Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Present: Michael Arbour and Steve O’Shea
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeanne Guertin, Secretary
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 7:04 p.m.
Minutes from the March 18 meeting were unable to be approved since Barry Cady was absent.
Michael Arbour was welcomed as a newly elected Parks and Recreation Commissioner. Since former Commissioner Steve Slozak was Chairman, a new chairman will be chosen at the next meeting when all three commissioners are present.
Tim is meeting with the Community Preservation Committee on Tuesday, May 5 to discuss the proposal for a baseball field past Upper Rogers Field. The Committee would like a new quote on the fencing for the project since they feel the one included in the proposal are not up to date. If accepted the proposed field would not be voted on at the Town Meeting in May. It would be voted on at the next Town Meeting after that.
The Exmark mower has the new motor in it, and we have a spare piston to use in another mower if we need to.
The BMX demo at the Skate Park planned to take place during Summerfest is not yet confirmed. Sandy Courtney, who is a member of the Friends of the Library, as well as a member of the Summerfest Committee, has already booked the show, but proof of insurance is something that should be arranged. Sandy Courtney will be contacted to make sure that is taken care of.
There are 12 Red Sox tickets left for the bus trip on July 9, 2009.
Tess Pellisier, Director of Summer Theatre, is back from Florida. Tim will meet with Don Smith and Tess to discuss the facility usage fee that the School Department is going to charge Summer Theatre this year.
The Selectmen voted not to provide funding needed to repair the tennis courts, which are currently closed for safety issues. It would have cost $7,000 to do this professionally. Two local tennis players have volunteered to repair the cracks, themselves, and pay for the materials to do so. They have done this before. They will be allowed to repair the cracks, and if Tim approves of the repair the tennis courts will be reopened.
As a result of departmental financial cuts the Parks and Rec is now mowing the cemetery next to the Town Office Building, and the island in front of the Library. Regarding expenses being cut for recreation and cemetery, Steve O’Shea had suggested to the Finance Committee at a recent meting that the Town seek outside vendors to hire for burial services. The Finance Committee said this would not be done.
Ed Yesu talked to Steve O’Shea about restructuring the baseball program. His proposal is to have the players and the parents report to a “head” and the head would report to Tim, all on a volunteer basis. Hampden does this and still has a Commission. Everything would run through the Commission and not a Director. The rationale is that if recreation expenses continue to be cut, we have to start thinking of other ways to keep the sport programs running.
The kickboard at Upper Rogers field has fallen. Repairing the board was discussed, as well as approaching the groups that run spring and summer programs there and asking them to repair it. Dave Braskie is going to run the 5 Star Soccer Clinic there this summer and uses the kickboard during the clinic. Tim will e-mail Dave and ask him about possibly repairing it.
A round of fertilizer was skipped in order to save expenses. It was felt by the Commissioners that to skip another round would be damaging to the fields. If another round is skipped, more money would have to be spent to get the fields back in reasonable shape. It’s anticipated that fertilizer for Round 2 may cost around $2,500 (80 bags X $30), but Tim will get some prices.
Field usage for baseball and softball practices and games was discussed. All the fields are being used at all times. It will help field availability a great deal if CPA approves the 10-12 field past Upper Rogers field.
Upper Rogers field has a “pond” that goes out to the road. John Morrell wanted to find the drainage pipes at Upper Rogers to see where they go. (John Morrell had dumped stone in the parking area to alleviate erosion problems there and didn’t charge us.) Tim had already contacted the Historical Commission and the Archive Department at Wilbraham-Monson Academy to inquire about any maps that would show where the pipes were. The Sewer Department cleared out pipes on Lower Rogers and they are all running now. If the “pond” at Upper Rogers is not eliminated it will cause a mosquito problem.
A summer basketball league for girls in Grades 3-8 was discussed. Years ago, Monson ran a similar program. Girls would not have to play at Spec Pond if we had a league here. Issues at Spec Pond for the players are the heat factor and the tar factor. This would also train kids to become better officials. A structured league would set fees that would pay for officials, clock, administration, etc., and as a result, be self-funding. We would need to get a permit from the school, and would have to consider gym monitors and who would be opening and closing the school.
Fall recreational soccer fees will have to go up again, and have to be approved. We had 227 children participate in last year’s soccer program. Since there is no money in the budget for capital items we will need to work it into the fee structure.
Mike Tassinari (H & L Builders) has offered to remove stumps from the cleared bank at Lower Rogers Field. The cost for three days’ of work would be $1,900. Steve made a motion to approve the stump removal and Mike seconded. All were in favor and the motion passed.
Copies of schedules for all home baseball and softball games were distributed.
Agawam Chiefs played Monson’s 10-12 A division baseball team recently in the opener for both teams.~ The game was tied, but it was getting too dark to play. Coach Steve O’Shea asked the Agawam coach if they should stop the game and Agawam agreed. Steve then suggested to the Agawam coach that they call the game a tie. While Steve appreciated the compliments he received for his sportsmanship, he will ask that if at the end of the season if a playoff comes down to an additional win that~Monson needs that they revert back to the official Tri Town rules (that the score revert to the previous inning’s score) and Monson gets the win.
Dick’s Sporting Goods CommunityYouth Services grant has produced 45 coaches’ kits for our baseball and softball program. Dick’s Community Marketing Manager had suggested we request kits for two seasons since they don’t generally fill requests from the same organizations two years in a row. We will distribute the kits to this year’s coaches and will have a supply for next year. In addition to the coaches’ bags and their contents, we have 45 brand new catcher’s helmets.
T-ball starts on Saturday, May 2, at 10:00 a.m. Varsity baseball coach Tony Dismukes and JV softball coach Phil Murray have offered to arrive at 9:00 a.m. and hold a meeting for those who have volunteered to coach.
Picture night for baseball and softball teams is Tuesday, May 12, at Quarry Hill.
It was confirmed that we, as opposed to National Grid, have to replace the electrical box on the pole at Flynt Park. Steve Kacoyannakis will charge us $500 to do this. He is donating his time and is just charging us for parts. Having the box functional will mean that money can be raised by groups that can use the power for concession items to sell. Steve will do it when he has the time.
The concession trailer from Garv’s at Veterans Park was discussed and what it would take to get it functional. The structure is in such bad shape that it is not worth putting money into repairing it. We have donations from CeCe Garvin of a freezer unit and refrigerator unit, but we just need something to put them in. Having a concession stand would generate a lot of money, and would help kids earn money who would be working there. It was decided that the best place for the trailer is at Veterans Field. Tim will get an estimate from Shed Works for a price of a concession shed. A permit may have to be obtained by the Board of Health.
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Summer program flyers are out: Summer Art Camp, which is being directed again by Bill Devine; Summer Fun Week, which is being directed for the second year by Michele Pascale; Basketball Clinic, being run by Tim Pascale; Junior Soccer Clinic, being run by John Arbour; and Track, being directed again by Jim Penningon. The camp sign-ups are slow, but then again, they were last year, too.
Paul Demaio has some merchandising racks that he is going to give to Tim so he can display the socks we have for sale so more people coming into the office will be able to see them. He will also display baseball hats and softball visors that will be available for sale.
After several attempts to secure group tickets to the Yankees, we still have not been able to book a game for a bus trip. Jeannie has been communicating with the Yankees group sales office since December, and has run into numerous problems with personnel and communication. At this point it does not look like there will be a trip this year.
A group ticket request was mailed to the Celtics for a bus trip for the next season.
The next Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting is scheduled for Thursday,
May 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Steve O’Shea made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:30 p.m.; Mike 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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