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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-07-10 Recreation Committee Minutesr Town of Reading 16 Lowell Street R) E0 LE IVED Reading, MA 01867-2685 ;"j j, LASS. 2001 SE - 6 P 3. 3 2 FAX: (781) 942-5441 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942-9075 RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 7/10/02 MEETING In Attendance - Jack Downing, Alan Beaulieu, Mark Hyson, Sue Cavicchi, Bernie Winne, Claire Bolger, Dave Bryant. Jack Downing started the meeting at 7:34 PM Dave Bryant stated that in the June 2002 minutes we should state that on page 1 in paragraph 5, 7, and 9 and also on page 2, paragraph 7, that the word attended should be changed to entered. Claire Bolger made a motion to accept the June 12, 2002 minutes with the above stated changes. Alan Beaulieu seconded the motion. The motion passed by a 6 - 0 vote. Bernie Winne asked the Committee why we are brining the subject of the use of the Birch Meadow Tennis Courts before 12 Noon to the Recreation Committee. Bernie stated that he thought this issue had been resolved already. Mark Hyson stated that Bill Hughes called and stated that he could not make the July meeting due to a scheduling conflict. Mark stated that he would not bring the issue of the of the use of the Birch Meadow Tennis Courts, being used before 12 Noon, back to the Committee unless it was brought to his attention by Mr. Hughes again. Alan Beaulieu and the Recreation Committee agreed with Mark Hyson's decision. Jack Downing presented to the Recreation Committee an outline for tackling the Alternative Sites for the Skate Park. Jack asked if anyone would like to join the Sub-Committee to help out with the process. Alan Beaulieu stated that he is already on the Sub-Committee and that he would assist Jack. Mike Sheedy from Reading United Soccer addressed the Recreation Committee on the use of Symonds Way Field, for soccer in the summer. Mike asked the Recreation Committee what their thoughts were on allowing Reading United Soccer to use Symonds Way field in the summer for soccer. Mike stated that even though Reading United Soccer uses a lot of fields in the summer, they are short on large fields. Reading really only has two major soccer fields in the summer, Parker and Coolidge. Mike stated that they use Parker on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The only other large field they have is Coolidge. Mike stated that they really needed to use Symonds Way field in the summer to allow their older players to play. Right now the U-12 and U-14 kids use Memorial Park to practice, and this creates a lot of traffic in that area. Symonds would be used as a game field and Coolidge for a practice field. This way they could have four teams practice at once and would alleviate parking problems at Memorial Field. Mike went on to state the Reading United Soccer has approximately 822 kids in their summer program this year. They have four teams in, each category. They usually have 1 practice and 1 game per week (Mon - Thus.) RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES (Con't) 7/10/02 MEETING Reading United Soccer is trying to spread out as much as possible. Actually this year, Mike stated that Reading United Soccer and Reading Youth Softball switched the Tennis Court Field with the Sturges Field to accommodate both organizations. Jack Downing asked if it would be possible to start the summer soccer season a little later and push the soccer season out a few weeks, so that there would be less conflict with Babe Ruth at Symonds Way field. Mike Sheedy stated that soccer would not be able to do this since the High School teams take over the field in the middle to late August. The Recreation Committee told Mike that Reading United Soccer could use Symonds Way field for soccer in the summer where there are open dates. Mark Hyson stated that he thought that he was still waiting on some final dates from Babe Ruth to use Symonds Way field and that he would contact Babe Ruth to find out what the hold up is with the final dates. The Recreation Committee stated that they didn't want to limit soccer, if we could move Baseball from Symonds Way field to Washington or Morton. Mark stated he would check into the availability of Morton and Washington , but that he thought that Washington and Morton were both heavily used until the end of July by the Reading Rockets and Senior Babe Ruth. Mike Sheedy stated that Reading United Soccer may look to move their games schedules around, to start earlier for some of the areas. The Recreation Committee instructed Mark Hyson to work out the open dates at Symonds Way field with Babe Ruth and Reading United Soccer as soon as possible, so that Reading United Soccer may use Symonds Way field. Mark Hyson updated the Recreation Committee on the Summer Camp and Summer Programs. Mark stated that all the Summer Camp Programs and the Summer Clinics are going well. Mark reiterated to the Recreation Committee that since we moved the last week of camp to the first week, we saw a significant decrease in the numbers and that junior camp would not run the first week due to the lack of registrations. Mark stated that the YMCA went to one-week sessions for their camp this year. Mark stated that he would meet with Dan Berry from the YMCA to see how it worked for them and that Reading Recreation may look to go to one-week sessions next year. Mark Hyson stated that the Recreation Clerk that was supposed to start on July 9, called the Town Manager on Friday, July 5, to let him know that she would not be taking the job. She stated that she found a job for more money. Mark told the Committee that he will look to get a temporary clerk and then start to look for a new clerk. Mark Hyson also stated that John Feudo was hired as the new Program Coordinator and he started with the Recreation Division on Tuesday, July 9, 2002. Mark stated that he was looking forward to John starting with the Division. Mark Hyson updated the Recreation Committee on his meeting with Dr. Harutunian and Mr. Richards on new programming. Mark stated that it was a productive meeting, and they gave him some good suggestions and insights on how to approach new programming with the Principals of the Schools. RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES (Con't) 7/10/02 MEETING Dave Bryant gave an Aquatics Advisory Committee Report: ♦ Dave stated that the YMCA upper age level summer camps were not filled yet. ♦ Dave stated that the YMCA's target date for the acoustics work to be done, was the end of August. ♦ Dave stated that the Pool Usage Survey is being developed and implemented. Dave stated that this survey is in the rough draft stage and that `a final draft will be coming out soon. Dave went on to state that some of the general topics included, but were not limited to; How often people use the pool, Which pool do they use, Did anything bother or hamper their use of the pool, How many times do they go to the pool, and what is their demographics (Age, Male/Female). Dave Bryant made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Bernie Winne seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6-0. The meeting was adjourned at 9:58 PM. Respectfully submitted by, Mark R. Hyson, CPRP Recreation Administrator