HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-03-13 Recreation Committee MinutesTown of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2685
In-- i i ti
FAX: (781) 942-9071
RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942-.9075
RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
3/13/02 MEETING
In Attendance - Alan Beaulieu, Mark Hyson, Chris Campbell, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Claire Bolger, Susan
Cavicchi, Dave Bryant, and Gail Wood (Selectmen's Liaison)
Alan Beaulieu started the meeting at 7:15 PM
Sue Cavicchi made a motion to accept the February 13, 2002 minutes with the following change to page 2
paragraph 8, sentence 2, to read "Susan stated that she doesn't believe that frequency effects the spirit of the
Special Permit rule." Dave Bryant seconded the motion. The motion passed by a 6 - 0 vote.
Sue Cavicchi made a motion to accept the February 26, 2002 Special Workshop minutes with correction of
the spelling of the work Workshop in the title of the minutes. Dave Bryant seconded the motion. The
motion passed by a 6 - 0 vote.
Sudie Fay entered the meeting at 7:25 PM.
Alan Beaulieu opened nominations to place two Recreation Committee Members on the newly created Board
of Selectmen Sub-Committee to look into guidelines for the Sunday Special Permit ruling. Dave Bryant
nominated Chris Campbell and Susan Cavicchi nominated Mary Ellen Stolecki to this Sub-Committee.
Chris and Mary Ellen both accepted the nominations.
Chris Campbell and Dave Bryant seconded Susan
Beaulieu asked if there were any more nominations,
passed for both nominations by a 7 - 0 vote.
Alan Beaulieu seconded Dave Bryant's nomination of
Cavicchi nomination of Mary Ellen Stolecki. Alan
seeing none, Alan closed the nominations. The vote
Jack Downing entered the meeting at 7:30 PM.
Taylor, Kerry, and Andy Bramhall, and Mary Ellen Stolecki presented a video presentation to the Recreation
Committee on their proposal to have a Skate Board Park built in Reading. Also present was Jason P., Pedro
C. who is friends with Taylor. Ben Klapp, Youth Development Director from the Burbank YMCA was also
present. The Bramhall's presented the Recreation Committee with 4 locations. These locations were the
Higgins Property, Hunt Memorial Park, the old pool site at Birch Meadow, and the tennis courts at Memorial
Park. Looking at all these sites, the Bramhall's suggested that the tennis courts at Memorial Park would be
the best location. The Bramhall's stated that wood structures require a little more maintenance then the
concrete structures. However there are companies out there that have some state of the art wood material
that would require not much maintenance. The Recreation Committee suggested staying away from any
conservation land. The Recreation Committee also suggested seeing if Mike Dickinson would put up money
for a maintenance fund.
RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES (con't)
3/13/02 MEETING
Ben Klapp from the YMCA suggested that the YMCA could possibly help staff and run the Skate Park in
collaboration with the Recreation Division.
The Recreation Committee suggested to Mark Hyson that he should send the Charter for Memorial Park to
Town Counsel to look and see if we can legally put a SkateBoard park at Memorial.
Jack Downing stated that an Open Meeting would have to be held with all the abutters of the proposed areas.
Dave Bryant made a motion that the Recreation Committee would support a Skate Board Park at Memorial
Park. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote passed 8 - 0.
The Recreation Committee suggested to the Bramhall's that they should get other people involved in the
video then they should take the video to a Board of Selectmen's Meeting to get their feeling on the project.
The people that the Recreation Committee suggested to put on the video were: The Town Manager, the
Recreation Administrator, someone from the Chamber of Commerce, Pat Iapicca from the Police Dept.,
Peter Smargon from the YMCA, and Dr. Harutunian.
Mark Hyson stated that he would speak with the Town Manager and update him on the status of the Skate
Board Park. Mark would see what Board of Selectmen meeting in April would be good for the Bramhall's to
present the video.
Mark Hyson updated the Recreation Committee on the proposed fence at Morton Field. Mark stated that he
met with the Town Manager, the DPW Director and Bob Keating from the DPW department on the fence.
Mark told the Recreation Committee that this group did not support a permanent fence at Morton and Mark
stated that he told the RMHS Athletic Director that they would need to provide Mark with a new proposal on
a temporary fence.
Mark Hyson also updated the Recreation Committee on some infield work being done at Hunt and Barrows
Field. Mark Hyson updated the Recreation Committee on the proposed bleacher at Hunt Field.
Mark Hyson discussed with the Recreation Committee that the DPW department is looking into fixing the
drainage at Castine Field.
Mark Hyson gave his Administrator's report. Mark stated that the Summer Community Guide would be out
to the public on March 23, 2002.
Mark Hyson asked for volunteers for the Eggstravaganza. Chris Campbell and Claire Bolger agreed to
volunteer. Gail Wood also volunteered for this event.
Mark Hyson asked for volunteers for the Summer Sign Up Day. Alan Beaulieu, Dave Bryant, and Claire
Bolger agreed to volunteer.
Mark Hyson stated that he would call or e-mail all the volunteers for the above events.
Jack Downing gave a Sub-Committee Report on the Community Preservation Act. Jack stated that as of
April 9, 2002 that the CPA committee would disband. Jack also stated that a private sub-group might be
formed at a later date.
RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES (con't)
3/13/02 MEETING
Dave Bryant gave an Aquatics Advisory Sub-Committee Report. Dave stated that the Spring Session Sign
ups were 25% below average. The figures from February were lower than originally estimated. The Y was
going to wait to see if the projected levels of income were enough for the acoustics project. Dave also stated
that the boys swim team had a great year. Dave stated that there might be a possibility of more swimmers
will be on next year's team from Lynnfield, then from Reading. Dave also stated that Austin Prep. did not
reciprocate the gym time for the pool time, as they originally agreed to with the YMCA. Dave Bryant went
on to state that the Summer Pool Schedule starts the last week of June and ends the last week of August. The
Acoustics project is slated for late Summer. Th contractors that will be doing the project feel they can do the
project with out effecting the pool usage.
Alan Beaulieu gave a Sub-Committee report on the Ad Hoc Bicycle Path Committee Preliminary meeting.
Alan stated that there is 5 towns involved: N. Reading, Reading, Wilmington, Wakefield, and Lynnfield.
The purpose of the Bike Path is to connect routes through towns and connect to other Bike Paths. The
meeting that Alan attended was a preliminary meeting and they discussed using roads that are already paved
or bike paths that could use an abandoned railway. Alan also stated that there is $300,000 allocated for 5
towns. Alan went on to state that an engineer from Weston and Sampson was helping to coordinate the
project. Anne Kreig is Reading's staff liaison to this Ad Hoc Committee.
Susan Cavicchi made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mary Ellen Stolecki seconded the motion. The vote
passed 8 - 0.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:29 PM.
Respectfully submitted by
Mark R. Hyson, Recreation Administrator