HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-09 Recreation Committee MinutesRecreation Committee Minutes
Wednesday, December 09, 1998
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The Recreation Committee meeting came to order at 7:30 PM in the Conference Room of
Town Hall. Committee members in attendance included Claire Bolger, Jack Downing,
Kate Kaminer, Alan Beaulieu, and Dennis Lucyniak. Also in attendance were Associate
Committee Members Marc Nelson, Bernie Winne, Sudie Fay and Recreation
Administrator Joe Connelly.
Mr. Beaulieu made a motion to approve the minutes of the Wednesday, November 04,
1998 meeting, Mr. Lucyniak seconded the motion, approved 5-0-0.
Committee member Lorraine Salter entered the meeting at 7:40 PM
Request from Reading Youth Softball for League Expansion
Mr. Connelly' reviewed the request from Reading Youth Softball to expand their existing
league to include second graders. Mr. Connelly reviewed the year old motion by the
Recreation Committee to place a moratorium on new leagues. Mr. Connelly reviewed
conversations with both Frank Driscoll of Reading Youth Softball and Jack Webster of
Reading T-ball. Mr. Driscoll explained the details of his request.
Committee Chairperson Dave Bryant entered the meeting at 7:45 PM.
Mr. Webster stated his objections to the proposal.
1) If it works don't fix it.
2) Two leagues competing for the same population is not healthy.
3) It would destroy the existing franchise system.
Ms. Kaminer discussed participation numbers with Mr. Driscoll and Mr. Webster. Mr.
Connelly and Mr. Webster discussed the administrative workload of the program. Mr.
Webster stated that he believed that the proposal by Mr. Driscoll is in fact a new league.
The Committee discussed this issue. Mr. Connelly reviewed the jurisdiction of the
Recreation Committee. Mr. Connelly reminded the Committee that Mr. Driscoll's request
was in fact a courtesy to the Committee. Mr. Connelly stated that the Recreation
Committee had no authority on how individual leagues were organized or administered.
Mr. Connelly stated that the Committees only authority was to schedule fields. The
Committee discussed other leagues that have reduced their age population without
Committee approval (T-ball, Soccer). Mr. Connelly and Mr. Winne discussed the
possibility for this portion of the softball program to begin only when the other divisions
start their games. Mr. Winne stated that the busiest field time was in early April before
the leagues start playing games.. Mr. Driscoll agreed that the second grade program
would not begin until the other teams in the league begin playing games. W. Bryant
placed the following statement on the record:
The Committee determined that Reading Youth Softball's proposal did not fall
into the category of a "new league". Because Reading Youth Softball was only increasing