Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Present: Steve O’Shea (Chairman), Michael Arbour and Steve Slozak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:47 p.m.
Tim walked the grounds at Flynt Park with John Morrell and Leslie Duthie to check the field conditions. Leslie said she wouldn’t be opposed to Community Preservation funds to repair the new field. There is money available for this, and John gave an estimate of $40,000 (based on material) for the whole project. Tim will process the application for Community Preservation funding. The deadline for submitting applications is August 30.
Rocky Mountain had given a price of $150,000 to clean up the trails at Flynt Park. A resident, Mark Bergeron, has done some clearing. Leslie Duthie should be contacted for advice on how to move forward.
Brad Medeiros is supposed to fix the ruts in Upper Rogers field. He will use some of the loam that is still there. Moriarty Field is in bad shape, and Tim will see if he can get the sprinkler system going. Willow Farm usually doesn’t come until May. They are pretty busy right now so Tim will see if he can get it going without calling them.
Steve O’Shea and Steve Slozak attended the April 10 Board of Selectmen Meeting to discuss the Grounds Maintenance proposal and the recreational budget, which was requested from them. The Commission is opposed to the Grounds Maintenance proposal. A recreational budget of $83,193 was given to the Selectmen at the meeting. They told the Selectmen they didn’t feel there was anything wrong with how the Parks & Rec Department was operating, and instead suggested that the Parks & Rec Department absorb the grounds responsibilities of the Cemetery Department. There have been only two complaints of the Parks & Rec Department that they are aware of. One was that the tennis courts were not cleaned out after the tornado. The second one was former Selectmen John Goodrich’s complaint of a Parks & Rec employee using a work vehicle to transport wood to his home.
A formal complaint process for the Parks & Rec Department was discussed. There is a form for this use, but it is more geared toward coaches. An announcement will appear on the Parks & Rec newsletter and Facebook page that will give each of the commissioners’ names and e-mails, and solicit for complaints and/or suggestions, comments or questions. This will hopefully open up communication between the people in Monson and their Parks & Rec commissioners.
The backstop at Cushman Field was angled, but is now fixed.
Erin Greene is trying to secure rights to stage “Grease” for this year’s Monson Summer Theatre’s production.
May 8 is picture night. It may be a good idea for the Commissioners to be there and be visible to solicit comments from residents on the Grounds Maintenance proposal.
Steve Slozak made a motion to accept the minutes of the March 15 meeting. Mike Arbour seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
Mike Arbour made a motion to accept the minutes of the March 22 meeting. Steve Slozak seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting will be held Tuesday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m.
Steve Slozak made a motion to adjourn at 8:10 p.m., and Mike Arbour seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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