Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Monday, November 3, 2014
Present: Michael Arbour (Chairman), Peter Beaupre, Jr., Sara Szado
Also Present: Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; Robin Santos, Brian Garon, Hannah Garon, Rich Krupczak, Terry Krupczak, Mia Krupczak, Erin Arbour, Sedona Arbour
Mike called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm.
Peter said it was brought to their attention that there were multiple basketball coaches interested in coaching the 7th/8th grade girls’ suburban basketball team. Since there will only be one team, the purpose of this meeting is to resolve this issue, and have an open forum to do so.
Brian Garon and Robin Santos have both signed up to be 7th/8th grade coaches, and did so on the space allotted for that reason on their daughters’ registration forms.
Brian took over the Suburban team last year when the coach left the position, and Robin coached the CYO team.
Robin said her concern was how this issue was construed and it seemed “undermined”. Her daughter told her that Mike was coaching the “B” team and Brian was coaching the “A” team with specific players. After her daughter told her that Mike was coaching and practice was the following week, Robin approached Tim to question him last week at evaluations. Robin spoke to Tim, then Pete and Sara. Tim told her to speak to Pete and Sara, since they are Commissioners. This is why she’s here.
She wants the best for the kids, and doesn’t need to be head coach but wants to help. Robin has been coaching her daughter for several years. She is willing to step aside but when you have coaches who are willing to work and let them voice their desire to do so, that should be considered. Which kids will be able to play JV is still an unknown. She thought Brian did a great job last year, and maybe coaches should be evaluated.
Brian said that having 15 girls on a team (the amount registered for the team) would be a nightmare. Jeannie explained that they would have to see how many try out for JV, and of those who still would play Suburban, and also the recreational basketball deadline was November 15. There still may be more 7th and 8th grade girls who sign up for rec.
Mike said he would run practices and coach the team until the JV tryouts. Peter asked Mike if he was going to be the coach of this team, and Mike said he wanted to be involved.
Robin questioned the policy of having the coach of last year, automatically be considered the coach of that same team of the current season. Mike said that’s what Ron Constantino (former Parks and Rec Director) did and they’ve always done it that way. Robin questioned that and gave an example of where her daughter wouldn’t have her as coach if she were to move up to a team that already had a coach in place from the previous year.
Robin brought up the logic of having a registration form asking if you are willing to coach and you put your name down, then you hear you’re not because someone else is already coaching. Pete responded that sometimes we have many volunteering and sometimes we don’t. Right now we have no one at younger age divisions right now.
Last year Brian coached two girls who played CYO and JV, and is that true for this year. Yes, they can play both, but it is expensive for the family. Is there a possibility of two Suburban teams? November 19 is the decision for a waiver for high school basketball. November 15 is the deadline for recreational basketball signups. They will have to regroup after the November 15 and 19 decision dates.
Mike said he will not be the head coach of 7th/8th grade girls’ team after teams are formed. Robin and Brian are willing to co-coach one team, or each coach a team if necessary. Brian said at this age group players start turning the corner and they need to be challenged, and he wants that to continue.
Meeting adjourned at 4:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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