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Parks and Recreation Commissions Minutes 3/13/13
March 13, 2013
Parks and Recreation Commissions
Present: Rita Furlong, Tina Lavasseur, Maddy Elovirta
Absent: Sean Raymer , Ginger Conner, and Derrick Rogers
Rita Furlong called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM in the Becket Room of the town hall. This is the first meeting of the combined Parks and Recreation Commissions.  It was offered as a help to the Recreation members because that committee was down to one active member.  By combining the two it hopefully will bring six or more members together.  
Because of the low member attendance for this meeting, it was decided to hold our next meeting on April 10, 2013 at 6:00 PM to better accommodate members.  It was stated that some members have young and active families and are unable to attend meetings but have offered their time and resources to help in any way that they could.  They will be listed as members, can and should attend the meetings but will not be able to vote.  Their offer of help is greatly appreciated.  
 Agenda Items:
#1 The minutes of the last meeting of July 18, 2012 were read and approved.  
#2 & 3 Beach programs and hiring of life guards
        Tina will continue to be in charge of the life guards and summer parks program that is offered to residents.  Swimming lessons will be offered at no charge to Becket and Washington residents.  There was much discussion on what is expected of the life guards and the person in charge of the summer parks program.  Tina will speak with surrounding towns Rec. committees to get insight into how they handle their programs and supplies.  A flyer will be sent to the schools for the children to take home explaining what will be offered.  Rita will do the flyer with members proofing it before it goes to the school.  
        Members discussed the new rules  that will be going into effect for municipal swim programs.  This was brought to the attention of the members by Selectwoman Jeanne Pryor.  Another delineation rope will be installed at the swimming area at the public beach to note where non-swimmers may venture into the swimming area.  
        The Pavilion area was not well maintained last year during the summer parks program and that will be addressed with the person that will be hired to run the summer parks program.  Notices of interest for college students looking for work will be placed at Springfield College and other local colleges to try and generate a group of interested life guards and parks instructors.  

#4 & 5 Order Materials needed for parks
        Members discussed the needs for this summer.  A basketball backboard and netting is needed for the smaller children’s pole that will be installed at the Becket Center park area.  A new volleyball net and tether ball is needed there as well.  Rita will order these items.  Our local volunteer pool will be asked to help dig the hole and cement in the new shorter pole at the skating park.
#6 Repair the roofs and a bowing wall at the dugouts at the Becket Center Park
        Rita has an estimate from a local contractor to repair the roofs of the two dugouts.  During the winter a tree that was scheduled to be removed by the highway department decided to come down on its own and landed on the north dugout and damaged the roof.  This break was repaired and the repair person noted that the roofs on both dugouts need attention.  
        The front wall on the west dugout has a bow that appeared last winter.  This definitely needs attention.  Rita will get bids to do the job.  
        There was discussion on how to garner interest in using the Becket Center Park more.  Last summer saw very little use of the park.  With the lights now up and working so well, some thought that a Friday night pickup game of baseball may get some interest going for residents.  This will be looked into at the time we hire a summer parks instructor.  
        More work will be done at the picnic area that is being established near the ball park by Maddy and some of our volunteers.  Rita will mark the trees that she would like to see removed for safety reasons and picnic tables will be placed in that area.  
        Maddy noted that Steve Turner , Maintenance Head of the Becket Chimney Corners YMCA was very gracious to offer a tractor, operator and tiller to do the diamond of the baseball park to help reclaim the diamond track.  This was so greatly appreciated.  Maddy and volunteers then hand raked and reclaimed the diamond.  Len Levine, a local summer resident paid to have the diamond rolled.  Again this offer and work is so greatly appreciated.  
#7 Drainage for the volleyball area
        Maddy will ask one of the volunteers to look at and offer either their free services or expertise on what can be done to get drainage into the area.  The ground remains soft all year and makes it difficult for a delivery of mulch and sand for that area to be done.  Maddy will speak with the Conservation Chair for some guidance as well.  
#8 Rebuilding/repairing walking track at the North Becket Park
        Rita noted that the walking track is being consumed by vegetation.  It was suggested that maybe one of our volunteers with a tow behind tiller might be able to help.  Once the snow is gone a look at the options at the park for repair of this will be done.  
#9 Plant and gardening purchases for the parks
        No plants or mulch is needed at this time but will be purchased if needed.  Too much snow is still with us to make a decision at this time.  
#10 Tennis court fence repair/replacement
        When the tennis court was resurfaced, the company that did it strongly suggested that removing some of the trees very close to the tennis courts be removed because of the shading that is done by the heavy vegetation, causing moss to grow on the court and making the surface slippery.  In July of last year residents came to the Parks Commission to ask for something to be done because the fence is too close to the playing area.  With the very generous gift of padding from the owners of Camp Greylock, padding was installed to protect the tennis players until a more permanent fix could be made.  Tree cutting and moving/changing of the fence will wait for the new Highway Supt. to be on board as this will most likely require some input from that department.  
#11 Other business
        Rita stated that there needs to be another water diverter made in the roadway of the beach as water is eroding the sand a bit.   The work that was done at the beach seemed to be holding its own late last fall.  Members will check the area again as soon as the snow goes.  
        Rita also had a new drawing from Foresight Land Services regarding the issue of property lines of the right of way and parking lot at the town beach.  All felt that it should now be given into the hands of the select board .  

Meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM.

Respectfully submitted:
Maddy Elovirta