Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, March 15, 2012
Present: Steve O’Shea (Chairman) Michael Arbour and Steve Slozak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; Emma Norialhe (sp?), Julianne Clarke, Mallory Lin, Laurie Clarke, and Sherri Langford (Girls Scouts); Colin Leyburn, Christina Orciari, Lianne Pennington and Donna Nodell (Monson Dolphins Boosters); John Fiester
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:05 p.m.
Emma Norialhe (sp?), Julianne Clarke, Mallory Lin (girl scouts), and Laurie Clarke and Sherri Langford (parents) appeared from Troop 20437 to propose a Silver Award project. They would like to provide receptacles for recycles throughout the town, including in the parks by the trash bins. The bins are being donated by Allied Waste. The boy scouts are interested in organizing a plan to empty the bins, and have connected with a recycling center in Connecticut. There are details being worked out to acknowledge the girl scouts’ involvement by providing some kind of signage. Three samples of metal bins were presented to the Commission and they chose the 48 gallon round container. The Commission said that the town needs these, and commended the girl scouts on their initiative. Five
bins will be the initial goal of the project. Ideally, there could be approximately 30 bins in our parks (Vets, Cushman, Rogers Fields/Flynt Park, Moriarty Field and Monson High School). The Commission agreed to accept the girl scouts’ recycling project, but the success of the recycling program is contingent on the boy scouts’ commitment to emptying the bins.
Matt Kowal discussed the conditions of the third field at Rogers Fields. He had offered to look at the field since he is Golf Course Superintendent at Wilbraham Country Club and has experience with fields and drainage. The drainage and pipe on the third base side isn’t working. He suggested putting a catch basin by the gate and laying 250’ of 6-inch perforated pipe, lining the bottom with stone, burying the pipe with stone, then covering and seeding the area. The existing pipe should come out. The cost would be approximately $1,500 for material.
Matt doesn’t have the equipment to do this. The Highway Department has a backhoe and could do the digging. It would take a week to do the job. Steve Slozak made a motion to go forward with the project, but not exceed $3,000 to do so. Steve O’Shea seconded; all in favor and the motion passed. Tim will talk to the Highway Department to see if they can start working on the digging next week. Matt will e-mail Tim all the necessary information.
John Fiester commented on a conflict that exists between two of the coaches of the 10/12 Tri Town teams. The head coach of one of the teams is Ed Yesu, and the other head coach will be Matt Kowal; these are not the two parties with the conflict. The determination of who is head coach is based on how many players had requested each of the coaches at the time of registration, and the fact that Ed and Matt have been the key coaches communicating with the Parks & Rec Department for each team. Because one of the coaches involved in the conflict is not a head coach, future problems may be avoided.
Mike Arbour had attended a selectmen meeting in which establishing a grounds maintenance department was discussed. How can we sustain the rec department and keep it going without a full time director? There is scheduling, getting teams together, issues that need to be handled by a director. Should the number of commissioners be increased to five, and have a representative or liaison for baseball, basketball, etc.
Tim could keep the parks and rec piece and also take care of the cemetery piece, being grounds maintenance and rec director. This could be done for one year on an interim basis. Tim would have to report to the Selectmen, and if the Parks & Rec Commission would have to be dissolved, it would require a town vote. The Commission would propose this scenario to the Selectmen, and at the same time address the rec budget that the Selectmen are asking for. The Commission set a special meeting to discuss this on Thursday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m.
Colin Leyburn, Christina Orciari, Lianne Pennington and Donna Nodell from the Monson Dolphins Boosters appeared before the Commission. Jim Pennington, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said that the town was paying $40,000 of total pool expenses. This is contrary to what was communicated previously, in that the town would pay $20,000.
Steve O’Shea said the obligation to the school couldn’t be met by Parks & Rec. It was discussed with the School Department what Parks and Rec’s responsibilities were for the school. There was agreement between the Parks & Rec and the school department, in which Pat Dardenne was involved, of what these responsibilities were, including what the Parks & Rec would pay the school.
Colin Leyburn said the boosters have to justify to parents why we need to raise money. Christina Orciari wanted to have a conversation with Don Smith about this issue. Steve O’Shea will reach out to Don Smith and let him know he heard that there was more money coming from the School Department than was originally thought and see if that was true. The boosters were given information by Jim Pennington that $40,000 was being paid by the school for the fiscal year. Where is the $40,000 coming from, when the original amount quoted was $20,000?
It was mentioned that one of the Monson Dolphins rec swimmers, Kelly Pennington, was going to the National Championships. Kelly placed first in the 1500 meter race.
Jeanne and Ken Bailey called Steve Slozak because they claimed that brush was being burned on their property. They wouldn’t have a problem with it if they were called first. The property is shown as an easement, but Jeanne says they own it. Steve met with the Baileys and they said they put in the road when they bought the property.
The microphone in Tim’s cell phone is not working. He has an upgrade due in July from Verizon. Tim bought a phone, and Parks and Rec pays for the service. Tim will get calls at night from coaches. In July he could get a basic plan for talking and texting. The phone would be $200, and Tim will see if Verizon will give a quote for the phone and bill him for it.
The blue pick-up truck came back repaired today.
Tim will be interviewing two more people from Future Works. Dan Boone will be working for us for the same amount of money he was receiving as a Future Works employee. In addition, we will have two Future Works employees, who are being paid for by a grant for 16 weeks.
Tim will find out how to go about putting a dump truck and two mowers on warrants for the Town Meeting.
The Monson Youth Baseball Association bought helmets for the 10-12 teams. Each player will have their own helmet.
Steve Slozak made a motion to accept the minutes of the January 25 meeting. Steve O’Shea seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting will be held Thursday, March 22, at 6:30 p.m.
Steve O’Shea made a motion to adjourn at 9:00 p.m., and Steve Slozak seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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