Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Present: Steve O’Shea (Chairman), Michael Arbour
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; Pat Dardenne, Monson Public Schools Superintendent; Don Smith, Director of Business & Facilities; Liz Manley, Pool Director; Dan Haggerty and Donna Mastroianni, Monson Lacrosse Association; Ed Yesu
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
The Parks & Rec is “struggling a little” with the pool payments. The May payment will be made, but help may be needed from the Dolphins boosters for the June payment. Pat felt that the Pool Use Agreement that has been in place the last year has worked out fine, and the same kind of agreement can be assumed for the upcoming year. The School Committee still has the pool on the table for continued discussion. It is expected that it will cost $55,000 to operate the pool next year, and $38,000 is budgeted for next year. The School Committee will have to reevaluate to determine if Parks & Rec has to float the difference. There has been cost savings because of the dehumidifier and other variables. Fiscal Year 2014 will reflect a full 12 months of the new electricity
rates. Liz said that the chlorine will be running out, and she was told that the school will pay for more chlorine. The School Committee meets next Wednesday and will discuss the pool and the Pool Use Agreement. This year we were fortunate to have an additional $150,000 in the budget because of the town employees moving to GIC health insurance. We will not have that next year, so the budget will be significantly diminished.
Dan Haggerty and Donna Mastroianni asked the Commission about field usage for lacrosse. The Monson Development Center (MDC) has been letting the Monson Lacrosse Association (MLA) use their property for a small lacrosse field. The field has been mowed and lined by MLA volunteers, and has been used for instructional lacrosse, bantam division (3rd/4th grade) games and practice, and practice for eight other Monson lacrosse teams. The concern is that when the MDC closes this summer, that field will no longer be available to MLA and will leave the teams to a great disadvantage. The high school field is used for other lacrosse teams for games and practices, and the only other areas that are used for practice are the Quarry Hill soccer field, and behind Granite Valley Middle
School. There are tentative plans to put a second baseball field at Cushman Field for 8/10 age group and then a soccer field in between the two ball fields. Is there a real need for another 8/10 field in town? It would be difficult to put a full size standard lacrosse field at Cushman, but it can be measured to fit a smaller field similar to the MDC field’s size. Also, a smaller field could possibly fit at the far end of Upper Rogers field, and could rotate each year from one end of that field to the other. Concentration will be made right now to find space for a smaller field to replace the field that will be lost at the MDC.
The $500,000 grant to Monson funded by the state was discussed and how it would be administered. A timeline was established for the proposed work. Tim has hired a forester and has met with Gretchen in regards to the forest cutting and management plan behind Flynt Park. Bid specs have been done for Cushman Field and the tennis courts. A quote was given of $65,000-$70,000 to build two new tennis courts, not including a fence. A greenway is part of the grant. There was discussion if a walk way could be included from tennis courts and/or Bethany Road to Cushman Field. All projects should be completed before July 1, 2013.
Ed Yesu appeared before the Commission to discuss an e-mail he had sent to Steve O’Shea. Copies of the e-mail were distributed. Ed Yesu went over the points he made in the e-mail: creating incentive to attract more coaches (for example, discount in their childrens’ registration fees) and showing more support; repositioning the score board at Flynt Park; adhering to cut off dates for baseball registrations; Tri-Town tryouts; and more visibility by Parks & Rec staff.
Craig Szado, Monson High School varsity baseball coach, will be more involved with Tri-Town tryouts. Pete Beaupre wants to move the rec baseball program away from t-ball and towards instructional. He felt the kids playing t-ball were not learning the basic skills. Tim may buy some training materials for coaches for guides.
Mike Arbour made a motion to accept the minutes of the May 15 meeting. Steve O’Shea seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting will be held either July 17 or 19. Jeannie will check with Steve Slozak to see which date is best for him and let Steve and Mike know.
Steve O’Shea made a motion to adjourn at 9:10 p.m., and Mike Arbour seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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