Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Present: Michael Arbour (Chairman), Peter Beaupre, Jr., Sara Szado
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator; Jeannie Guertin, Administrative Assistant
Mike called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
Regarding the Community Preservation Fund bleacher project at Flynt Park, since the cost of the projected was submitted in the proposal last year the price of the playground has increased by $1,000, and the bleachers have increased by $600,. The bleachers sit 110 people. Steve Gordon and Tim can’t put them together themselves, and the price Tim got for assembly is $3,200. Prevailing wages drives up the cost. Tim talked to Leslie Duthie of the Community Preservation Committee and the CPC cannot give us any more money than was approved. We have to come up with the additional money, or change the scope of the project. The playground has been ordered, as well as the woodchips. Sara asked if they could get a group of volunteers to put
together. Pete asked about Pathfinder Vocational High School to do the work, but they’re usually a year and half out for a waiting list. Tim suggested we use money we have in the revolving fund to pay for the assembly of the bleachers, especially to avoid any liability issues if volunteers or others tried to do it. Peter made a motion that we spend $3,200 from the revolving fund to pay for the assembly/installation of bleachers at Flynt Park. Sara seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
Tim has been researching what other towns charge for field usage fees and we are low, especially with the cost of fertilizer, paint, infield materials and fuel. Chicopee charges $50-$80 per game without lights and has 6-8 home games. We charge $200 now. The Commission agreed that we are not covering our costs by charging what we do currently and need to increase the fee. It was discussed phasing in an increase in the fee, but the Department can’t afford not to cover all our costs for field maintenance right now. Peter made a motion that we increase the field usage fees to $400 per team, and Sara seconded. We should have something in writing that itemizes the actual cost of field set up if there are complaints of the increase. All in favor and
the motion passed.
The Commission discussed having a mission statement that needs to be visible and available to the community, and what aspects they want the statement to reflect. Jeannie will make a draft as a proposed mission statement and send to the Commission for editing and comments.
Peter made a motion to approve the April minutes. Sara seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
First Pitch Baseball starts Saturday, May 9. It is starting a week late because there was a conflict with the JV softball game schedule. Quarry Hill Community School’s Field Day is being moved to the JV softball field from the Varsity softball field to avoid any conflicts with possible playoff games as this occurred last year.
The U9 John L. Sullivan (JLS) baseball team won their first game 30-0. Pete pitched to his team at the request of the opposing team’s coach and the opposing team was not anywhere near the skill level of our team. They won their second game 17-0 after three innings. Craig Szado is communicating with the JLS coordinator about this. We will see how the next game or two goes, and will discuss the possibility of moving our JLS team up to the A division. There weren’t enough regional teams for a B and C team, so all teams not placed in the A division ended up in the B division.
We are still collecting outstanding registration fees for basketball but the number is much lower than last year. Jeannie distributed a list of those still owing money to the Parks & Rec and she will continue to follow up.
Tim is still unable to hire seasonal help due to the State not approving our application, which has been approved in past years. Dennis Vacon and Tyler Stratton will return part-time if they had to. Town Administrator Evan Brassard went to legislature about it and they are looking into the problem but there’s no positive result yet. It is difficult to get help from other departments since it’s their busy season also, and some departments are also down a man or two. Steve Gordon has been setting up fields and Tim has been mowing.
The high school home run fence is at Hillside and Sara said she’d ask the team to put it up. The fence was purchased by the Monson Athletic Boosters. The new sign for Constantino Field is almost complete and was paid for through donations. The sign will have to be put up with 4 x 4’s, and will be in left center field and double sided.
The next tentative meeting date is Wednesday, June 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 7:36 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Administrative Assistant
Timothy J Pascale
Director/Program Coordinator
Monson Parks and Recreation
110 Main Street
Monson, MA 01057
413-267-4105 - Phone
413-267-0327 - fax
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