Minutes of the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Present: Peter Beaupre, Jr. (Chairman), Sara Szado, Mark Bodak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator; Jeannie Guertin, Administrative Assistant; Ed Yesu; Jim Daniels
Peter called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Sara made a motion to approve the September minutes and Mark seconded. All in favor and the motion passed.
Ed Yesu appeared before the Commission to thank Tim, Steve and Jeannie on the condition of the upper baseball field at Flynt Park that he used for a John L. Sullivan (JLS) team. Out of towners were very impressed and loved sitting on the high path looking over the game. The team had a very positive experience with JLS and Ed would like to have a JLS team next year and use the field again. Ed plans to move their U13 team up to the A division. Ed realizes that some feel they don’t want to go to JLS again, but Ed would like to go back. Peter had a team and thought the competition was good but the team was in the wrong division and had to be moved which lead off to a negative start, and the fields were in poor condition. Palmer is thinking
of pulling out of Tri Town. There’s an end of season JLS meeting on October 17, which Ed is going to and he offered to be a mediator for the Parks and Rec. Peter said to feel free to voice the opinion of the Parks and Rec towards JLS that he just expressed. Tim also asked if deadlines could be given in a timelier manner.
Ed noticed that a lot of people cut around the outfield fence to sit on the first base line with their team. He asked if a walking path could be put around the field. Tim said he only could go as far as the property line allows and we are right up to it.
Ed asked if there could be some kind of barrier about 20’ long (3’ landscaping fence?) along the first base line to stop balls from going into the woods, where there is poison ivy. Tim could probably find something that we already have if it’s 20’. Mark asked about a permanent barrier at Lower Rogers, and Tim said it’s very expensive, and would be very open to a donated fence. Behind Lower Rogers a fence is going up from extra 8’ chain link fence we had that was removed from the new basketball court. Jim felt you can’t keep the kids from going back there, even with a fence. Ed will measure it out to see exactly is needed.
Ed wants to donate metal roofing for dugouts and wants a count as to how much would be needed. He has a couple teams that could build them; and he could get the roofing and screws. He would need pressure treated wood that would have to be donated.
Ed asked if there is a sign that could be put at the beginning of Park Street that says “Flynt Park/Rogers Field”. He’s witnessed confusion from nonresidents attending games there as to the location of the fields. There is a “Park Road” street sign there, and also there is “Flynt” and “Park” carved into the two stone pillars on each side of the road.
Peter attended the Community Preservation Committee Meeting and submitted projects were discussed. The CPC has rejected the Parks & Rec CPC application for new lockers and bleachers in the pool locker rooms based on the criteria that the CPC doesn’t fund any indoor projects.
We can apply for CPC funding for lights for athletic fields. Peter talked with Evan Brassard (Town Administrator), and he is agreeable to lights at Rogers Field. Peter has been working with Evan and Dan LaRoche (Town Planner) on this project He got a quote for 6 poles for $4,159, including delivery. There would be 12 LED lights on each pole for a total of 72 lights. Peter thinks the total cost would be approximately $50,000, and the LED lights may have rebates. He has also talked to solar companies. Mark offered to help Peter with further research for the lighting project. Sara has done a great deal of research for the Monson Athletic Boosters also and said Mike Quinn from Universal Electric has been helpful. Peter is going to
call Dave Northup who lives in Monson and does sports field lighting
Mark wanted to discuss field usage permits and what we do if those who apply for field permits do not pay the fee. Peter suggested that if the fee is not paid by the first game, the game is cancelled. Tim asked how we would do that since games are not run through Parks & Rec (and we normally wouldn’t have the information needed to cancel a game). The Commission decided that whoever submits an Application for Field Use must submit the fee at the same time, or the Application will not be accepted. Jeannie will add that policy to the form and our office will not accept any applications without full payment.
Tim said basketball tryouts are October 14 and 21 (for Grades 5-8), and Suburban league meetings are coming up.
Tim is working on profit/loss information for Monson Summer Theatre. So far Shakespeare has lost over $1,000, and Little Mermaid, Jr. has profited over $2,000. He has not completed Seussical since all expenditures have not been submitted yet.
There are two sheds arriving Friday; one at the upper baseball field at Flynt Park (donated by Monson Baseball Association), and one at Veterans Park near the fence by the river. Highway Department dug out the bases for both sheds.
In the past Youth Basketball (boys and girls in Grades 1 and 2) has only met on Saturdays. Tim is adding a weekday practice for those teams so they will get more play and practice time and will be better prepared for 3rd/4th grade basketball.
The meeting adjourned at 7:23 p.m.
The next meeting is November 4 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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