Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Present: Steve Slozak, Barry Cady and Steve O’Shea
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeanne Guertin, Secretary
Steve Slozak called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
Barry made a motion to accept the minutes from the September 24 meeting. Steve O’Shea seconded and all in favor.
The meeting that the Commissioners recently had with the Selectmen was discussed. The Commissioners had met with the Selectmen to discuss their memo to the Selectmen dated July 24, 2008, requesting a reclassification of Tim’s job with the increase of his status from Grade 3/ Step 8 status to a Grade 4/Step 1 status. The Selectmen (with Richard Guertin abstaining) told the Commissioners that Tim’s grade could only be increased if he had a change in job responsibilities. He has had an increase in the same type of responsibilities he already had (i.e., mowing and maintaining grounds), but has not had a change in the type of responsibilities. The Commissioners still want to pursue other avenues to increase Tim’s salary, and will ask Debbie Mahar to attend the next Parks and Rec
Commission Meeting to discuss this with her.
When the Commissioners met with the Selectmen to discuss Tim’s reclassification, Gretchen Neggers mentioned to them a “mowing incident”, and that Parks and Rec employees were blowing up basketballs when they should have been outdoors mowing. There had been a situation where Gretchen’s husband, Bill Ochs, was mowing the front of Memorial Hall with a push mower, apparently because he was upset that it hadn’t been done by the Parks and Rec Department. Tim told Gretchen at the time that he had scheduled to do that job that very afternoon. It was discussed that many mornings the grass is too wet to mow. Small projects will be done in the morning until about 10:00 a.m., and then the work will be stopped on those projects so they can start mowing.
People who have to perform community service come and work on projects on Fridays. A Parks and Rec employee has to be with them, however they are still valuable to have.
Work has been done on lower Rogers Field to divert the water from the spring from going onto the field. The Water Department has helped with this and the field is now dry.
The dugout project at Cushman Field has not been started yet. This was to be done by Steve Henaire as an Eagle Scout project. If this project isn’t started soon, it may have to wait until the spring due to weather.
The condition of the tennis courts is worse than ever. After attempts to contact M & M Paving to follow through, there has been no response. This could be due to the fact that M & M now has a new owner. It was agreed that the courts need more than just to have the cracks repaired. There is also a net post that is leaning and pavement is pulled up around the base of the post.
Funding lights for Moriarty Field through the CPA was discussed. The total cost would be $65,000-70,000.
The First Church is asking for $8,700 from the CPA to paint two sides of the building. They are supplying the paint and the CPA funds would pay for the labor. The total amount of money available is $308,000 and a little over $100,000 is being used for the following projects: the base of the soldier’s monument in front of the Monson Free Library, the First Church, the Elliott property on Butler Road and the Fuller House on Green Street.
Tim is going to propose to the Finance Committee that $4,168 be used to purchase a new motor for a mower. Steve Hutchinson will put it in, and the old motor will be saved for parts.
The “please refrain from smoking” sign for Veterans Park and the sign for emergency vehicle parking at Flynt Park have been ordered.
Basketball evaluations start next week for 5th/6th girls and 7th/8th grade girls. Instructional basketball starts December 7. Tim told the coaches for the 5th/6th graders that everyone on the team needs to play, and both coaches are in agreement. A gym permit was sent to the school in September for the use of the Monson High School gym for the evaluations (starting October 21), however we haven’t heard anything yet.
The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the Parks and Recreation office.
Barry made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m., Steve O’Shea seconded, all in favor and the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeanne Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
Timothy J Pascale
Director/Program Coordinator
Monson Parks and Recreation
110 Main Street
Monson, MA 01057
1-413-267-4105 ( phone )
1-413-267-0327 ( fax )
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