Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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 7:04 p.m.
Barry made a motion to accept the minutes from the February 19 meeting. Steve O’Shea seconded and all in favor.
The Parks and Recreation Department budget to date was distributed and discussed.
The baseball program is in good shape. Forty-five coaches’ kits were requested through an application to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Community Youth Sports Program. These kits have been awarded to us, and need to be picked up at the West Springfield Dick’s Sporting Goods store. Tim had requested enough kits for this year and next year’s season. The kits include two catcher’s helmets, a dozen balls, two water bottles, clipboard and whistle.
Tim completed an Application for Project Funding for the Community Preservation Committee’s consideration. The Application is for a baseball field past Upper Rogers Field. The Parks and Rec Commissioners will look this over and if it looks good, Tim will submit the Application to the Community Preservation Committee.
Three prices will be requested to repair the Exmark mower motor from Acres Power Equipment in East Longmeadow, Precor on Boston Road, and Exmark in Belchertown. Steve Hutchinson has talked to Gretchen Neggers about this. Prices will be requested for the mower and, also, the piston, which would be a “patch” to get the mower through for a little while.
Basketball season went well. Concession sales for the season were fair. This year we made less than $600; and last year we made $2,100. This year $800 was made from tournaments, compared to $325 last year. There were not local teams in the tournament, which means less people attend. At Granite Valley there was much less rec teams scheduled on the weekends, which also hurt sales. Tim may be able to schedule more games on the weekends to boost concession sales for next year. Also, concession item prices may be increased next year. Steve Gordon went back and forth between Quarry Hill and Granite Valley monitoring the gyms, and this saved some money since we didn’t need to pay two gym monitors, one for each school.
Steve Slozak talked to Faith Esposito regarding the BMX demonstration at the Skate Park during Summerfest. Faith will make sure the park is in working condition for this, and the insurance is all set.
The Town has put a freeze on all department head salaries.
Tim distributed an e-mail from Peter Ross of the Finance Committee regarding Parks and Recreation Commissioners meeting with them. The Commissioners felt they were clear with the Finance Committee that it is very difficult to break down the parks expenses from the rec expenses.
Tim gave the commissioners another e-mail requesting that Tim meet with them on Monday evening, March 23, from 8:00-8:30 p.m. The commissioners will try to be at the meeting with Tim. Plans are to cut expenses in the Parks and Rec Department by $7,200. Three years ago our expense budget was $45,000, and it would now be $20,000.
Steve O’Shea needs the names of the Tri Town coaches, so he can get packets to them. Sponsoring an All Star Weekend was discussed. This would take place in July, after the Fourth of July holiday.
The Junior Varsity and Varsity fields are in good shape. Cushman Field isn’t ready yet and needs to be rototilled and rolled.
Flyers for the summer Basketball Clinic, Fun Week, and Art Camp have been distributed. Flyers for the Junior Soccer Clinic are ready to go out soon. Jim Pennington has not contacted us yet for the Track and Field program.
The Boston Celtics bus trip is sold out, and the Red Sox trip has 34 tickets left.
Tim is out of the office on vacation from March 21 to April 2. When he returns he will start splitting up baseball and softball teams. The first Tri Town meeting is April 6, but team information is not needed for that meeting.
There will be a meeting with the School Department regarding Summer Theatre when Tess Pellissier gets back from Florida. Fees relating to the air conditioning will be the issue.
Tim is meeting with firms to get estimates to repair the tennis courts. He is going to get a price for filling the cracks and fixing the cracks and recoating. The courts will remain closed until the surface can be repaired.
There were cars parking on Veterans Field so they can listen to music, and the police took care of it.
We have had requests from people to have birthday parties at the Skate Park. Tim is not in favor of this. You would have to have someone there to monitor who is entering the park during birthday parties. This would be unreasonable to do since the Skate Park is a public space.
The Venture Crew has inquired about using Veterans Field for an Easter Egg Hunt. They will have permission to use the park, but the field usage fee is going to be waived.
There is a new trailer inspection law in effect in Massachusetts, in that all trailers need to be inspected, as well as registered. We should make sure that all our trailers are inspected.
Tim has received approval for seasonal help.
The next Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday,
April 29, at 7:00 p.m.
Steve O’Shea made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:03 p.m.; Steve Slozak 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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