HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-07-14 Recreation Committee MinutesFAX: (781) 942 - 5441
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RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
July 14th, 2004 Town Hall Conference Room
Attendance: Patrick Fennelly, Rec. Committee Chair, Nancy Linn Swain, Rec. Committee Vice-
Chair, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rec. Committee Member, Jack Downing, Rec. Committee Member,
Frank Driscoll, Rec. Committee Member, Bernie Winne, Rec. Committee, Rec. Committee
Member, Rick Shaffer, Rec. Committee Member, Mary Ann Kozlowski, School Rep. Michael
DiPietro, Associate Member, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator.
Guests: Gail Wood, Board of Selectmen
P. Fennelly called the meeting to order at 7:36 PM.
J. Downing made a motion to accept the minutes from Mayl2th, 2004. N. Swain seconded the
motion. Motion passes in favor of acceptance of the minutes 8-0-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Field Fee Procedure and Policy Update
J. Feudo stated he would like the committee toentertain a-minor changein the Field Fee policy and
procedure. Due to a loophole in the current policy, it is necessary to define what a casual user will
be and what will define a league. The issue came about when a Reading Resident requested a field
multiple times for a non-Reading based team to use. N. Swain made a motion to define a casual
users as an individual or organization not associated with a team or league that has field use for not
more than 1 day per season. M. Stolecki seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of defining a
casual users as an individual or organization not associated with a team or league that has field use
for not more than 1 day per season 8-0-0.
Setting Public Hearing Date for Bathroom Installation at Hunt Park
The Recreation Committee recommended tabling the topic of setting a public hearing date of an
installation of a bathroom at Hunt Park until the committee is able to meet with the Board of
Selectmen to delineate jurisdiction. Gail Wood spoke to the committee and shared a story.
N. Swain made a motion to table topic and support the Recreation Committee Chairmen in setting
up a meeting with the Town Manager and Board of Selectmen to clarify the roll of the Recreation
Committee. F. Driscoll seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of the motion 8-0-0.
Town of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2685
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
Old Business
Travel Basketball
J. Feudo handed out a proposal to start a program that would service the in between kids of the
current basketball program. Currently, there seems to be a need for a competitive travel program
and past program philosophies have made that difficult largely due to the fact that players are not
cut. J. Feudo stated that the oldest group of Sunday Basketball players now play Travel instead
even if they really don't belong playing Travel Basketball. The issue with Sunday Basketball is the
older kids don't like it because it is not competitive enough for them, therefore they prefer travel. J.
Feudo proposed developing a new middle school basketball program called recreation hoops. This
program would allow the division to continue to accept every player into the basketball program,
while placing players at the appropriate level.
The Committee seemed to like the proposal but wanted to see separate philosophies developed for
each program before approving it fully for the Fall 2004 program.
Administrator's Report
J. Feudo stated that he was very satisfied with the work EMARC did for the Division over the past
year. He handed out a letter to the committee from EMARC Recreation Director Nancy Desmond.
B. Winne made a motion to continue working with EMARC in a partnership with special needs
programming. J. Downing seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of working with EMARC
again in FY05 7-0-0.
J. Feudo went over summer camp numbers with the committee. He stated that the camp was doing
very well in comparison to the past two summers. He attributed the success to both a returning staff
of 90% as well as the dedication of Program Coordinator, Dan McGrath who is down there on a
daily basis trouble shooting. The Summer camp is at 84% capacity for the summer versus 62% at
this same time last year.
Other programs that have been successful include Summer Baseball, Boys and Girls basketball
Clinics, Super Sports, Kids Crafts, Tennis and Track and Field.
J. Feudo mentioned that the Ice Cream Machine in Coolidge has been selling out at camp almost
every week. The Division was looking forward to the extra revenue (20% of sales) that would be
generated for the 8 weeks of camp.
J. Feudo explained to the Recreation Committee that he was interested in starting a Imagination
Station Revitalization Committee in the Fall and was looking for volunteers. Frank Driscoll and
Patrick Fennelly volunteered to help.
The first stage of a three-stage playground installation process will begin at Hunt Memorial Park on
Aug. 28th. The group has raised enough money to have a "Big Toy" (slides, monkey bars etc.)
installed.
J. Feudo mentioned that he allowed for a special Sunday Permit to the Lou Tompkins Baseball
program to begin at 10:00 AM at Symonds way for the purpose of a Tournament.
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
B. Winne made a motion to adjourn the meeting. N. Swain seconded the motion. Motion passes in
favor of adjourning the meeting of July 14th, 2004 7-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 9:29 PM.
espect ubmitted by:
o A. udo
Recreation mistrator