Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-01-12 Recreation Committee MinutesTown of Reading ; VE U J 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 018672685 L 5 Lv U,~ UL FAX: (781) 942 - 5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075 READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES January 12, 2005 at Town Hall Conference Room Attendance: Patrick Fennelly, Rec.Committee Chair, Nancy -Linn Swain Rec. Committee Vice- Chair, Bernie Winne, Rec. Committee Memeber, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rec. Committee Member, Rick Shaffer, Rec. Committee Member, Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member, Chris Campbell, Associate Member, Mary Ann Kozlowski, School Rep., Kate Kaminer, Associate Member, Gail Wood, Board of Selectmen, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator. Guests: Michael Smith, Robert Blaney, Christopher Smith and Patrick Enright The meeting was called to order at. 7:3 5 PM. The Committee was asked to review the minutes from the December 8th meeting. N. Swain made a motion to accept the minutes from the December 8th Recreation Committee meeting. B. Winne seconded the motion. The motion passed in favor of acceptance of the minutes 5-0-0. Mary Ellen Stolecki entered the meeting at 7:37 PM. J. Feudo handed out the minutes from the January 4th public hearing held by the Board of Selectmen regarding Memorial Park. N. Swain made a motion to accept -the minutes from the January 4th Recreation Committee Meeting. R. Shaffer seconded the motion. The motion passed in favor of acceptance of the January 4th meeting minutes 6-0-0. J. Feudo introduced Michael Smith, Robert Blaney and Christopher Smith. The group presented a proposal to run a new program called Leadership Camp 101. Michael stated the program was born out of a leadership program that he and Robert took as part of a Master's degree program. Michael spoke about the credentials and background of his staff. He stated the main concept of the program is to develop leaders by defining what is important to them. The program is an 8-day curriculum developed to help kids understand themselves through self-searching activities. Some of the activities include diversity, public speaking and active communication. Kate Kaminer entered the meeting at 7:45 PM. Robert Blaney explained the "Frank Case's Orange Exercise" as sample exercise of diversity. ' Frank Driscoll entered the meeting at 7:50 PM. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 1/12/05 CON'T Michael Smith noted at the end of the program kids will have an opportunity to make a presentation of what they learned during the 8-days. B. Winne inquired to whether the group had run this program elsewhere. The group stated that Reading would be the first time running a camp, but has been teaching these concepts within their profession. J. Feudo asked the group to discuss the guest speakers they planned on including in their program. They stated they would be bringing in college professors from UMass Boston and Harvard. Mr. Smith stated he would also bring some high school kids from East Boston with leadership skills as examples. M. Kozlowski asked if the program would be open in other communities. The group stated that it was planned for Reading only. P. Fennelly thanked the three gentlemen for coming to the meeting and stated that the Recreation Administrator would be in touch with feedback from the Committee. The group exited the meeting. M. Stolecki stated she felt the price was a bit high for a pilot program. B. Winne stated he also felt the price was too high. He stated he was not opposed to trying it, but felt it might be better geared toward High School age kids. R. Shaffer recommended that the program be geared to kids entering the 7- 10th grade. M. Stolecki mentioned that there did not seem to be any indication of a female on staff and some Committee members felt that the program may attract more girls than boys. The committee asked J. Feudo to recommend the following modifications: - A lower price - since it is a pilot program. - A change in grade level for participants - A liaison of a female staff member - Check references J. Feudo stated he would report back his findings. Metro Rock Patrick Enright of Metro Rock Boston was introduced to the Committee. Patrick owns a rock climbing facility in Everett, MA, and was looking to offer a bus trip to the Reading Recreation Division. Mr. Enright gave a brief overview of his program. F. Driscoll asked about staff certifications. Mr. Enright stated he personally trains all of his staff and makes sure they are properly educated in climbing safety. Patrick also stated that he would be willing to train any volunteers that would like to participate as supervisors. Patrick described some of the technical aspects of climbing. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 1/12/05 CON'T J. Feudo stated that if the Recreation Division were to offer such a program the child to adult ratio would need to be no higher than 8:1, similar to the learn to ski program. The Recreation Committee stated the program seemed to be a good idea and asked J. Feudo to visit the facility. If the facility checks out to move forward with booking an elementary and middle school rock climbing day during February Vacation. P. Fennelly thanked Patrick Enright for coming to present and stated the Recreation Administrator would be in touch with him. P. Fennelly asked the committee how they felt about having the Programming Sub-Committee review presentations first and then make a recommendation to the Recreation Committee. Some member's felt it was a good idea, others felt it was redundant to do so. R. Shaffer stated he thought it would be a good idea to have a uniform document developed that could be mailed with the minutes packet. The committee decided to have the programming sub-committee work