Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Present: Steve O’Shea (Chairman), Steve Slozak, Michael Arbour
Also Present: Tim Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator, Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; John Gagnon, Monson High School Varsity Girls Coach; Peter Sauriol, School Committee Member and Parks & Recreation Department liaison
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:59 p.m.
John Gagnon, girls’ high school Varsity basketball coach, appeared before the Commission to discuss the Parks & Recreation Department’s basketball program. He was asked by the Monson High School Principal and Athletic Director to come and address the Commissioners relative to keeping the lines of communication open between the Parks & Rec Department and the school. Also, he would like to hold a free basketball clinic on Sunday afternoons one hour before his regular practices. His players would run the clinic for our recreational basketball participants. Once we have teams and coaches in place, we would forward the coaches’ names and contact information to John and he would contact them about the clinics. John and his two assistant coaches would like to participate in
the Suburban evaluations by sitting on the panel and evaluating players. Also, Tim Gerry would like to participate on the panel as the high school boys’ varsity basketball coach.
The Commission agreed to the Sunday clinics and also will allow John and Tim and any assistant coaches to be included on the panel for the Suburban evaluations.
The high school baseball field irrigation project was discussed. It was estimated by the Water Department that approximately $1,000 would be the cost for water based on the school’s usage. Once approved by the School Department the Water Department can schedule the work; however, the ground is going to freeze soon so it may not be done this year. Peter Sauriol said he will address this with Don Smith to see what the status of the approval is. There was discussion regarding the possibility of Community Preservation funds being used for the completion of the project, such as the installation of the hardware, including the poured cement pad. Steve O’Shea made a motion to pursue bid estimates for a CPC application for the irrigation project for Constantino Field at the high school. Mike Arbour seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
Mike Arbour questioned the user fee for varsity swimmers, which is $150, based on the new user fee schedule for the current year. Peter wasn’t sure how the calculations were made for each sport and the new user fees assigned. It seems because of the high expense of maintaining the pool, some of that expense could be offset by the school and the Parks & Rec Department if it could be built into the swimmers’ users fees. Peter will check into this and get back to the Commission as to how the users’ fees were calculated.
Regarding the drainage grant project at Flynt Park, there were pipes discovered at Lower Rogers field coming out of the mountain. Pipes had to be moved because of a spring. It is level behind the goal. Brad Medeiros will hydro seed the whole area pro bono.
Upper Rogers field is done, and wasn’t as bad as Lower Rogers. In the spring, once Rocky Mountain Wood is out of there, the drainage at the third field will be done.
The forestry project at Flynt Park has begun. Rocky Mountain trucks started to enter through Keep Museum property, but it was too wet, so they had to access the area through Flynt Park. Most of the wood can’t be used and is getting chipped since it was twisted from the tornado. A part of Park Road caved in this morning. Tim showed the Commission pictures of the damage and the repair. Money intended for Cushman Field will be transferred to the Flynt Park drainage project to ensure it is done correctly.
The start date for the new tennis court construction is October 24, weather permitting. The silt fence is up as requested by the Conservation Commission. The project should only take two or three days. A possible ice skating rink was discussed, and what the cost would be.
Gretchen Neggers had asked Tim to look at the property at the Monson Developmental Center. There are buildings and facilities, such as a gym, stage and office space, that would be ideal for a Parks & Recreation Department, but they can’t be used because of the presence of asbestos. There is a possibility that the Parks & Rec Department can purchase the field space at the Monson Developmental Center. Tim let Gretchen know he was interested in the field. The possibility of using CPC funds to make betterments to that field was discussed, if it were owned by the Parks & Rec Department.
The status of Tim’s job description/contract was discussed as it relates to him being addressed by the state ethics commission for coaching a high school sport. The ethics commission told Tim the coaching position would have to be included in his contract; however, the town doesn’t allow Tim to have a contract. Tim has contacted Ken Albano, town counsel, and Ken is working on a letter to the ethics commission on Tim’s behalf. He has until November 6 to get this resolved with the ethics commission.
The men’s basketball league will take place on Wednesday or Thursday nights as dictated by Mike Arbour and based on players’ availability. All participants must be pre-registered and paid in full before the start date.
Mike Arbour would like to see the Parks & Recreation Commission have 5 members instead of 3, and assign a program, i.e, soccer, to a commissioner. He has talked with Town Clerk Nancy Morrell and she is looking into what the procedure would be for this. He would like to have a separate meeting with the present commissioners to discuss this and the future direction of the Parks & Recreation Commission. After the regular November meeting, the commissioners will set a date for the separate meeting.
Mike Arbour made a motion to accept the August 16 minutes. Steve O’Shea seconded; all in favor and the motion passed. Steve Slozak made a motion to accept the September 25 minutes with the following amendment: the fee for the men’s basketball league would be $30 for each session, and not $20 as shown in the minutes. Mike Arbour seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting date is Tuesday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Mike Arbour made a motion to close the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Steve Slozak seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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