Minutes of the Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Present: Peter Beaupre, Jr. (Chairman), Sara Szado, Mark Bodak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator; Jeannie Guertin, Administrative Assistant; Curt Szado and Bill Lemon, Instructional Soccer
Peter called the meeting to order at 5:30 pm.
Bill Lemon and Curt Szado appeared as the volunteers who will run Instructional Soccer this year. A soccer field was created for Instructional and 1st/2nd Grade soccer at the uppermost field at Flynt Park. All the equipment they need will be in the shed at the field and Bill and Curt each have keys. There are some parents that have volunteered to help, and Sara said there are a number of varsity players who will also help out. Bill and Curt’s roles are to make sure everything is running smoothly and oversee the program each Saturday. Peter suggested they address the parents at the first practice to discuss expectations for the season. Jeannie will send them a roster with names and contact information and she
will be there the first day to check in kids and hand out t-shirts, picture forms, and cinch bags that were donated by a parent. The cinch bags contain National Guard items (lanyards, sunscreen, etc.) and there are 50 of them, which should be enough for all who have registered. Picture day is September 24 and is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. at the field. Both Bill and Curt will not be available that day, but Mark will try to be there to help out.
Field Usage was discussed. Mark suggested that each permit include the names of all adults who are authorized to supervise for each organization applying for a permit. Besides ensuring that groups with authorized adults are on the field, we are also concerned about liability if someone gets hurt on one of our fields and they are not authorized to use it. It was agreed that we would add another page to the current permit, listing all adults who are authorized to be at the field.
Mark commented that the new soccer field at Vets looks great and asked if we can fit another soccer field there. He also asked if the smaller baseball field could be repurposed if we didn’t need it. With JV baseball using the bigger field, we can’t have another field there. Tim is planning on turning the smaller baseball field into a softball field.
There were complaints from Pioneer Valley coaches that the newly created soccer field at Veterans Park was not big enough. The soccer field was created to accommodate U10 and younger teams, and we were unaware that U11 teams were going to play there. The field was enlarged as much as possible. It was decided that teams using Veterans Park and Cushman Field could work it out amongst themselves so each team can play on a field that closest meets their needs.
The irrigation at Upper Rogers was approved by the Community Preservation Committee and we have to wait to see how much will be allocated for CPC projects by the State. Then it would have to be voted on at Town Meeting. Peter is on the CPC and said Parks & Rec was the only applicant that did not ask for full funding of the total amount of the project. (The Water Department will complete the plumbing labor, estimated at $2,000.)
The Commission would like to hold a pre-season meeting for all basketball coaches, and have them sign a Coaches’ Code of Ethics. We will invite all the basketball coaches to our November Parks & Rec Commission Meeting. We may have some recreational basketball coaches to our December meeting for the same reason, as some rec teams may not be established until after the November meeting.
Sara made a motion to accept the July minutes, and Mark seconded. All in favor and the motion passed.
Jacob Griggs has asked to renovate the donated snack shack as an Eagle Scout project. Tim has signed his required paperwork necessary for him to move forward. Jacob now has to have the project approved by the Eagle Board. Part of the Upper Rogers irrigation CPC project is to prep wiring for possible use for concessions. We will wait until Jacob completes his project before we plan for food storage and hiring policy.
The creation of the disc golf course at Flynt Park has started and the first hole has been cleared. Jordan Brassard, Sean Pennington, and Pat Mahar are using hand loppers to clear the area.
Regarding the playground at Flynt Park that was burned down, the insurance company has paid the town. However, the transference of funds to the appropriate account must be brought to Town Meeting before the money can be spent to replace the playground.
There was much discussion about lighting at Flynt Park, resulting in the Commission agreeing to start with Upper Rogers Field. Mark will talk with Mike Angelica of Collins Electric, and Sara will talk to Mike Quinn from Universal Electric to get quotes for lighting at that field. We can apply for CPC funds in the spring once we get an estimate.
Basketball registration forms will go out soon. There will be separate forms for CYO/Suburban and Recreational basketball to avoid confusion. Evaluation dates have been set, and Joe Trivisonno is planning a pre-season fall clinic.
A Notice of Intent is being prepared to create a girls’ lacrosse field at Cushman Field. Tim talked with Jerry Talbot of Excavation Plus about the amount of fill to bring in to satisfy the Conservation Commission. Jerry thought we would need about 20 yards. Fees would have to be paid to file the Notice of Intent, and then the proposed project will go before the Conservation Commission. We would like to have this field completed in the fall to be ready for spring lacrosse.
Paving has begun at the new skate park today. The pavement has to cure for 30 days before they install ramps and other components.
We are exploring having a movie night at Memorial Hall, perhaps in the winter, and have requested quotes from FunFlicks for an appropriate sized screen for the stage. FunFlicks is the same company that provides the rented screen and equipment for our annual outdoor movie night.
Tim proposed that Upper Rogers field at Flynt Park be renamed after Larry Tassinari who recently passed away. Larry has donated much to the Town and to the Monson Athletic Boosters and was a dedicated supporter of Monson soccer. Lower Rogers field would remain Lower Rogers field, Upper Rogers field would become Larry Tassinari Field (or something close to that), and the third field would become Upper Rogers field. Sara and Tim will either meet with Priscilla Tassinari and her children, or we will prepare a letter to be sent from the Commission asking the family’s permission to do so. The selectmen will then be approached for permission to name the field. Sara felt that the Boosters could donate a sum of money for the sign,
as contributions were asked to be given to the Boosters in Larry’s name upon his passing. Mark made a motion to rename the current Upper Rogers field after Larry Tassinari, and Sara seconded. All in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting is October 5 at 5:30 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 7:25 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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