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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRecreation Comm Minutes 1/14/2014Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes January 14,2014 Attendees Present: Pd Westhaver; Clerk, Mitch Bregnard, ;.I? Mike Weber, Linda McCabe Sherri H. Gurnon; Parks & Recreation Director Mary Sellner; Assistant to the Director 1. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 PM. 2. Minutes of the Recreation Commission Meeting from November 5, 2013. Motion: By Mitch Bregnard to approve the Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes from November 5, 2013 as written. Seconded by Ed Westhaver. Motion passes, 3 -0. (Mike Weber arrived after the vote.) 3. Questions & Comments: Ed Westhaver welcomed new Commissioner Linda McCabe for a three year term. 4. Facility Requests: - At 6pm, Mark Cook, Highway Division; was present to discuss building a small covered pavilion area at Plymouth Street Playground to be used as a shelter or picnic area. He can get the lumber at a discount, but there would be a charge for the delivery. Mark Cook will work with a structural engineer who works with him on big projects and will help him design this at no charge. Mitch Bregnard told Mark Cook to go ahead with the plans and then come back to the Commission for the funding. Mr. Cook informed the Commission that he is planting trees along the guard rail at Plymouth Street to hold the dust down as people drive into the facility. The long term goal is to pave it. Mark Cook wants to refurbish Memorial Park Upper Field. To fix it, he will need to shut it down. This will affect summer camp, as well. Mr. Cook mentioned that it will take close to 8 weeks to grade it, put irrigation in and apply the liquid fertilization through the irrigation, seed it and the seed to germinate. He would like to start the project June 1 -mid August. Mitch Bregnard mentioned that there are groups that will need to be notified of this so that they can make adjustments. This would include: JV /Freshman football, Pop Warner, Senior softball league, but baseball should be done by then. Mark Cook also mentioned that he would like to dig up the softball fields at Plymouth Street and convert it to a grass area. He will start with Hutcheson Field first as it's a priority over Plymouth Street. He will dig out the gravel at Hutcheson and put in grass. -At 6:30pm, Ken Bekampis, Christel Fowkes, and Mike Donnelly from Mansfield Youth Lacrosse came to discuss the construction of a "lacrosse wall ". It would be a concrete wall to bounce lacrosse balls off. Ken Bekampis stated that there are 375 participants in the Youth Lacrosse program in grades 1 -8. The wall would allow for repetition and practice at shooting. Once it's constructed, Mansfield Youth Lacrosse will maintain it. They would want to have access to both sides of the wall, as well. They have the funds to get the project started and people who can supply the equipment necessary to do the project. However, they were looking for permission and a field to put the wall up. Youth Lacrosse hoped for Memorial Park however, through discussion, the Commission felt that there could be a liability issue if the balls cause injury to children/parents who are using the playground area as they bounce off the wall. Mitch Bregnard mentioned using Hutcheson as it's wooded and not used as much, and that the gravel was being removed and grass put in. Mitch Bregnard told the group to get in touch with Mark Cook and work with him on the construction. Ken Bekampis wanted to have it in an area where it can and will be used and hoped that the area behind the goalposts in Lower Memorial (near the tennis courts and skate park) would work. After looking at the Google Maps that the Youth Lacrosse provided to the Commission, it was decided that that location would work. Tim Frias, Head Coach of the Mansfield High School Boy's Lacrosse, came to endorse the construction of the wall. He mentioned that the wall could potentially be used by lacrosse and soccer players and even pitchers from leagues of every age. -At 6:45pm, Denny Goodrich from Norton's Alternative Transportation Committee came to give an update on the Norton Rails to Trails project. Mr. Goodrich mentioned that they put in the PNF (Project Notification Form) to MassDOT and are having a public meeting on Jan. 21 in Norton. The number one concern with the project is crossing Rt. 123. They are getting advice fiom SRPEDD (Southeast Regional Planning