Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Present: Steve O’Shea (Chairman) Michael Arbour and Steve Slozak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; Dan Haggerty (Monson Lacrosse Association); Ed Yesu, Jim Joyce, Matt Kowal, Nick Peters (baseball); Christina Rinaldi, Colin Leyburn, Donna Nodell, Lianne Pennington (Dolphins Boosters); Liz Manley (arrived late)
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Dan Haggerty from the Monson Lacrosse Association (MLA) appeared before the Commission to discuss field usage, and specifically, which fields would be available to Monson Lacrosse this season for practices and games. The Monson Developmental Center (MDC) has let MLA use their field the past few years, and volunteers have lined that field. The MDC field has been used for practices, and has been the home game field for the Bantam division (grades 3 and 4). The Bantams use a smaller playing field than the older divisions. If the MDC doesn’t allow use of that field this year, MLA will have to find another field to replace it. MLA will be contacting the MDC to obtain permission for this field. The Monson High School field is in bad shape and was not playable last fall because it was so
wet. Tim doesn’t know yet what that field will look like in the spring. Dan has communicated with Sarah Shaw and she is aware of the field’s condition. Cushman field may be a possibility, but that area is also very wet and is not playable. Lacrosse may be able to move to Moriarty Field or another facility. Anything scheduled at Moriarty Field would have to be worked around the track schedule. The area at Upper Rogers Field is not big enough for a regulation lacrosse field.
The high school season starts March 26 and ends May 30, and the club team would start a week later. The developmental teams go until mid-June. Last year Pam Arbour worked well with MLA in sharing the field at Quarry Hill with Pioneer Valley soccer, and lacrosse practices were able to take place there. Lacrosse practices also worked well in the area behind Granite Valley Middle School. Field usage for MLA would be up to the Parks and Rec Department. Sarah Shaw would make the decision for the high school varsity team. Parks and Rec and the school should work together to have one field. Tim would prefer to have lacrosse at the high school, but will have to see how wet that field’s corner is. That corner has always been a problem and the drainage will eventually have
to be fixed. Steve O’Shea would like to have a balance among sports, so that each program gets fair usage, and wants open communication for this to happen.
Ed Yesu, Jim Joyce, Matt Kowal and Nick Peters appeared before the Commissioners to discuss Tri Town baseball. Ed Yesu commented that we weren’t able to have Tri Town tryouts, and he feels it’s getting late in the season for baseball. He feels that e-mails should go out much earlier asking who wants to get involved and coaches should be brought together. Ed wants to grow baseball in Monson. He and Jim Joyce have a core group of kids who want to play for each of them. Parks and Rec is opposed to hand-picking teams because they don’t want any player left out. Parks and Rec doesn’t know how many kids are going to register for baseball. Registration just started and the deadline is March 10. Ed still feels baseball should start earlier to be
successful. Ed added that other towns are already practicing and conditioning for the upcoming season, and if we don’t start earlier, Monson will always be behind. Steve O’Shea said the Parks and Rec Department’s function isn’t to train kids all year long. Tryouts have been done many different ways, in the fall, outside, in the gym, etc. No matter how and when they are held there is always a conflict with someone who can’t attend because of an obligation to a different sport. There has to be one 10-12 Tri Town team entered in the A division, and any other teams will be entered in the B or C division. The Commission felt if coaches wanted to hand pick teams and have specific kids on their team, they can do that if they enter the John L. Sullivan league.
Ed also commented that the Parks and Rec Department should stick to a cutoff date. If a team starts practicing with a number of players, then more get added to the team after a number of practices, it isn’t good for the team. You also have a baseball team with too many players. Tim said he felt you shouldn’t penalize a player because their parent came in late to sign them up. Everyone should have the opportunity to play.
Jim Joyce asked if there will or will not be Tri Town tryouts. The answer is that we need to see how many kids sign up before we can determine if tryouts are necessary.
Mike Arbour commented that the Parks and Rec Department is here for the kids, and its purpose is teaching them the game, and to give everyone an opportunity to play.
The Commission was asked about the baseball fields and if they’ll be ready. Cushman will be ready. The backstop at Cushman had been ordered from Hastie Fence and was scheduled for the beginning of November. However, the snow storm hit and Hastie had an overwhelming amount of work as a result of that storm, and we didn’t need the backstop until later. Matt Kowal is a supervisor at a golf course, and he will take a look at the third field at Flynt Park.
