Minutes of the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Present: Peter Beaupre, Jr. (Chairman), Sara Szado, Mark Bodak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator; Jeannie Guertin, Administrative Assistant; Lauren Smith, Monson High School Varsity Girls Lacrosse coach; Kim Evans, Monson High School Athletic Director; Eric Madison, Monson High School Varsity Boys Lacrosse Assistant Coach; Art Stevens, Parks & Recreation Junior Boys Lacrosse Coach; Mark Zippin, Parks & Recreation Senior Boys Lacrosse Coach.
Peter called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.
Lauren Smith appeared before the Commission to request another lax field for next spring. Lacrosse is still a relatively new sport to Monson and we need more facilities to improve and grow the sport. There are currently six teams that utilize one field, the Monson High School lacrosse field. Lauren’s varsity team has missed seven practices this season due to field unavailability. While a full field would be great, even if she had half a field with lines to practice it would be very helpful. The only full sized lacrosse field the town has is the Monson High School field. Besides the scheduling problem of having one field, when the field is wet it gets beat up with the all the use. The Parks & Rec created a field at one
end of Upper Rogers field, but this is a smaller field designed for the Bantam teams, which is also used for Instructional Lacrosse. Eric Madison commented that when there are home games no one can practice on the high school field. Kim Evans thought it would be better to have a whole field.
Peter said that Monson is running into lack of space to create fields. Upper Rogers field, which is the varsity girls’ soccer field, is now half lacrosse and half baseball field, and they’re used almost every night in the spring.
The Commission and those in attendance discussed possible sites for a full field or half field, including the area behind Granite Valley Middle School, Moriarty Field, the Quarry Hill Community School field space in between the softball diamonds, Flynt Park and Cushman Field. It was agreed that Cushman Field could be a valuable field space if it could be prepared properly, taking into consideration the sewer line that runs beneath it. Tim would prefer to have separate girls and boys facilities. Also discussed was the logistics of game and practice times, and the burden on the Parks & Recreation Department to maintain the number of the fields they are currently taking care of.
It was decided that the field space at Quarry Hill Community School would be measured out to see if it could accommodate either a full field or half practice field. The renovation of Cushman Field and the cost associated it will also be explored to see if this is a viable solution.
A community ice skating rink is still something that the Commission would like to pursue. Peter will check the criteria of the Community Preservation Act to see if the creation of a rink would qualify as a possible project. His next meeting is June 2 and he will bring this up to the Community Preservation Committee, of which he is a member.
Mark Zippin appeared before the Commissioners to relay his view of an incident that was reported to Tim and also Peter. The incident occurred during a lacrosse game in Longmeadow which resulted in the league suspending Mark and the Longmeadow coach for one game and putting them on probation for the rest of the season. The Commission reviewed the statement from the officiating referee and talked to Mark at great length. Mark Bodak made a motion that the Commission extend the league’s suspension of one game to two games that Mark cannot coach, and Sara seconded. The Commissioners summarized that Mark is suspended from coaching the next two games, and is on the league’s probation for the rest of the season; however, he may attend team practices, and can
attend the games that he is unable to coach. The Commission voted all in favor and the motion was passed.
Mark Bodak attended a Selectmen’s meeting recently to discuss the Town’s policy of having volunteers do work. It is not possible for a volunteer to use town equipment. A contractor could be hired and use their own equipment, under their own liability, as long as the union approves the project. Town Administrator Evan Brassard told Mark that if he is given thirty days’ notice for a particular project he will look into it. Mark discussed a situation where the union rejected a project arguing that the Parks & Rec Department should do it. Could an independent organization or club pay money to cover the overtime required to complete the project? We would have to check with the Town to see how money would be
transferred from that organization towards the payroll for overtime. That led to discussion of what the budget process is and how more money would be requested in the budget. Tim said the budget process starts in December for the fiscal year which starts July 1. A level service budget is generally requested from department heads, which means the budget amount is the same as the previous year with the exception of salaries. Each year Tim requests money for Jeannie’s salary and is turned down, and, therefore is compensated through user fees.
In the past we have had seasonal help, which is for a 16 week period. The state recently mandated that we are not allowed to do this anymore. We now have two employees who work in the summer months that have worked for us for several years and are experienced, good workers. We are able to hire part-time employees for 19 hours a week, but it is difficult to get quality applicants who are willing to only work 19 hours a week.
The Commission reviewed our field permit policy. Last year the Commission voted on the policy that the Parks & Rec would not accept a field permit without the fee. This policy is included on the field permit application, and the Commission wishes to reconfirm this policy and ensure we are getting fees with the field permit applications. In moving forward, teams will not be allowed to play if they don’t have a permit.
In the fall both Pioneer Valley and Roots soccer leagues will go to small fields up to U12. We may be able to put one at Cushman Field if we use part of the baseball field. Quarry Hill Community School is not an option since we need to overseed that field. Constantino Field may be an option, but there was fall baseball there last year. Veterans Field may be possible, since it already has instructional and 1st/2nd grade soccer there. We may be able to put instructional soccer and 1st/2nd grade soccer at the JV softball field at Quarry Hill, and place the field for Pioneer Valley and Roots soccer at Veterans Field.
Regarding Accounts Receivable there is still an outstanding total balance of $530 in registration fees from basketball. There are also some uniforms missing, but they are still coming back and Jeannie is working on getting the rest of them returned.
Sara made a motion to approve the March minutes and Mark seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting is Monday, June 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned 9:12 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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