HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-04-12 Recreation Committee MinutesFAX: (781) 942 - 5441
RECEIVED
TOWN CLERK
READING, MASS.
2011 JUN 2q P 12* 31
RECREATION DIVISION: (781) 942 - 9075
READING RECREATION COMMITTEE MINUTES
April 12th, 2011 Town Hall Conference Room
Attendance: Mary Ellen Stolecki, Recreation Committee Chair, Nancy-Linn Swain, Rec.
Committee, Frank Driscoll, Vice Chair, Rec. Committee, Mary Ann Kozlowski, Rec. Committee
Member, Chris Campbell, Rec. Committee Member, Eric Hughes, Rec. Committee Member, Kate
Kaminer, Rec. Committee Member, John Feudo, Recreation Administrator
Guests: John Halsey Sr., Reading Bulldogs
M. Stolecki called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM.
N. Swain made a motion to accept the minutes from the March 8th Rec. Committee meeting. F.
Driscoll seconded the motion. Motion passed in favor of accepting the minutes for March 8th by a
vote of 6 - 0- 0.
K. Kaminer entered at 7:10 PM.
Update for Tennis Court Monitor and Pass
J. Feudo updated the committee that the Board of Selectmen accepted the proposed tennis pass
program as recommended by the committee. The program is expected to be rolled out in early May
for public informationand will begin on May 34th
Reading Bulldogs Request for Permit for Amplified Sound at Morton Field
John Halsey Sr. came before the Rec Committee to request a permit to use amplified sound for his
home games this summer for the Reading Bulldogs team. J. Feudo stated that reports have
neighbors complaining about the music being played before the game and in between innings as
well as announcing the batters name before each at bat.
Upon learning of the situation, J. Feudo contacted Mr. Halsey and the music and all amplified sound
was stopped. Mr. Halsey went door to door to speak with neighbors. He said the unanimous
response was the neighbors actually had no issue with the sound. He offered each of them his cell
phone number and said if there is ever an issue to call him directly.
Town of Reading
16 Lowell Street
Reading, MA 01867-2685
J. Feudo stated he felt there was some middle ground that could be reached. He developed a sub-
committee with a member from the Recreation Committee, Police Department, Health Division and
sports organization. The meeting did not resolve the issue.
Since the meeting Mr. Halsey had made several attempts to mitigate the issue with a member of the
Board of Selectmen but was not getting any response, thus he asked to be put on the Rec.
Committee agenda.
J. Feudo stated the Recreation Committee does have the authority to approve such request by virtue
of the BOS Policy where the authority is delegated. However the Board of Selectmen can review
any decision as they see fit.
F. Driscoll made a motion to allow the Reading Bulldogs baseball program to use amplified sound
for their home games. E. Hughes seconded the motion.
M. Stolecki asked what days of the week this would be occurring. Mr. Halsey stated typically
Saturdays and Sundays. Most games will be double headers on Sunday unless games get rained
out, than there may be an occasional week night game.
M. Stolecki asked about the decibel level of the sound and whether it could be turned down so that
neighbors would not be impacted. Mr. Halsey stated that the speakers for the sound system point
facing Birch Meadow Drive. He said when he walked the neighborhood last summer to has a
standing offer to the residents that he would happy turn the volume down or off if it was creating
any issues for anyone.
J. Feudo stated that the health department noted that the level of sound produced with the highest
setting on the speakers would not constitute noise pollution. However, that does not mean that it
isn't a nuisance to a person near by. The recommendation would be to keep the volume at a
reasonable level.
K. Kaminer asked to amend to the motion by requesting that all complaints resulting from any
amplified sound be directed to the Rec. Division office so they can be dealt with individually.
Motion passed in favor of allowing the Reading Bulldogs baseball program to use amplified sound
for their home games and request that all complaints resulting from any amplified sound be directed
to the Rec. Division office so they can be dealt with individually by a vote of 7 - 0 - 0.
Mr. Halsey also requested that the Recreation Committee look at a short term solution for the issue
of restrooms at the Birch Meadow Complex. The committee will have this topic on their May
agenda.
Use of Stadium Lights M - F until 9:00 PM Schedule Shift
J. Feudo stated that the youth organizations are now able to use the Stadium field Monday - Friday
until 9:00 PM. This is great news as it expands the organizations use of practice time and allows
some over flow for teams. The addition of the stadium lights creates a need to change the schedule
set by the committee back in October of 2010. Originally Tues, Wed and Thurs from 8:00 PM -
10:00 was designated as time for Red Thunder under Reading United Soccer as it was a less than
advantageous time for any other organization. However, the RUSC is now using Stadium Monday
- Friday from 6 - 8 PM and RLAX is currently using Turf 2 during that same period of time. Some
of the intricacies of the schedule suggest that some shift would make sense from a scheduling and
logistical stand point. This is the current and the proposed schedule:
CURRENT SCHEDULE
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
7:45 - 9PM
7:45 - 9PM
7:45 - 9PM
7:45 - 9PM
7:45 - 9PM
Turf 2
LAX
e
Seccer-Thurider
lSoccer-
Thunder
Soccer-
Thunder
Soccer
Stadium
LAX
LAX
Soccer Clinic
LAX
Lax- Games
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
Friday
6PM-9PM
6PM-9PM
'
6PM-9PM 6PM-9PM
6PM-9PM
Turf 2
LAX
'9 "
LAX
LAX LAFMF'
Soccer
Stadium
Soccer-Thunder
Soccer-Thuriider
Soccer-
Soccer link "ir r ,
L x- Games
C. Campbell made a motion to accept the changes to the 2011 Spring Field Schedule as proposed.
K. Kaminer seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of the motion by a vote of 7 - 0-0
Administrator's Report
J. Feudo stated the new summer magazine is now out.
Summer Registration Day is Sat., April 30th 10 AM Coolidge Library. Some volunteers are needed.
Mattera Cabin Grand Opening is also April 30th 10:00 AM -12:00 PM.
A reminder that Town Day- June 18th -Fireworks to follow
N. Swain made a motion to adjourn. K. Kaminer seconded the motion. Motion passes in favor of
adjournment 7-0-0.
Meeting adjourned at 9:18 PM.
Respectfully submitted by: