Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
Present: Steve O’Shea (Chairman), Peter Beaupre, Jr., Michael Arbour
Also Present: Tim Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator, Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m.
Tim suggested we return to the Suburban Basketball league next season. After experiencing a year without it, he thinks we’d be better off playing boys and girls in the Suburban league. Peter Beaupre thinks there’s too much concentration on being on an A team than what’s best for the kids. There are advantages to having an “A” player on the same team as a “C” player. We don’t have a lot of kids in Monson’s population to compete with other towns that have more players. Tryouts are starting to wear down on the kids. It’s pretty much the same group in all the sports. Mike thinks at least the CYO league is playing competitively and building fundamentals. There are pros and cons to entering the Suburban league. Tim already checked with the league and they will take us back. We could wait to see what we have for numbers for evaluations, and encourage every player to come to evaluations, similar to what we did with baseball. After discussion the Commission
agreed it’s in the best interest to return in the Suburban league.
The Town is going to fund the pool again this year. There was a $2,000 repair to the pool compressor to fix the coolant line and the oil line. The repair was made by 4:00 p.m. today. Peter said we need to think about a fan in the pool area. Bob Methe (from Cote) feels with the Dectron running properly, a fan wouldn’t be needed. There is approximately $23,000 in the pool’s revolving fund. Mike Arbour made a motion to use money from the revolving fund to replace the pool’s strainer. Peter Beaupre seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
Carolyn Burson had approached Tim to see if there was anything needed, especially at Granite Valley Middle School where Nathan Burson enjoyed playing basketball, which could be provided by the family in his memory. The School has agreed to have a scoreboard installed at GVMS in memory of Nathan. The Bursons have agreed to buy a wall mounted scoreboard showing scores and fouls. The Bursons will fund the cost of the scoreboard and we will pay for the installation. There will be a sign with wording to the effect that acknowledges the donation by the Burson family in Nathan’s memory. The board will be on the far wall opposite the scoreboard that is already there. There will be some kind of ceremony, if the Bursons desire to do so, unveiling the new
scoreboard. The board will be compatible with the system that is already there, and it will be able to be operated separately if the divider is drawn.
There is a free parking pass that the Department of Conservation & Recreation provides to us that people can borrow and sign out. We need to know where people use it, since we need to provide that with the application for the following year.
Regarding replacing our storage building due to the one destroyed during the tornado, the Selectmen said they don’t want it rebuilt at 29 Thompson Street. John Morrell has agreed to move his stock pile behind the Monson Fire Department to accommodate the location of our storage building there. It will be a minimum size of 30’ x 60’ building to be shared with the Water Department, with a second floor mezzanine. The Water Department will have access to the building and each department will not have their areas secured, which is not a concern to the Commission.
Veterans Field won’t be able to be used for a couple years due to construction. The Commission discussed different location options for Instructional Soccer, including Quarry Hill #2, or the outfield at Constantino Field. Peter doesn’t want to see anything at Constantino with all the irrigation work that is being invested there. Quarry Hill is the more logical choice. Mike will run Instructional Soccer again, and the minimum age requirement will remain the same as last year.
The Town’s Master Plan is being redone and Tim has been asked to be responsible for the American with Disabilities Act Report.
All coaches should be attending pre-season clinics for each sport. That topic will be tabled until soccer season gets closer.
This meeting is Steve O’Shea’s last meeting since his term expires and he is not running for the next term. Peter thanked Steve O’Shea for his service on the Parks & Rec Commission for the last six years, and commended him on his service. Mike also thanked Steve for his help.
Peter made a motion to approve the April minutes; Mike Arbour seconded. All in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting is Thursday, June 26, at 6:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 7:59 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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