HomeMy WebLinkAboutRecreation Comm 06/12/2001Recreation Commission
Executive Session Minutes RECEIVED
June 12, 2001 ` M, ECS
Members Present: David Leary, Chairman; Charlotte Falkner; Caren L"irfojG - ,l'1 ft: 5
Members Absent: Lynne McDonnell, Clerk; Danielle Fish
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Others Present: Lorilee Fish, Recreation Director M ASS, ACHUSETTS
Kathy Codella, Assistant to the Recreation Director
Sherri Gurnon, League Director; Kerry Taylor; Michael Lundell;
John Regan
Special Note; Kathy Codella served as secretary.
L The meeting was called to order at 7:OOPM.
2. Lorilee Fish read the police report regarding the incident of August 16, 2000.
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3. Kerry Taylor was asked if he felt this report was accurate to the incident. He did not
recall his exact words of that night, but did not think that he would have made some of the
statements that were attributed to him. He then proceeded to read a letter of apology to the E
commission which included information about what he has been doing over the last year.
4. Michael Lundell spoke about the high quality of Taylor's character, saying he did not
believe Taylor was a risk to the basketball league.
5. John Regan also spoke towards the quality of Taylor's character.
6. David Leary spoke about the options available to the commission. These included a 1 -
year suspension, a 2 -year suspension, expulsion from the league, or he could be reinstated
immediately. He also added that with anything less than an expulsion, Taylor would also be on
permanent probation, meaning that any incident could lead to his expulsion from the league.
7. Charlotte Falkner asked if anyone had ever been suspended from the league in the past.
8. Sherri Gumon replied that two summers ago a gentleman had been suspended for
constant verbal abuse towards the officials.
9. Caren Levine asked if this incident was Taylor's first in the league and it was confirmed
that it was his first.
10. Taylor spoke again about what he does now that builds his character. He telt he has
already been punished, multiple times for the incident. He has missed many games, he let his
team down, he felt his name was dragged through the mud, and this was hanging over him fora
year. He also stated that the referee told him before the game that he would be watching Taylor
closely during the game. Taylor feels he gets many unwarranted calls against him due to the fact
that he is larger than most of the other players in the league.
11. David Leary suggested that a one-year suspension from the league would be appropriate
12. Taylor did not agree with this, stating again that he feels he has already been punished
{ enough.
13. Charlotte Falkner stated that we needed to set this punishment in order to set a precedent
for the future. David Leary agreed with this statement.
14. Taylor stated that he feels he's taken the right steps to get this issue resolved.
15.Caren Levine stated that Taylor had taken many steps to get to this point. She
recommended that his suspension be lifted immediately with the understanding that he would be
on probation for life.
16. Charlotte Falkner reiterated that there needed to be a set punishment for each offense.
17. Michael Lundell agreed with Caren Levine that Taylor had taken the right steps to
resolve the issue, and that Taylor feels terrible about the incident.
18. Taylor again apologized for the incident, stating that the words just came out of his
mouth and he did not realize it.
19. Caren Levine asked how many games Taylor had missed. She was told that between last
year and this year he had missed five games.
20. Michael Lundell stated that he believed it would be wrong to set precedents, that each
case would need to be reviewed on its own merits.
21. Sherri' Gurnon stated that she had never heard such things as what Taylor said. She felt
things were out of her hands at this point because of the process that was involved. She did not
want people to feel threatened and she felt that Taylor had crossed a line with his outburst.
22. Michael Lundell reminded Sherri Gurnon that another manager had initially asked about
Taylor being reinstated to the league. She ,replied that many people had approached her to speak
about Taylor's character.
23. Caren Levine stated that she felt more of a suspension would be harsh. She reiterated
that she would reinstate Taylor to the league with the knowledge that any further incident would
be cause for expulsion from the league.
24. Sherri Gurnon asked Taylor for his feelings about the referee. 'Taylor said he would
apologize to the referee, but that he felt he got a raw deal. At this point Sherri stated that the ref
told her he would have no problem with Taylor's reinstatement to the league.
25. Charlotte Falkner asked if a policy could beset according to this case. Director Fish
replied that it could be done.
26. David Leary stated that the Commission needed to stipulate guidelines in order to protect
the Recreation personnel, as well as the league. He said that kids were at the park working for
the league, and that language such as Taylor used is not what the Commission deems acceptable
for those kids hear.
27. Taylor noted that he knew most of the kids that worked for the league, and they all like
him.
Motion: By David Leary to reinstate Kerry Taylor to the adult basketball league with the
stipulation that he faces a zero tolerance policy. Seconded by Charlotte Falkner. 'Motion passes
3-0.
Adjournment: 7:35PM
Respectfully; Submitted,
Kathy Codella, Assistant to the Recreation Director Da e
4LyMcADonnell, Commission Clerk Date
Approved contents only.
Not yet to be released.
Released by on
Clerk Date