Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Present: Michael Arbour, Barry Cady, and Steve O’Shea
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Steve made a motion to accept the February minutes and Mike seconded. All in favor and motion passed.
Junior Varsity Coach Hanson called Steve O’Shea regarding the field they use at Veterans Park. Coach Hanson should be calling Tim directly for any concerns or questions regarding that field. The Parks and Rec do not line any fields on Saturdays or holidays. The high school’s first home baseball game is April 7, and the girls’ first home softball game is tomorrow (April 1).
There is a bonfire scheduled at Veterans Park on Sunday, April 25 to kick-off the town’s celebrations for the 250th Anniversary. This is the same date as the rain date for the Monson Youth Baseball Association’s Pitch/Hit/Run contest. There shouldn’t be a conflict since the Pitch/Hit/Run will end before the bonfire starts.
Tri-Town baseball was discussed. We have one 8-10 team in the A division; one 10-12 B team and two 10-12 C teams. We’re down one team in the 10-12 age group from last year. Since the surrounding towns have dropped out of the 10-12 rec program there is no 10-12 rec team. We have one 12-14 team.
The three 9-10 rec teams have been split up, and the two 10-12 teams are being split up today. We’re looking for a 6th Coach/Pitch coach.
Steve O’Shea discussed different options to repair the tennis courts. If the Parks and Rec Department sealed the cracks, the repair wouldn’t last that long. The quote to properly repair the courts was $7,000. The Selectmen had turned down a request to fund the repair. Material was received from Denise Falk regarding U.S. Tennis grants, but the tennis courts don’t fall under any of the criteria for any of the grants. Sending a letter to local businesses to raise money to repair the courts was discussed. If the tennis courts go without repair for much longer, the area will become an eye sore for the town.
Tim had requested $2,200 from Gifts from the Town to purchase wood chips for the playground at Veterans Park, and the requested was granted. Mike said that Harry Rogers has offered to put a wooden barrier around the play area to help keep the woodchips in. John Morrell is going to put a berm along the playground that runs along State Street to keep the water from the street entering the playground. After that berm is put in there may not be a need to have Harry Rogers do any work.
A concession trailer was discussed. Garv’s old trailer is in poor shape and would take a lot of work and money to be repaired. The Monson Youth Baseball Association and the Monson Basketball Association will get together to see if they can raise money, possibly through concessions, to purchase a new concession shed. It would be a great asset and money maker to have a permanent concession stand at Veterans Field. Steve will bring this up at the next MYBA meeting.
The Town has a budget shortfall of $400,000. There was an informational meeting last night to make people aware of this. If anything develops that directly effects the Parks and Rec Department, Tim will inform the Commissioners.
The School charges the pool $21,000 a year and this comes out of the pool’s revolving fund.
Monson Lacrosse is using the high school soccer field, and they are being charge $250 per team to use that field.
The hot water tank in the red building is not working.
This was Barry Cady’s last meeting since he chose not to run for Commissioner again in the current town election. Steve thanked Barry for serving on the Commission and presented him with a card and gift.
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 21, at 6:30 p.m.
Steve O’Shea made a motion to adjourn at 7:55 p.m., and Mike seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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