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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-15 Recreation Committee Minutesi I~' Recreation Committee Minutes May 15, 1997 The Recreation Committee meeting came to order on Wednesday, May 15, 1997 at 7:30 PM in the Conference Room at Reading Town Hall. Committee members in attendance included Chris Campbell, Claire Bolger, John Pacino, Jesse Mraz, John McGrath, Dave Bryant, and Kate Kaminer. Also in attendance was Recreation Administrator Joe Connelly. Residents in attendance included Frank Driscoll (RYS), Dave Blanchard (RUS), and Jack Webster (RTB). Pacino made a motion to approve the minutes of the Wednesday, April 09, 1997 meeting, Kaminer seconded the motion, approved 5-0-2. New Business: Connelly reviewed the request by Reading United Soccer for a reduced per game field fee for it's Micro Soccer program. Connelly and Blanchard reviewed details of the program. Kaminer made a motion to reduce the per game field fee from $10 to $5 for the Reading United Soccer Micro Soccer program. The motion was seconded by McGrath, approved 7-0-0. Associate Committee Member and Director of Reading Youth Baseball Dennis Lucyniak entered the meeting. Connelly reviewed the current practice situation in town and shared his concerns . Connelly stated that the problem areas seemed to be behind the Coolidge Middle School and at Memorial Park. Connelly indicated that he has received more complaints regarding practices this year than in years past. Connelly also reviewed alternate field options including Austin Prep., Textron, Addision Wesley, and Tasc. Connelly recommended two options for the Coolidge Middle School for RUS and RYB to choose from: Spring Season Option A Monday, Wednesday, Friday Evenings = Youth Baseball Tuesday, Thursday Evenings = Soccer Option B Monday 3:00 - 5:30 - Soccer Monday 5:30 - Dusk - Baseball Tuesday 3:00 - 5:30 - Baseball Tuesday 5:30 - Dusk - Soccer Wednesday 3:00 - 5:30 - Soccer Wednesday 5:30 - Dusk - Baseball Thursday 3:00 - 5:30 -Baseball Thursday 5:30 - Dusk - Soccer Friday 3:00 - 5:30 - Soccer Friday - 5:30 - Dusk - Baseball * Both options favor baseball because it is their true season. Soccer season is Summer and Fall The Committee discussed these options with both directors. Driscoll recommended a third option being odd and even days similar to the water restrictions. Blanchard and Lucyniak agreed that Option A was the most simplistic and easiest option to enforce. Kaminer stated that this was an agreement between these two organizations and the Recreation Committee and that no formal vote would be taken by the Committee. Kaminer and Driscoll discussed the possibility of RYS practicing at the Coolidge School site. Driscoll agreed that the feasibility of RYS practicing at Coolidge was not realistic. Connelly suggested that if at some point RYS wanted to practice at Coolidge, a new agreement would have to be formulated. Lucyniak asked Connelly to draft a memo to both organizations outlining the agreement. The Committee pointed out that it was still not permitting practices and that each field was reserved for practice on a first come, first serve basis. Mraz commented that her concern was with the actions of the coaches. Mraz asked if disciplinary actions have been taken against the coaches that behaved inappropriately. Blanchard and Lucyniak have spoken with those coaches in question. The Committee and the directors discussed appropriate coaching behavior and how to monitor such behavior. McGrath suggested that Recreation should require a sportsmanship license by all coaches before field permits be issued. George Foley of Reading United Soccer entered the meeting at 8:15 PM Webster stated that T-Ball has been fortunate this season, reporting only one minor incident. Dan Jones of Reading Youth Baseball entered the meeting at 8:20 PM. Connelly reviewed with the Committee his telephone conversation with Dan two weeks earlier. Connelly stated that Jones was concerned with the placement of a major league diamond at Symond's Way. Jones feels strongly that the space would be better served by two little leage/softball diamonds. Jones is also interested in revitalizing discussions with Austin Preparatory School regarding field use. Jones distributed information regarding organization's participation numbers and field use patterns. Jones stated that given the high participation numbers of little league and softball and in comparison low participation numbers of major league diamond organizations, he did not see the sense in building a full sized diamond at Symonds Way. Driscoll commented that two is always better than one. If two little league/softball diamonds could be placed at Symonds Way instead of one major league diamond that's what we should do. Connelly was quick to point out that each organization is in need of fields and to really suggest that one organization is in more need is unfair. Connelly stated that by far the toughest group to schedule for was the major league diamond organizations. Connelly also pointed out that if you took a per field average of each group, it shows that the need for fields is evenly balanced. 585 Baseball Participants / 5 fields = 117 per field 240 Major League Participants / 2 Fields = 120 per field Jones asked who made this decision regarding Symonds Way and when? Connelly read excerpts from the May 08, 1996 Recreation Committee minutes. Ron Marfione from Reading Youth Baseball entered the meeting at 8:35 PM. Jones asked Connelly if this decision could be changed? Connelly stated that this decision was final and field construction is scheduled to begin the Fall of 97. Jones commented that he would be willing to do whatever it takes to coordinated efforts at Austin Preparatory school. Connelly commented that if Austin Preparatory School was still interested he would also be willing to re-investigate any possibility. Pacino commented that he felt Austin Preparatory School was still interested and that a task force should be formed by the Board of Selectmen to investigate the issue. Connelly looked for other volunteers from the group to sit on a subcommittee; Jones, Lucyniak, Marfione, Foley, Webster, and Driscoll volunteered. Mraz commented that having outside representation on the subcommittee may help the cause at Town Meeting. Connelly stated that this group could begin preliminary investigation and a task force could perhaps be appointed at a later time. The league directors and representatives exited the meeting at 9:00 PM. Connelly reviewed the Administrators Report. Connelly reviewed the Board of Selectmen's meeting from the previous night regarding Imagination Station Permitting. Connelly stated that the BOS approved the permitting policy with one amendment and one condition on a 5-0-0 vote. Connelly reviewed the situation with the Reading Riffle and Revolver Club regarding safety. Both Campbell and Bolger agreed that the recreational facility seemed well protected from the Club. Connelly reviewed discussion regarding the Travel Basketball Proposal by Carl McFadden. Connelly explained that the proposal as previously discussed was obsolete and that McFadden has decided to coordinate a private team of his own. This private team would consist of boys from all three grade levels. The Committee discussed this new private team. Campbell suggested that Connelly hold a meeting of possible travel basketball coaches in September to update them on the current situation and Committee expectations. Kammer discussed the Tennis Tournament with the Committee Connelly reviewed the extremely high volume of participation numbers of the Recreation Summer programs. Bryant motioned to adjourn, seconded by McGrath, approved 7-0-0. The Recreation Committee was adjourned at 9:22 PM.