HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-02-18 Recreation Committee MinutesFAX: (781) 942 - 5441
RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075
Attendance: Bernie Winne, Rec. Committee Chair, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Rec. Committee
Member, Chris Campbell, Associate Member, Jack Downing, Rec. Committee Member, Claire
Bolger, Rec. Committee Vice-Chair, Patrick Fennelly, Rec.Committee Member John Feudo,
Recreation Administrator. -
Guest: Brian Langton, Reading Babe Ruth P
Meeting Called to order at 7:40 PM.
The Committee was asked to review the minutes from the January 14th meeting.
M. Stolecki made a motion to accept the minutes from January 14th. C. Bolger seconded the
motion. There was a brief discussion in regards to the minutes. Motion passes in favor of
acceptance of the minutes 5-0-0.
First on the agenda was Brian Langton's proposal for the Babe Ruth organization. Brian stated that
originally when the Symonds way was built the league ran out of money to include the bull-
pen/batting cage and bleachers that were in the original plans. Brian stated that by putting in
bleachers this would encourage families and friends to stay for games. He proposed that the new
bleachers be constructed on a concrete padding. Brian stated that he spoke with conservation and
did not believe the concrete pad would impede on conservation land or the buffer zone. The
Recreation Committee had a lengthy discussion about the proposed work. The committee stated
they would like to see the DPW brought into the discussion of how and when the work would take
place. Brian felt with the addition of a batting cage/ bullpen, teams could use Symonds Way as a
multi-purpose site.
M. Stolecki made the motion to approve the proposal of Reading Babe Ruth Baseball contingent of
the approval by the Conservation Committee and officials of the Department of Public Works as
well as the Recreation Administrator.
P. Fennelly seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor approving the proposal of Reading Babe
Ruth Baseball contingent of the approval by the Conservation Committee and officials of the
Department of Public Works as well as the Recreation Administrator 5-0-0.
Field Policy
The Committee went through the proposed changes made by the Recreation Administrator to the
Field Policy. Changes are detailed in the draft copy of the Field Policy itself. The main area of
Town of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2685
. 1 .J .i .
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES CON'T
concern stemmed from the fee schedule set forth for camps and for tournaments. The committee
seemed to agree that a fee schedule should be set each year. C. Campbell made the recommendation
to "strike out" the first two columns of the non-Resident camp fee schedule so that it was consistent
with the new in-two field policy. The committee agreed. The schedule will now read:
Camp/Clinic Fee
# of Participants
$0_$100
$101-$200
$201+
0-20
$300
$400
$750
21-40
$400
$1200
$1500
41-60
$600
$1800
$2250
61-80
$1200
$2400
$3000
81-100
$1500
$3000
$3750
101-150
$2250
$4500
$5625
151-200
$3000
$6000
$7500
201+
$3750
$7500
$9375
J. Feudo stated he would revise the Field Policy and bring it back to the committee for Final
approval.
Camp Fee
B. Winne presented the Summer Camp fees to the Recreation Committee. He stated that the
Finance Committee met and came up with the following fees for Summer Camp:
Summer Camp: $1051 $95 (first child or week/second child or additional week)
Junior Camp: $75/70 (first child or week/second child or additional week)
Before Camp: $40
After Camp: $55
Full 7-Week Summer Camp Program: $580
Full 7 Week Junior Camp Program: $425
P. Fennelly made the motion to accept the camp fees as proposed by he finance committee. M.
Stolecki seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of accepting the camp fees as proposed by he
finance committee 5-0-0.
Precision Lacrosse Clinics
J. Feudo stated due to a scheduling conflict the instructor for the Precision Lacrosse Clinic could not
be in attendance to present their Clinic. J. Feudo stated that Reading Recreation would like to bring
in this Lacrosse program to replace Skyhawks from last year. J. Feudo stated the directors of this
program are both currently coaches at Curry College. One of the Directors, Neal Anderson,
currently plays for the Boston Cannons professional Lacrosse team. Both directors seem extremely
excited about the prospect of running clinics in Reading. The price of the Clinic would be
approximately $110 for a full week, 3 hours per day. The clinic would be open to boys youth
entering 6th - 9th Grade only.
M. Stolecki asked if a separate clinic would be available for girls. J. Feudo stated that he believed
that Precision Lacrosse would consider holding a girl's clinic as well. J. Feudo stated that was not
in the original plans and probably would not be able to be implemented until next year.
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES CON'T
The question of equipment usage carne up. J. Feudo stated that the clinic would require participants
to have most equipment (helmets, mouth pieces etc.). The concern was some parents might not want
to invest in both a clinic and equipment if the child has not played before. J. Feudo said he would
investigate whether or not equipment could be borrowed or rented from the clinician.
C. Bolger made a motion to accept Precision Lacrosse for Boys as a new Summer program. P.
Fennelly seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of accepting Precision Lacrosse for Boys as
a new Summer program 5-0-0.
Administrator's Report
J. Feudo stated that Winter-Spring activities were doing well. The Division was in the midst of Feb.
Vacation week. Some of the programs going on this week were Backyard wiffleball, Biddy
Basketball, Baseball Clinics and Horseback Riding Clubs. J. Feudo noted that Wiffleball, Biddy
Basketball Section I and Wed. Horse Ridding Club 3 and 4 all sold out. The Division did have to
cancel the Valentines Day Dance due to both Coolidge and Parker running plays the same night.
J. Feudo discussed with the Recreation Committee an update on the H.S. project. Currently, option
one of the plan calls for 2 turf fields if money is available. J. Feudo stated that he spoke with Dave
Capaldo, the Project Manager for the HS construction earlier this week. Dave stated that there was
some miscommunication between the school department and himself on the definition of the HS
Practice Football Field. The Company thought the field was both the actual Practice field and the
Tennis Court field. Along with this, the request would be that all access to the Tennis Court field
would have to happen on Bancroft Ave. This request will cause many parking issues on Bancroft
Ave. and problems for the Residents that live there. J. Feudo stated that he had already spoken to
the Town Manager and would be meeting with the Project Manager in the very near future.
Next the Committee discussed a letter sent to them from Bill Crowley of Reading Pop Warner. Mr.
Crowley was requesting permission to move the lights from the practice football field to the Tennis
Court field to provide some extra playing time. Pop Warner would pay for this proposal. The
Recreation Committee felt with all the uncertainty around that area, they did not want to make any
decisions until they found out for sure what would be taking place on the Tennis Court field in
terms of Construction. If there was going to be a parking issue already, light may intensify that.
J. Feudo announced that the annual summer registration day would be held on April 10th at
Coolidge Middle School. C. Campbell, B. Winne, C. Bolger, and P. Fennelly all volunteered. J.
Feudo stated that the division usually need about 6 volunteers total.
Subcommittee Reports:
None
C. Bolger made a motion to adjourn the meeting of Feb. IS', 2004. J. Downing seconded the
motion. Motion passes in favor of adjournment 5-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 9:35 PM.
es qpect itted by:
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