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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRecreation Comm 12/01/1998Recreation Commission Meeting fl r Minutes December 1, 1998 Attendees Present: Dick Blandori, Commission Chairman Commission Members: Dave Leary, Acting Clerk, Lynne McDonnell, and Jim Leaverton Unexcused Absence: Carlos Medieros Lorilee Fish, Parks and Recreation Director 1. The meeting was called to order at 7:08. 2. Approval of Minutes: Minutes of the Recreation Commission Meeting held on November 19 with the following updates: Update of Number 4, Part A2: Per Dick Blandori to discuss at a fixture meeting the agreement that has been made with the Hutcheson Property neighbors regarding the lighting issue. Addendum to Number 5, Part B: Motion: By Jim Leaverton to maintain that the Adult Group/Organization applicants are required to appear before the Board and submit a team roster where the majority, 51% or more, of the players must be Mansfield residents or the application will be denied. Seconded by Dave Leary. All in favor. Motion passes 4-0. 3. Questions and Comments: A. Dave Leary has proposed meeting at the library, in an alternate room, or on an alternate night instead of the present First Floor Hallway meeting area. Lorilee will check into holding the meetings in the Selectman's Room. 4. Correspondence: ivv9a A. 1999 Use of Facilities Application: Adult Groups/Organizations Accepted with the addition of the addendum to the policy. Comments: 1. It was expressed to the Board to consider raising the majority, 51% or more, rule to 80%-_90%0 of the players be required to be Mansfield residents in order to preserve the Mansfield fields. 2. Adult leagues must comprise of some non-residents in order to have enough players to field a team. Outside participation is necessary to run the leagues. 3. Lynne McDonnell explains the Priority List for Facility Reservations and details how reservations are accepted. B. Motion: By Jim Leaverton to add to the For Profit Reservations: All applicants are required to appear before the Board to request the needed permit. The Board will determine a fee for field usage per each individual Facilities Application. Seconded by Lynne McDonnell. Motion passes. ` Alt in favor 4-0. C. ,Motion: By Dave Leary to accept the statement, Permits are not transferable. The Permit Holder must be a participant in the use of the field, under Section: Rules, Fees, and Regulations for Reservations. Seconded by Lynne McDonnell. Motion passes. All in favor 4-0. D. ,Revised Capital Improvements: I. The Board agreed to maintain the year 2000 proposed Memorial Park budget of $68,500_ 2. The Board agreed to maintain the year 2000 and 2001 proposed Plymouth Street budget of $170,000. 3. It was agreed by the Board the Capital Improvements discussion will resume during the next meeting. E. Motion: By Lynne McDonnell to continue the publication of the Community Calendar. Seconded by Dave Leary. Motion passes 3.0 (1 in abstention). 5. John D'Agastino, Town Manager Bill Madan, Chairman of the Board of Selectman The following items were discussed in length during the overview of the duties and responsibilities of the Recreation Commission. 12/1/Y8 ' A. John D'Agostino reads under Public Parks Section 2: In a town which has not elected a board of park commissioners or has not authorized the town planning board so to act, the selectmen shall act as such a board of park commissioners and have authority to approve or disapprove the acquisition of lands by eminent domain as set forth in section seventy-nine of chapter ninety-two and shall have all other powers and duties of apark commission. The discussion continues with Section IX: No person shall in any public park (including any boundary road thereof) or other public place (including any parkway) under the control of the Board of Selectman acting as the Park Commission hereinafter referred to as the Park Commission: 1. Beg or canvass for alms; or 2. Act in an obscene or indecent manner; or 3. Drink to be under the influence of intoxicating liquor; or 4. Break a bottle or other article of glass; or. 5. Drop or place and suffer to remain, except in a receptacle provided for the purpose, any bottle, can, paper, or other thing; or 6. Enter or remain in any public park between the hours of 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM on any day except for the purpose of going through such park on the walks or mall thereof. B. Dick Blandori responds by reading: Section 5-10 of the Charter states that the recreation commission shall exercise, "all the powers and duties of recreation commissions under the General Laws, except as otherwise provided in this Charter." Mr. Blandori states that he ` feels that the intent of this section remains unclear. C. John D'Agostino states the duties of the Recreation Commission is to control the buildings to establish recreational programs, while the actual construction falls under the Board of Selectman who act as Park Commissioners, D. Dick Blandori continues by reading: Park land which is not already dedicated to active playground use remains under the control of the selectman in their capacity as park commissioners. E. Dave Leary questions the Park Commissioners