Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Present: Steve O’Shea and Steve Slozak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; Erin Greene
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. Due to the absence of Michael Arbour the previous meeting’s minutes were unable to be accepted.
The position of Producer/Director of Monson Summer Theatre is open due to Tess Pellisier’s retirement. Erin Greene was present after being invited by the Commission to discuss the position. Erin was asked by Tess last year to step in as Director, while she remained in the Producer role. Erin would like to be considered for the Producer/Director position. The Commission would like to have Erin as Producer/Director but first want to make sure that they aren’t legally obligated to publicly post for the position. Tim will check with the Finance Director to see if this needs to be done. If the position does not need to be publicly posted, Erin will be asked to fill the position. Erin stated she would like to have a contract detailing what her responsibilities are.
Also discussed was the dire fiscal status of Monson Summer Theatre. At one time shows would sell out, but ticket sales since then have dwindled. Various ways to generate more money were discussed including charging a fee for participants and/or having participants sell a minimum of 10 tickets each.
The future of the Quarry Hill Pool was discussed. The School charges $21,000 a year for the use of the pool, and the Parks and Rec pool programs have not generated enough money to keep up with the payments. These programs include, but are not limited to: Learn to Swim, Water Aerobics, Lap Swim, Open Swim, After School Swim and pool parties. The Parks and Rec Department is $6,000 in arrears with the payments to the School Department for the use of the pool. At one time the boosters club had agreed to raise money to keep the pool open, but there haven’t been sufficient funds received from them to do this. Pool Director Liz Manley and Pool Subcommittee member Dee Scott appeared at the Commission’s October meeting to discuss the pool’s situation. The
Subcommittee was to meet with members of the School Department to relook at the numbers they are charging for the use of the pool then come back to the Commission’s November meeting, but no one appeared at the November meeting. Members of the Subcommittee were also contacted by Liz to let them know the seriousness of the situation and invited them to this meeting to help resolve the future of the pool, but no one appeared. Liz couldn’t attend the meeting since the Varsity Swim team had a meet in Turners Falls.
Joel Keller, School Committee member and Chairman of the Budget Subcommittee, had sent a Pool Summary to the Commission giving expenses of the pool from July 2010 through January 2011, showing a projected net operating expense of $75,207. Given the inability to keep up with payments to the School Department and the probability that this situation will only worsen, it was felt that the Parks and Rec Department should not use the pool. Steve Slozak made a motion to suspend all Parks and Rec swim programs as of February 1, 2011. Steve O’Shea seconded; all in favor and the motion passed. Joel will be invited to the February Parks and Rec Commission to discuss this decision and the Pool Summary.
There will be no 9/10 (5th/6th grade) recreational baseball league as originally thought. The Registration Forms will be changed to reflect this.
The Parks and Rec Department’s laptop that was purchased nine years ago has stopped working. Tim asked the Commission for permission to purchase a replacement. The laptop is used when Tim is out of the office and/or working in the gym for purposes including baseball and basketball evaluations, summer camp use, and addressing e-mails. The Commission asked Tim to get some prices to present at the next meeting.
Steve Slozak knows someone that will cut more trees at Rogers Field, and remove the stumps. Tim would like trees to be cut on the bank at the third field. This would make a good area for “natural bleachers” for watching baseball games at that field.
On Christmas Eve a vehicle was driven into the new fence of the new baseball field (third field) at Rogers. Hastie Fence will be contacted to come and look at it for repairs.
Tim needs a sign for that field stating funding was provided by CPA funds. Steve Slozak will get the sign and give it to Tim.
Steve Slozak made a motion to adjourn at 7:55 p.m., and Steve O’Shea seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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