Town of Holden 1204 Main Street, Holden, MA 01520
Recreation Committee Meeting Minutes
October 14, 2008
Starbard Building
Members Present: Sue Serewicz, Lisa Post, Dick Anderson
Members Absent: Carmelo Bazzano
Others Present: Denise Morano, Recreation Director
The Recreation Committee meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM
MINUTES: The Recreation Committee minutes for September 9, 2008 have been accepted as written.
Denise welcomes Dick to the Recreation Committee.
Directors Report
Programs: Adult classes are mid-way through the first session and we have advertised for session 2. Beginner 2 piano class has 4 registered. A stress reduction class will be offered starting Wednesday, Nov. 5th @ 9:00am at the Light Dept. A scrap booking series will be offered starting Oct. 29 with a holiday theme. A workshop for quilting will be held on Oct. 25.
The ski/snowboard lessons will begin on Monday, Jan. 5. Children must be at least 7 years old for ski lessons and 8 years old for snowboarding lessons.
We are accepting registrations for the 7th Annual New York City trip, which will be held on Dec. 6th leaving at 6:30a.m. from the Dawson Recreation Area and returning home approximately10:00p.m.. There are 20 registered with seating up to 56 people.
There are currently 229 children enrolled each day in the Before/After School Programs.
The Police and Fire chiefs, Santa, girl scouts and Ron's Sound have all been contacted about Santa's arrival on Dec. 6th at 5:00p.m.. Denise spoke with Lucy Banks to see if she could secure the use of the church hall for our event. Lisa will not be able to attend. Sue and her husband will attend.
Denise met with the Mountview Middle School principal, Preston Shaw, on September 22 to discuss the Recreation Department's frustration with lack of available facilities to use for running after school programs. He was going to check into the reasons why we haven't been able to use the gym and classrooms and get back to her. Mr. Shaw has not gotten back to Denise yet. Lisa offered to contact Mr. Shaw to see if he would be willing to let us run the 3 on 3 basketball tournament. Denise asked Lisa not contact him at this time due to the lack of time to prepare.
Skateboard Park: Denise sent a memo to Brian stating that we would follow up at this meeting about the skateboard park in Northboro. (see memo). Sue reported that the member of the Northboro Recreation Committee no longer serves on that board but did state that the parents and children raised the funds to build the park. Also, that the Northboro attorney told them not to staff the park because they would be liable for injuries. Dick stated the children are better off in a park than on the streets and sidewalks. The 3 committee members agree that Holden should have a skate park and that the children and parents should fund raise to see it become their project. The committee members are also in favor of the skate park as long as funds do not come from the Recreation Department. Possible locations were discussed: CRA, the former
mini-mart and it should be centrally located.
Past Business: Denise prepared a memo for Brian regarding the early closing of the pool (see memo). Denise surveyed surrounding communities to see what their opening and closing dates were for their pools and lakes. Many of the communities that tried to keep there facilities open through the end of August stated that staffing was their determining factor when choosing a closing date. Denise told the Committee of her past experience of placing job postings for Life Guards at WPI, Quinsigamond College, Assumption, and Anna Maria and not receiving any response.
The next Recreation Committee meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 19th @
7:00 pm at the Starbard Building.
Meeting adjourned at 8:10.
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