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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-13 Recreation Committee MinutesTown of Reading 16 Lowell Street Reading, MA 01867-2685 FAX: (781) 942-9071 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942-9075 RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 2/13/02 MEETING In Attendance - Alan Beaulieu, Mark Hyson, Chris Campbell, Mary Ellen Stolecki, Kate Kammer, Claire Bolger, Bernie Winne, Gail Wood (Selectmen's Liaison) Alan Beaulieu started the meeting at 7:20 PM Jack Downing and Susan Cavicchi came in to the meeting at 7:25 PM Alan Beaulieu stated that the fourth line, on the third page, of the January 9, 2002 minutes, should be changed to $175 per hour not $75. However, Alan stated that he would table the acceptance of the minutes until Dave Bryant comes in to the meeting so that he can let the committee know the correct price. Everyone read the Sunday Special Permit Sub-Committee report that was handed out by Kate Kaminer. Jack Downing stated that he didn't understand the last sentence. Susan Cavicchi stated that the frequency is not her understanding of what special is. Basically, the Sub Committee agreed that their interpretation of the policy, as it exists, does not pennit organized leagues to play organized games on Sunday mornings on a regular basis. The Sub-Committee felt that the frequency of such games is in conflict with the intent of the policy. Dave Bryant came in to the meeting at 7:35 PM. Jack Downing made a motion for the Recreation Committee to accept that the Special Sunday Permit Sub- Committee report was given. Mary Ellen Stolecki seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 - 0 in favor of accepting that this report was given. The Recreation Committee suggested for Mark Hyson to come up with a draft of a Special Permit Request form for the next Recreation Committee meeting. The Recreation Committee suggested to put into the form a line on Basis of Need and a line to see if a given organization is or is not a Reading based. Frank Driscoll from Reading Youth Softball came in to request a Special Permit for a Youth Softball Tournament in June. Frank stated that the Tournament is the Metro Boston Tourney of which Reading Teams would be involved. The permit time would be from Friday, June 21 - Sunday June 23`d. The tournament will have approximately 8 - 10 teams and would use the Lighted Field, the Playground Field, and the Street Field at the Birch Meadow complex. Reading Youth Softball would also book the Sturges field for these dates in case of an over flow and would not use Sturges on Sunday before 12 Noon. Frank Driscoll also stated that if Reading runs this tournament then they would get a National Bid for next year's _ tournament. RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 2/13/02 MEETING (Con't) Mary Ellen Stolecki made a motion to grant Reading Youth Softball a special permit for Sunday, June 23, 2002 from 9:15 AM to Dusk on the Birch Meadow: Lighted Field, Street Field, and Playground Field. Bernie Winne seconded the motion. The vote passed 8 - 0 in favor of granting Reading Youth Softball the special permit. Alan Beaulieu asked Dave Bryant if on the fourth line, on the third page, of the January 9, 2002 minutes if the price per hour for pool time should be $175 or $75. Dave Bryant stated it should be $175. Chris Campbell made a motion to accept the January 9, 2002 minutes with the amendment of the fourth line, on the third page, of the January 9, 2002 minutes, to read: The charge is approx. $175 per hour. Dave Bryant seconded the motion. The vote passed 8 - 0 to accept the amended minutes. David Chase and Dennis Walsh from Reading Adult Men's Soccer came in to the meeting to plead their case as to why they would like the Recreation Committee to grant them a special permit to use Collins Field at Parker Middle School on 5 selected Sunday's in the Spring before 12 Noon. David Chase stated that they are a Reading based team and that their league requires them to play before Noon on Sunday's. David also stated that these groups of adults are Reading residents and they give a lot back to the community in the form of volunteer coaching, etc... Susan Cavicchi made a motion to grant Reading Adult Men's Soccer a special pen-nit for 4/18/02, 4/28/02, 5/12/02, 5/26/02 and 6/9/02 from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Collins Field. Claire Bolger seconded the motion. There was some discussion on the motion. Mary Ellen Stolecki stated that the Recreation Committee still needs to come up with a Special Pernlit Request form. Dave Bryant stated that the committee should vote against the above stated motion to keep in line with the spirit of the Sunday Special Pen-nit Sub Committee Report. Susan Cavicchi stated that this league has a stipulation that all teams play before 12 Noon on Sunday's. Susan stated that she doesn't believe that frequency effects the spirit of the Special Permit rule. Jack Downing urged the committee to vote in favor of the above stated motion. Jack stated there is a basis of need with the pen-nit request. The league that the Reading Adult Men's Soccer plays in requires them to play before 12 Noon on Sunday's. Jack also stated that he would follow the selectman's guidelines and the committee should take these requests on a case per case basis. Jack went on to state that these Adult Men are residents and taxpayers of Reading and they only want to enjoy their sport in their own town. The motion to grant Reading Adult Men's Soccer a special permit for 4/18/02, 4/28/02, 5/12/02, 5/26/02 and 6/9/02 from 10:30 AM to 1:00 PM at Collins Field was defeated by a vote of 4 - 3, with 1 abstain vote. Kate Kammer posed a question to the committee which was: "Is it valid when Reading Youth Baseball (for instance) puts in a theoretical request form for Sunday before 12 Noon, due to the lack of field space? Alan Beaulieu suggested to the committee to discuss Kate Kammer's question, if and when it became a reality. Mark stated that these are just proposals at this time and that he will get a meeting with the Town Manager, the DPW Director, the Parks Division Head, the Conservation Administrator and himself to discuss these issues further. Mark stated that he would keep the Recreation Committee updated on the above issues. The committee told Marl-, Hyson to investigate the possibility of another area to use for skating instead of Castine, and also to investigate the "French Drain" that used to be around the field. Marl-, stated that he would investigate these issues and get back to the committee on them. Marls Hyson stated that he had a field meeting last week and invited all the major field users to this meeting. Marls will look to place Reading Youth Lacrosse at Coolidge field. Mark thinks that this will hopefully work out with regards to scheduling and would not impact to many other existing sports. Marls Hyson also gave his Administrator's report. Marls stated that the meeting that was originally scheduled with Carl McFadden for Feb. 20 had to be rescheduled due to people being on vacation. Mark will look to reschedule this meeting once everyone returns from February Vacation. Marls stated that the Open Recreation program has been officially cancelled for the year, due to the lack of staffing. Mark Hyson discussed with the Recreation Committee the response from the Town Counsel regarding Mark's request for advice as to whether the Town can limit the number of organizations that use Town Fields and whether a Town can legally limit the growth of the organization. Marl-, shared with the committee the Town Counsel's findings. Marls Hyson stated that he would make sure that Castine field would be drained the Monday after February Vacation. Susan Cavicchi asked Marls Hyson to search for a policy manual for Reading Recreation that she created a few years ago. Marls stated he would search for such manual Marls Hyson stated that there were two indoor track meets coming up and that Mark needed some volunteers. Jack Downing and Alan Beaulieu stated that they would help with both events. Mark Hyson also stated that he would need some volunteers for the Eggstravaganza event on March 30, 2002 at the RMHS Auditorium. Claire Bolger, Chris Campbell and Kate Kaminer stated that they would volunteer. Alan Beaulieu gave a report on the Longwood Poultry Farm meeting. Alan attended the meeting and he expressed the Recreation Committee's concern that if anyone is coming before the town for a variance, that field space be included in such developments if possible. Bernie Winne made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:20 PM. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote passed 8 - 0. Respectfully Submitted, ~~~~,4 Mark R. Hyson, CPRP Recreation Administrator 4