with the Recreation Administrator to develop such a document to present to the Recreation committee in February. P. Fennelly thanked those that were able to attend the Public Hearing on Memorial Park on January 4th. P. Fennelly asked the committee about adding a secretary position to the Committee and have that person be responsible each month to take notes in proposal form. This idea stems from the Morton Park Fence process in which the proposal that carne to the Recreation Committee was not the same as the proposal that was presented to the Board of Selectmen. Frank Driscoll recommended that the Rec. Division record future Recreation Committee meetings on tape as an official record. B. Winne agreed and felt that a record of the minutes is a good standard business practice. R. Shaffer also felt that the taped meetings would be a good idea. F. Driscoll made a motion to authorize the Recreation Administrator to purchase a tape recorder and be the custodian of the taped records. R. Shaffer seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of authorizing the Recreation Administrator to purchase a tape recorder and be the custodian of the taped records by a vote of 6-1-0. N. Swain suggested presenting a separate report to the Board of Selectmen instead of the minutes. The report would be in bullet format. N. Swain made a motion to develop a simplified report format for when there is a recommendation from the Recreation Committee to include: Who approached the Recreation Committee; What they proposed; What was approved in detail; Issues the Committee had; Who else should review it; Include copy of the plans that were proposed; R. Shaffer seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of the development of the formatted report 7-0-0. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 1/12/05 CON'T N. Swain spoke to the Recreation Committee about putting together a 5-year plan. Through her experience over the past year and a half, she has felt that the Division seems to live month to month. The 5-year plan could include plans for programming, parks, financially, playgrounds as examples. The idea of a retreat was mentioned. J. Feudo stated that he knows of some very good facilitators and would try to see if they were available. J. Feudo would also look in to the open meeting laws surrounding a retreat and was pretty sure it needed to be within the boundaries of Reading. R. Shaffer asked the Committee if they had any feedback on how youth sports teams are picked. Several Committee members felt that the topic did not involve the Recreation Committee. The topic was briefly discussed. F. Driscoll asked about the 2005 field fees. He stated that the $10 per capita was to be a one-year plan and it was to be looked at again in 2005. He stated that he felt the hike last year was unfair and should be looked at again this year. N. Swain stated that the finance sub-committee had been working hard on piecing the budget together and that the Recreation Division is still losing money. B. Winne made a motion to keep the Spring, Summer and Fall 2005 field fees for Reading Sports Organizations at $10 per capita. N. Swain seconded the motion. The motion passed in favor of keeping the Spring, Summer and Fall 2005 field fees for Reading Sports Organizations at $10 per capita per season 5-1-1. Frank Driscoll wanted to the record to note that he was not in favor of the motion. N. Swain updated the Recreation Committee on the Sub-Finance Committee's work. Administrators Report J. Feudo stated that the Recreation Division would now offer discount IMAX Tickets to the Jordan's in Reading and Natick. The Division will offer two types of tickets -full feature length films for $10.00 and 1 Hr IMAX features for $6.50. This is a nice savings to purchasing them at the Theater for 12.50 and $8.50 J. Feudo gave an update of the Winter and Spring programs. He mentioned that the baseball clinics have over 200 kids already. Kids Crafts hosted almost a dozen participants and both golf clinics at Big Sticks Golf academy did well, almost filling up. J. Feudo also mentioned that the basketball numbers were as strong as they have been for Sunday Basketball- approaching 280 kids. J. Feudo updated the Committee on field scheduling for the Spring season. He stated he was told the 1St turf field would be available in early April. Wood End would not be available until September and Addison Wesley would again be leased through the Fall. J. Feudo stated his concerns with Barrows Elementary School, which has been torn up for construction. The Tennis Court field and Street Softball field as cause reason for concern as both will be effected due to construction. J. Feudo stated he would be meeting with the Athletic Director and Superintendent of Schools over the next week and would be discussing his concerns. J. Feudo mentioned that he has set the dates for the April, May and June Rec. Committee meetings- they will be: Tuesday, April 12- Thursday, May 12- Thursday, June 9. READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 1/12/05 CON'T Finally, J. Feudo handed out the proposed camp rates for 2005. Regular Camp- $1151$105 Regular Camp 4-Day $100 Before Camp $50 After Camp $75 CIT/JR CIT $95 Jr Camp $80/$75 7 week Reg Camp $650 7 week Jr Camp $460 B. Winne made a motion to accept the 2005 camp rates as proposed by the finance committee. F. Driscoll seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of the proposed rates by a vote of 7-0-0. F. Driscoll made a motion to move the Recreation Committee meetings to 7:00 PM for future meetings. R. Shaffer seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of moving the meeting time of the Recreation Committee to 7:00 PM by a vote of 7-0-0. F. Driscoll made a motion to adjourn the meeting. M. Stolecki seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of adjourning 7-0-0. Meeting adjourned at 10:20 PM by: