of the school year and most people have not left for vacation. The consensus of the Committee was that June 18th seemed to work well as a date for the retreat. J. Feudo stated that he has a former colleague that is willing to spend the day with the Committee to facilitate the retreat. He would be checking with her for her availability in June and will update the Committee in April. J. Feudo stated in subsequent meetings the committee would begin to outline topics that can be covered during the retreat. Topics may include programming, playground improvements, a recreational facility and five-year plan. Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street L 11 V E tD Reading, MA 01867-2685`4' GLpE~( _ rtL it ~7I'ir1 . READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 3/16 CON'T Administrator's Report J. Feudo stated that he had finished field scheduling for the spring season: As long as the turf field opens on time, the schedule should work fine. J. Feudo expects that the Wood End Elementary School field will be ready for the fall '05 season. The school department will be installing an irrigation system. J. Feudo mentioned that the Annual Recreation Egg Hunt has been postponed due to weather and wet fields. The rescheduled date will be Friday, April 15th beginning at 3:30 PM at Memorial Park. If anybody is interested in helping with the event please contact the Recreation Division. F. Driscoll stated that he would be interested in helping and possibly playing the bunny this year. Summer Camp registration day will take place on Sat., April 9th from 10 AM -12 PM at Coolidge Middle School. J. Feudo stated he is looking for several volunteers to help out with the day. An email reminder will be sent for those interested that need to check their calendars. J. Feudo stated the Imagination Station task force would need to meet to discuss the future of Imagination Station and evaluate what needs to be replaced or refurbished. P. Fennelly, F. Driscoll and J. Feudo will meet on Sat., March 19 at Imagination Station to access the current state of the facility. Bill Lavoie recently contacted the Recreation Division about taking over Summerfest. The event has become too much for Bill to handle and he would like to find a group to take over the event. There are no plans for Summerfest this summer. This would be the first summer in about 15 years with out the event. The Recreation Committee discussed the possibility of hosting a fireworks display around the 4th of July if they were able to get the event sponsored. J. Feudo stated he would speak to Bill Lavoie to evaluate cost and sponsorship possibilities and get back to the Committee. J. Feudo mentioned to the Recreation Committee that it might be necessary to install temporary mesh fencing at the tennis court field to keep young kids off the construction fencing. This will create a safer environment for the use of that field. J. Feudo gave a brief summery of the recently completed Winter/Spring programs. Spring baseball clinics were again a huge success. The Reading Baseball School hosted over 400 kids. Reading Recreation ran it's first trip to Metro Rock in Everett, MA for a rock-climbing programs. February Vacation programs were also successful with Biddy Basketball and Rocket Robotics from Sciensational Workshops. The Summer brochure is expected out by March 19th. P. Fennelly asked J. Feudo to invite Bob Keating of the Parks and Forestry Division to our April meeting to give the Committee an overview of the fields. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 3/16 CON'T Subcommittee Reports J. Downing mentioned that the aquatics advisory committee met and the YMCA had 41 % participation rate for the swimming voucher program. N. Swain mentioned to the committee that she and P. Fennelly met with Town Manager recently to discuss budgets. She stated the finance sub-committee would be meeting again soon to finish the cost accounting budget they had been working on. Once it is complete, the committee will be updated in detail. F. Driscoll made a motion to adjourn the meeting of March 16, 2005. J. Downing seconds the motion. Motion passes in favor of adjournment 7 - 0 - 0. Meeting adjourned at 8:53 PM. Respe lly submitted by: ot