Minutes of the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Present: Peter Beaupre, Jr., Sara Szado, Mark Bodak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator; Jeannie Guertin, Administrative Assistant; and Kim Evans, Monson High School Athletic Director
Peter called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
Kim Evans introduced herself to the Commissioners as the new Monson High School Athletic Director. She said the Parks & Rec Department is important not only because we maintain their fields, but we also have programs that feed the high school with athletes from our sports programs. Student enrollment has been decreasing and Monson High School currently has 317 students. All teams except cross country have a waiver for grades 7-12. MIAA is trying to do away with waivers. She’ll be putting in one for the high school’s swim team. The Dolphins rec team is crucial for the high school swim team which is very low in numbers with only ten girls in grades 7-12. We’ve lost quite a few students to school choice.
During discussion of school choice Mark asked if Palmer and Monson together could form a high school hockey team. Kim wasn’t sure if MIAA would allow that, and Mark offered to help Kim in that endeavor if she wanted to explore it.
Kim thought facilities looked good but we need rain. The Fire Department watered Rogers Field for us. Kim would like to attend our meetings and be notified as to when they are. Kim thanked us for picking up the cost of the sprinkler system repair. She said if we have any difficulties with any high school athletic program, please let her know. Peter said we lacked that communication with an Athletic Director in the past so open communication would be welcome.
Kim will send the Granite Valley Middle School Principal the high school soccer game schedule so she’s aware when games are. The principal should try to keep the middle school students off Moriarty Field during recess to decrease possible damage to the field.
Peter told Kim we need to get more of the high school coaches and players involved in our instructional programs. Ninth grade health students and National Honor Society students need community service so they could earn those hours at our instructional programs.
Kim thought with new administration in all three schools, the communication has already gotten much better. Her goal is to keep open communication. Kim will e-mail everyone each Monday what the upcoming games are for the week, and we can include that information in our Parks & Rec weekly e-newsletter.
Sara made a motion to approve the July minutes and Mark seconded. All in favor and the motion passed.
Tim prepared a department budget overview for the Commissioners. Much discussion ensued about the pool, and the bottom line is we’re doing well, but are still catching up on repairs that had been neglected in previous years before we took over the maintenance of the pool. The Parks and Rec expense budget is $19,413 and is given to us by the Town. Regarding the Parks & Rec salaries, Jeannie’s salary is only partially budgeted by the town, and the majority of her salary needs to come out of fees. The Pool’s revolving fund is money collected for swim team, swim lessons, etc. Lifeguards get paid out of revolving fund, as does part of Jeannie’s salary. The Parks & Rec revolving fund and Monson Summer Theatre budgets were also
discussed.
There are now three Monson Summer Theatre productions: Shakespeare on the Green, Monson Summer Theatre Junior and (the original) Monson Summer Theatre. The Shakespeare program lost money both of its first two years. Tim will talk to the director to see what we can do to turn this around next year.
Basketball registration forms will go out soon. Joe Trivosonno, Monson High School varsity basketball coach, has created Basketball Fall Clinics on three consecutive Saturdays, and a 3 on 3 Tip Off basketball tournament, both of which will be administered through the Parks & Rec Department. Jeannie distributed the registration forms to the Commissioners, and gave details of each program to the Commissioners.
Tim updated the Commission on our Pool fee schedule for memberships. There is a membership fee menu that has been publicized and so far we have only sold one membership.
The first day of Instructional Soccer went well. Tim and Sara will try to recruit more high school players to be at the field on Saturday morning to help out Andrew Coelho, who volunteered to run the program this year.
Jeannie distributed a design for a banner that Sara would like to be purchased by NE Elite (baseball) to be hung at Constantino Field. The Commission approved the design of the banner that supports the Monson Parks & Rec Department and is based on a suggestion by Peter (Participate, Volunteer, Connect).
The meeting adjourned at 7:32 p.m.
The next meeting is October 7 at 6:00 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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