Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Present: Michael Arbour, Barry Cady, and Steve O’Shea
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; Paul Lovell, Cemetery Superintendent; Deborah Mahar, Finance Director; Gretchen Neggers, Town Administrator
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m. Barry made a motion to accept the December minutes and Mike seconded. All in favor and motion passed.
Steve O’Shea thanked Debi and Gretchen for coming to the meeting. Debi and Gretchen had appeared in response to Steve’s e-mail to the Selectmen requesting that the Parks and Rec Commission be involved in the exploration of the Town moving towards a grounds maintenance department. Steve would like the Commission to be proactive rather than reactive in participating in any discussions.
Steve asked if the reasoning behind this move is for cost savings or something else the Town is trying to do. Gretchen thanked Steve for e-mailing the Selectmen. At a November meeting the Selectmen had made a motion to explore the concept of a grounds maintenance department, and discussions actually started in 2007 regarding this. This has been being looked into internally and Gretchen and Debi have been meeting with Tim, who has driven the model of such a department. Paul Lovell, Cemetery Superintendent, also joined discussions later. Gretchen and Debi have also met with the Cemetery Commission and together they are moving forward. A grounds maintenance department is more mission driven than a budget issue. The goal is to be more efficient as a town, reduce the duplication of
tasks being performed by two different departments, and make better use of personnel in the winter months, perhaps with inside maintenance. Any potential savings would be from the proposed elimination of one full-time employee. Belchertown has a building and grounds department and Monson is using that town’s department as a model to guide the formation of a similar department for Monson, a Public Building and Grounds Maintenance Department.
There was discussion about the Summer Programs and the Basketball Program, and the fact that they would be more affected than the other programs. The Monson Youth Baseball Association (MYBA) is already on board to start running the rec department baseball programs. They have assigned coordinators for each age group, and would act as coordinators for the rec department. The MYBA may want to think about assigning coordinators for the rec department’s softball programs. Discussions have already taken place with John and Pam Arbour about a private soccer organization running the department’s soccer programs. There are a number of duties that volunteer coordinators would have to consider, including maintaining equipment and uniforms, scheduling practice and games, and securing umpires or
referees.
Any responsibilities that Tim holds as a Rec Director would be transferred to the Commission. Jeannie asked about day to day duties, such as the signing of Turnover Forms, Car Wash Forms, Pay Status Forms, CORI reviews, etc. Gretchen asked Jeannie to send her an e-mail listing such items. Also, any “sport program volunteer coordinators”, Monson Summer Theatre, Pool Director and Jeannie would report to the Commission, rather than Tim.
Steve asked what the budget would be for the rec department, and was told that the Parks and Rec Commission should come up with a budget proposal. Tim was asked only to focus budget proposals on the grounds maintenance piece. The Rec Commissioners need to develop a budget of what they think it would take to run a recreation department. Any change in current commissions (i.e., Parks and Rec Commission and/or Cemetery Commission) would first have to go to Town Meeting, then a Town Election. Mike brought up the revolving funds, and was told the revolving funds would stay and the rec programs could still operate from those funds. The Rec Commission also needs to analyze day to day operations and the future of the summer camps, which have been struggling in the past few years. Steve
commented that the Commissioners need to keep discussions open and to ask questions. Tim will meet with the Selectmen at their February 9 meeting at 7:00 p.m. and the Rec Commissioners were invited to attend.
Steve asked about getting permission from the Selectmen to see if the Parks and Rec Department can get a waiver for the town by-law so more banners can be hung from the new baseball diamond past Upper Rogers Field. This is a Planning Board issue, so Steve will contact them. The Parks and Recreation Department is limited to 100 square feet of banner space at the field, per the current by-law.
Steve went to a Tri Town meeting and was asked about the possibility of having all our 8/10 teams participate in Tri Town. Monson will continue to keep a 9/10 rec team, which has been working out well with the Hampden/Monson/Wilbraham league. Palmer would like to join this league. Also, evaluations have already been done for this season. Brian Litz, the Wilbraham Rec Director, would have to be contacted to see what they want to do, and this could be open for discussion year to year.
The MYBA wants to hold a Pitch, Hit and Run tournament at Veterans Field. Aquafina is sponsoring this. The winner of the local competition would go on to regionals, then an All Star Game. Concessions would be sold to raise money. The date of the Pitch, Hit and Run will be Saturday, April 24, with a rain date of Sunday, April 25. Is it possible to host an All Star Game at the new baseball diamond past Upper Rogers Field on June 19? Tim is hoping that this field will be ready before then, but in the worst case, if it isn’t, the game venue can move to Cushman Field.
The Celtics bus trip in January went well, however, we lost money. Historically, these games have sold well. Ticket sales are slow for the March Celtics game and the April Bruins game. Perhaps it is a sign of the economy. There is a July Red Sox bus trip planned.
Tim proposed increasing fees for baseball for this season. Steve made a motion that the new fee structure be approved. Mike seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
Steve O’Shea made a motion to adjourn at 8:00 p.m., and Barry seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie 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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