and Economic Development District). By linking to the 1.5 miles of the Mansfield Trail, it would make the trail a total of 6 miles and then the hope is to continue on to Taunton. Mr. Goodrich mentioned that the people of Norton worry about it being used inappropriately (motor bikes, drugs, vandalism, etc.) along the trail. Ed Westhaver stated that they haven't heard of any of this activity happening along the Mansfield trail. Linda McCabe said that she lives along the trail and been pleased with it. She said that it is busy with an occasional horse rider and that there are occasionally kids running in the woods and some graffiti, but not more than anywhere else. Linda McCabe will attend the next Norton Rails to Trails meeting to give a more personal perspective of the trail as she lives along the Mansfield Rails to Trails. Denny Goodrich mentioned having the support of Mansfield at their meetings has been very helpful. Ed Westhaver told Mr. Goodrich that Mansfield's RecComm supports their efforts. -Brian Mazar, NEFC (New England Football Club), requested permission to have a preseason tournament at Plymouth Street Turf Field on March 13 -16 and March 21 -23. Mitch Bregnard felt it was too early to have such a big tournament as because of the weather and this big of a tournament could do damage to the fields, especially the grassy fields. Mr. Bregnard asked that they wait to approve it and reconsider it at the February meeting. - Motion: By Mike Weber to table the discussion on the NEFC Tournament until the February RecComm meeting. Seconded by Mitch Bregnard. Motion passes, 4 -0. -Al Noor will be using Memorial Park an hour each day for their gym classes as they have no gym at their school. MMS/ms;01 /14.doc:5:reccom f:rminsword 2 -Mike Rockett, Mansfield Youth Baseball, requested the Memorial Park Baseball Field M -F 5:30- 8pmand Sat. /Sun. 12 -6pm. They are lacking 2 forms and insurance. Ed Westhaver stated that they will need to wait until the repairs to the field are done. -Leo Lake, Mansfield Girls Softball is requested the use of Memorial Park Softball Field M -F 5- 8pm, Sat. 2:30- 8:30pm and Sun. 11- 7:30pm/ They need to complete their reservation request forms. 5. Old Business: - Sherri Gurnon and Mary Sellner attended the CIP meeting (Dec. 3, 2013) where the CIP Committee approved the $20,000 request for playground improvements. It will now need to be voted on for approval at the next Town Meeting. -There will be upcoming Open Space and Recreation Plan workshops being scheduled and Recreation members are requested to attend. -Joe Walejko from Black Watch requested the Plymouth Street fields for a Spring Warm -Up Soccer Tournament, March 22/23. Sherri Gurnon mentioned that Mr. Walejko has an outstanding balance from his field use. No other events can be permitted until that balance is paid. 6. New Business: - Election of a 2014 Chairman and Clerk. - Motion: By Mitch Bregnard to table this election until the February RecComm meeting ( and all members are present. Seconded by Linda McCabe. Motion passes 4 -0. - On December 23, there was a break in at the Summer Camp office. There is no need to do any repairs as there was no damage. Jay Beckett filed the police report. - Sherri Gurnon requested the summer camp weekly enrollment fees be increased by $10 per week and that the Arts and Crafts Fair entrance fee be increased by $1 in each category. - Motion: By Mike Weber to approve the increase in fees. Seconded by Linda McCabe. Motion passes 4 -0. -There were 58 participants in the First movie night on Dec. 13. The number will be limited to 30 registrations. The next movie night (Eight Below will be shown) is Jan. 24 and donations for the Animal Shelter will be collected. - Discounted Providence Bruin tickets and discounted tickets to the Boston Flower Show are being offered through the Parks and Recreation office. - Volleyball League began on Jan. 6 with 18 participants. - Sherri Gurnon is working on coordinating an open swim day on Sunday afternoons with the Mansfield Holiday Inn. -The "Conflict of Interest' tests must be done. Mitch Bregnard will look into who needs to take them and when. 7. Next Commission Meeting: Tuesday, February 25, 2014 6:00 PM. To be held at the Town Hall. MMShns;01/14.doc:5:reccom frec:msword 3 8. Motion: By Mitch Bregnard to adjourn. Seconded by Linda McCabe. Motion passes, 4 -0. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Ed Westhaver Recreation Commission Clerk MMS /ms;01 /I4.doc:5:rcccom Prminsword Date