Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Present: Michael Arbour, and Steve O’Shea (Chairman)
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; Liz Manley, Pool Director; Lauren Smith; Jo Sauriol
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
There is $8,456.98 in the Pool’s Revolving Fund. The Parks & Rec Department has paid the School Department $5,300 since January. ($1,700 paid in March; $1,800 paid in April; $1,800 paid in May.) About $1,300-1,400 is paid for salaries for each biweekly pay period. Swim season should be a “wash.” June and July payments are still to be paid. Swim season should be a “wash.” Palmer Stripers is renting the pool this summer for 11 weeks. This will bring in $5,100 in user fees.
The Superintendent has asked for a total amount of payments we can come up with. This has to be a firm number that the Parks & Rec can commit to. Jo Sauriol said the Dolphins Boosters has money. They had raised $25,000 that was used to purchase the pool cover with the intent to save expenses. Jo feels that the pool cover is not being taken care of and maintained properly, and the Boosters will not spend any more money until they know that their last gift is being cared for.
Based on the payments that the Parks & Rec have made to the School already, and the anticipated payments that will be made by June 30, in addition to the Palmer Stripers users fees, it was felt that the Parks & Rec could commit to $21,600 as annual payment to the School, to be paid in full by the end of fiscal year (June 30). The Parks & Rec will work with the Boosters in the event that this commitment could not be made and ask for their help. The Parks & Rec and Boosters should meet once every quarter to keep up to date on the status of the payments. At the next meeting there will be a report stating the costs that Parks & Rec can commit with the intent that this report be sent to the Superintendent.
Mike Arbour made a motion to accept the minutes of the April 21 meeting, and Steve O’Shea seconded. All in favor and the motion passed.
There was nothing to discuss regarding Accounts Receivable. Tim informed the Water Department that he was going up on his fee for mowing from $225 to $275. They didn’t have a problem with that.
Rob Nasiatka, of BB Landscaping gave a quote of $40,000 for maintaining the school grounds.
Erin Greene’s Greene Room Theatre production just ended and she wanted to get through that and then she will be meeting with Tim on a regular business. A check came in for $10,000 that was in one of the Summer Theatre’s accounts. This check has been deposited into a Town account. Tim will meet with Erin to see if she still wants to charge participants a fee given the fact that this money could now be available, and together they will decide what an appropriate amount will be. Monson Summer Theatre lost $800-1,000 last year.
An agreement has been made with Erin that of the net profit of Summer Theatre this season: 10% will go the Producer and 5% will go to the Director. This is an incentive to have a successful fiscal season. The participants will be asked to sell a required amount of tickets, as well.
The broken fence gate by the Veterans Park playground was discussed. Instead of repeatedly having to repair the gate, it was decided that the fence will be closed off at that section and there will no longer be a gate. This will avoid the repair of this gate over and over again, and also be much more safe deterring children from running out of the playground into the street.
On Tuesday the Selectmen will be deciding if they will give $550 from Gifts to the Town to repair a section of fence at Veterans Park.
The new fence at the third field at Rogers Field (“Flynt Park 2”) needs to be repaired, as it looks as though a vehicle drove into it. Steve O’Shea asked that this field be completed so that the townspeople can see that their CPA funds are being spent in a timely manner.
Tim’s computer crashed and he’s been without a computer for a week. The Town Offices need two other computers, and all three will ordered at the same time.
Tim will meet with Wilbraham to see if they will allow Monson to participate in the boys’ high school rec league. Because of various problems, including a court case, Monson did not participate in this league. Tim feels it is an appropriate time to rejoin this league. Games would start after the first of the year after high school tryouts. The Commission agreed with Tim’s recommendation.
There was an incident during a 3rd/4th grade rec baseball game where one of our coaches was accused of repeatedly questioning the umpire’s calls. The coach was ejected from the game and, therefore, could not be present at their next game.
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, May June 15, at 6:30 p.m.
Mike Arbour made a motion to adjourn at 8:05 p.m., and Steve O’Shea seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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