responsibility regarding land development when the Recreation Commission has appropriated the funds needed for development. F. John D'Agostino replies that the accounts for land development are merged for the purpose of recreational field development. G. Dave Leary states that the Recreation Commission has financed the multi-purpose fields at Plymouth Street. H. John D'Agostino explains the money financed by the Recreation Commission has been set aside for the development of the tennis courts. < L Dave Leary questions the Recreation Commissions role in land and field development at Plymouth Street. J. Bill Madan states that he feels the Board of Selectman receive no cooperation from the Recreation Commission when land and field development is concerned. The Board of Selectmen and the Recreation Commission set priorities for field development and agreed to a mutual budget. One week later, the Recreation Commission submitted their own budget funding different priorities and re-routing money. K. John D'Agostino reiterates that the development of park land is the responsibility of the Board of Selectman and the Recreation Commission together, with the final authority falling on the Board of Selectman. The current proposal at Plymouth Street has the tennis courts up front with the fields in the back. Parking is an issue both at Plymouth Street and the Hutcheson Property. L. Dave Leary suggests that a master plan of the Plymouth Street facility is necessary before making any final decisions. M. Comment: It's disturbing to hear the Recreation Commission, the Board of Selectman, and Town Manager involved in such conflict regarding the proposed fields. We need all the fields we can get. N. Dave Leary states that the Recreation Commission is not shutting fields down, but instead trying to design the best fields possible. 0. John D'Agostino states that the proposed Plymouth Street field plan dimensions are larger than the Recreation Commissions field plan dimensions. P. Comment: It is imperative that we are able to move around on the fields and move the existing goals. There is a big area to utilize with two fields that adults can play on. Q. Comment: It is under Recreation Commission jurisdiction to recommend the addition of a - third field. The Recreation Commission should state their case to the Board of Selectman for the additional field. R. Comment: The central issue seems to be that there is not enough field space in Mansfield to accommodate the growth in school-age population. S. John D'Agostino states that additional field development is a priority. A greater plan is needed to help alleviate some of the demand. It was presented to the Recreation Commission to propose to the Board of Selectman field development and usage of the Plane Street Property. This property will take some pressure off the current field demand. There are 110 acres with 60 acres available for field development. It is important to share the same direction and work cooperatively where there are a finite set of resources. ivvvx m ( T. Jim Leaverton states that the Boards must work cohesively to set the stage to move forward t--- to prevent a lack of communication. U. Dave Leary discusses the efforts to centralize the youth groups. A representative from each organization is necessary to form a public parks steering committee. By working together the future development of fields and usage can be better determined. V. Comment: The available land in Mansfield is being utilized as passive recreation land. The sub -divisions of 30 or more homes are required to give 30% of the land to the Town for recreation purposes. Mansfield owns many parcels of recreation land that remain undeveloped. Ask the Board of Selectman for a map of the parcels of land that are available for development. W. Bill Madan states that the town of Mansfield has accomplished quite a bit through public money and private donations in reference to field development. X. Comment: it is important to make more recreational space for the kids in Mansfied. Y. John D'Agostino reports that the town is dedicated to building more fields. The Board of Selectman, as elected officials in Mansfield, paints the direction of the town. Z. Comment: Speaker identified himself as Brendan Kiley. Brendan commends the Recreation Commission and Lorilee Fish in reference to their commitment to the town's youth organizations. The hard work that everyone has contributed equals a net gain. Mr. Kiley appreciates both groups efforts. AA. John Madan states that he feels both Boards work together cooperatively develop a direction for field development. Chairman meetings are held to keep communication among Boards open, but there has been no representative from the Recreation Commission. BB. John D'Agostino states that all activity on Plymouth Street be suspended until an agreement between the Boards can be reached. 7. Next Commission Meeting: December 15, 1998. 8. Adjournment: 9:25 PM. Motion: By Jim Leaverton to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Lynne McDonnell. All in favor. Motion passes 4-0. �. ivirox Respectfully Submitted, N�� /Z - /6/ 6 Sherri Guymon, mmission Secretary Date v. Dave Leary, Acting Commissi Clerk ` Date C.rec:mmord:reccom: 12-1-98.doc 12/7/98