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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-10 Recreation Committee MinutesTown of Reading °V$ E D 16 Lowell Street C E Reading, MA 01867-2685 MASS. 200115 P 4= 5~ FAX: (781) 942-9071 RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942-9075 RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES 10/10/01 MEETING In Attendance - Peter Hechenbleikner, Alan Beaulieu, Mark Hyson, Susan Cavicchi, Chris Campbell, Susan Fay, Bernie Winne Alan Beaulieu started the meeting at 7:10 p.m. Everyone read through the September 12, 2001 minutes. There was a brief discussion on the minutes. Bernie Winne asked that the minutes be amended to add his name in the September 12, 2001 minutes as one of the Special Permit sub-committee members. Susan Cavicchi made a motion to accept the September 12, 2001 minutes with the above amendment. Susan Fay seconded the motion. The vote passed 5 - 0, to accept the September 12, 2001 minutes with the above stated amendment. The Town Manager, Peter Hechenbleikner spoke on the Open Recreation Program. A meeting of the minds was held last month and the program was discussed. The concerns of the school department that were raised were the issue of adherence and enforcement of the rules of the Field House as well as staffing. Mark Hyson said that he would meet with Phil Vaccaro on the rules and get some type of written rules posted, once the program started. Mark Hyson also stated that the school department stated that they would help to find staff and that Mark would be in contact with the Superintendent. The Recreation Committee stated that we may want to charge $5 for 18 and over and $3 for under 18 that attend the Open Recreation Program to help offset the cost of two staff members. Peter Hechenbleikner stated that a sub committee of the Recreation Committee should be formed to take a look at the division's finances and how we should best spend down the surplus that the budget currently has. Mr. Hechenbleikner suggested that there were five areas that the sub-committee should look at. These areas are: 1. The hiring of additional staff for the division, 2. The purchasing of Recreation Registration Software, 3. The possible issue of the division providing more funding to the. schools for facility usage, 4. The possibility of taking a portion of the field fees and giving them to the Department of Public Works so as to supplement their budget, since they maintain the fields. The last area was to use some of the surplus to fund site amenities as needed. Mr. Hechenbleikner suggested for this committee to come up with a plan that would take all of these factors involved. Mr. Hechenbleikner stated that he would provide support for these meetings as needed. Lorraine Salter came in to the meeting at 7:35 pm. Catherine Kaminer came in to the meeting at 7:40 pm. Alan Beaulieu appointed Chris Campbell, Susan Fay and Bernie Winne to the newly created Finance Sub- Committee. All three appointees accepted their appointments. Mark Hyson stated that Carl McFadden wanted to come before the Recreation Committee at a subsequent \ Recreation Committee meeting to speak on the possibility of merging his travel basketball program with ours. Mark reiterated to the Recreation Committee that he had spoken to Carl via e-mail and by phone to let RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES (Con't) 10/10/01 MEETING him know that the Recreation Committee's stand was'that at this point the program's philosophies are too different and that there is not enough time to make this merger happen for this year. Mark Hyson stated that he would get in contact with Carl and set him up to come in to either the November or December Committee meeting. Dave Bryant came in to the meeting at 8:12 pm Bill Hughes made a presentation to the Recreation Committee on a plaque being erected at the John and Marge Pacino Bandstand. Mr. Hughes stated that John Pacino and himself were the ones that got the bandstand created. Bill stated that he would do the legwork to find out about the cost of a plaque and that he would report back to either the committee or to Mark Hyson. Susan Cavicchi made a motion that the Recreation Committee would approve of plans to go forward with the proposed John and Marge Pacino Bandstand Plaque, and that Mr. Hughes would investigate the total cost of the project and report back to the committee. Chris Campbell seconded the motion. The vote passed 6 - 0. Mark Hyson stated that the Recreation Division currently has a temp. clerk and that interviews for a full-time clerk were on going. Mark Hyson asked the committee if they would approve a fiscal summary report of this past summer in lieu of a detailed seasonal report. Chris Campbell made a motion to give the Recreation Administrator the approval to provide the committee with a fiscal summary report of Summer 2001, in lieu of a detailed seasonal report. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote passed 6 - 0. Mark Hyson asked that the Recreation Committee members volunteer for some of the upcoming events. Committee members will get in touch with Mark to sign up to help. Mark Hyson stated that there will be a Boards, Committees and Commissions Training on Conflict of Interest/Decision Making at 7:00 PM and the Coolidge Cafeteria on November 6, 2001. Mark urged all the Recreation Committee members to attend. Catherine Kaminer gave a Special Permit sub-committee report. Catherine stated that she had spoken to Peter Hechenbleikner what his thoughts were on what constitutes as "Special" Catherine stated that Peter H. had told her that special would be something that was exceptional not routine. Catherine stated that the policy is vague for a reason. The sub-committee's recommendation was that the policy is kept as is with the word special being defined as something that is exceptional not routing. Catherine Kaminer also stated that Peter H. stated that the Recreation Committee has been consistent in their rulings. Peter H. also stated that the policy was not written due to the clergy, moreover it was written so that the neighbors of the parks would get a break from the field usage, and that the clergy just endorsed it when it came out. Bernie Winne made a motion that the Committee accept the report of the Special Permit Sub-Committee. Alan Beaulieu seconded the motion. The vote passed 6 - 0. Catherine Kaminer stated that she will submit the Special Permit Sub-Committee report in writing to Mark i Hyson. RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES (Con't) 10/10/01 MEETING Dave Bryant gave an Aquatics Advisory Sub-Committee report. Dave states that the YMCA is still having some problems. The problems that they Y is having are listed below. 1. The family/handicapped changing room is not big enough. 2. The door in the foyer may need to be kept open during swim meets. 3. The Y is trying to have a 6 - 1 ratio in progress for programs and the staff spends time with kids if they need extra help. 4. Lap swim problems - There is not enough single lanes and that people are not willing to share lanes. They will need to be educated on circle swimming. 5. The Wakefield YMCA Pool will be closing due to budget contraints. Dave stated that the Acoustics Report came back and that there was a huge discrepancy in the two quotes for the job. One vendor came in at approx. $45, 800 and the other vendor came in at approx. $12,700. Dave also stated that the Y is continuing to offer a free coupon for swim lessons for Reading kindergartners. Bernie Winne made a motion that the Committee accept the Aquatics Advisory Sub-Committee report. Susan Cavicchi seconded the motion. The vote passed 6 - 0. Dave Bryant made a motion to adjourn at 9:05 PM. Chris Campbell seconded the motion. The vote passed 6 - 0. Respectfully Submitted, Mark R. Hyson, CPRP Recreation Administrator