Colin Leyburn, Christina Rinaldi, Donna Nodell, and Lianne Pennington appeared before the Commission representing the Dolphins Boosters. They were asked by the Commission to attend the meeting to discuss the $21,000 shortfall that is owed to the School Department for the use of Quarry Hill pool. Steve O’Shea met with the School Committee last year and they agreed to keep the pool open even though there is a shortfall. Christina Rinaldi questioned the $61,000 pool expense number and was told this is the number the school came up with and this is the number we have to go with. There has been a submeter installed, a pool cover purchased, and dehumidifier purchased. The pool cover had not been used, but recently was fixed. Also, the filter does not work correctly. The
boosters want to be involved so they can meet the financial commitment. However, the shortfall will be an ongoing issue. It is very expensive to maintain and operate a pool. The boosters can commit to fund raise, but it is unrealistic that they can come up with $20,000 every year. It is difficult to get parents to help. The new booster officers felt they’ve accomplished a great deal in the last three weeks. The boosters are running the concessions at the swim championships and feel they can raise a lot of money through that. There was discussion that $10,000 was raised from a calendar raffle in 2008, but the accounting for that sum of money was questionable. The boosters will contact Jo Sauriol to see if she has any recollection of the disposition of that money.
It was discussed to include those who are active in the other swim programs (water aerobics, lap swim, etc.) to be involved in the fund raising efforts since they also benefit from the pool. Liz said the boosters should come up with specific fund raising ideas, and then she will approach the others who use the pool to ask them to be involved with those fund raisers. In general, awareness needs to be raised about the need for raising money to keep the pool operating and open. Putting an article in The Journal would be a way to raise awareness.
Colin Leyburn, who has taken over the Treasurer responsibilities of the boosters, commented that the group needs to step up, but he needs to know more specific numbers of what the pool expenses are. He will come in to get the expense sheet that shows the itemized numbers that result in the $61,000 total. Colin will also get a copy of the proposal that was approved by the School Committee that outlines responsibilities and policies for the School Department and the Parks and Rec Department.
The pool hasn’t been properly maintained the way it should be for months. Steve O’Shea suggested that an outside party, such as Sun Splash Pools, which is owned by a Monson resident, be asked to maintain the pool. Such maintenance may be cleaning the filter and other regular upkeep that isn’t being done on a consistent basis.
The boosters will concentrate now on the concessions sales at the swim championships, and once that is over they will focus on other fund raising ideas. Selling banners was an idea that Reed Coles had come up with. Hanging banners that are purchased by businesses has been approved by School Committee, as long as the banners are only visible during swim meets and not during public use. Letters could be sent to local businesses asking for donations for banners, or just straight donations.
Christina wanted to publicly thank Colin for taking over the Treasurer’s position and complimented him on cleaning up records from several years back.
The status of the 1985 Chevy blue pick-up truck was discussed. Steve O’Shea said that Fathers & Sons is willing to do the work on the truck and donate the labor. Tim should arrange to have the truck towed from Trackside, where it’s being stored, to Fathers & Sons. Fathers & Sons will also donate the miscellaneous parts that are needed for the repair. Steve said that for $2,500, including a warranty on the engine, the truck can be repaired and “up and running”. The truck will be put on a lift to make sure there aren’t any other issues that would need to be addressed while it’s there. Steve Slozak made a motion to tow the truck to Fathers & Sons and follow through as Steve O’Shea outlined, and Mike seconded. Tim said the
selectmen are asking for a list of capital items we are in need of. There could be a separate warrant for a truck for the town meeting (May). We would know by then if they will fund any capital items. Steve Slozak amended the motion to include that after inspection if there are any other repairs needed, that Fathers & Sons move forward with those additional repairs. All in favor and the motion passed.
The Parks & Rec Department is sponsoring two trips to the Red Sox: April 22 vs. the Yankees; and July 22 vs. the Toronto Blue Jays.
The bleachers at Granite Valley Middle School have been fixed. Tim had offered to the School Department to help out with the payment of the repairs, but hasn’t seen any kind of bill for this yet.
The Parks & Rec has three employees from Future Works, an organization which employs individuals who were directly affected by the tornado. They have been helping to burn brush at Flynt Park, and everything is almost clear. The fire chief has shut down any burning within the tornado zone.
The gym in the Hillside Building is being cleaned out. There are Yoga classes scheduled that will begin on March 13, and a Zumba class that will begin on March 17. A women’s volleyball night may start up in the gym, and they would be charged $3 a night, which would be consistent with what is charged for volleyball at the high school.
Steve Slozak made a motion to accept the minutes of the December 8 meeting. Mike Arbour seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, February 29, at 6:30 p.m.
Steve Slozak made a motion to adjourn at 8:35 p.m., and Mike Arbour seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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