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Home My WebLink AboutRecreation Comm 11/17/1997RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES NOVEMBER 17 1997 Attendees present: Commission Chairman, Ron Reeves, Commission Clerk, Betty O'Connor Commission Members: Dick Blandori, Bob Pierce and Dave Leary Lorilee Fish, Parks and Recreation Director Jon Dobosz, Assistant to the Recreation Director MINUTES Sept. 29th Minutes- Prior concerns regarding motions made D. Blandori were addressed and resolved. Motion to accept minutes of Sept 29, 1997 as written by B. Pierce. Second by B. O'Connor. Motion passed. ALL IN FAVOR October 20th Minutes- Comments made by R. Reeves regarding Mansfield Youth Sports (New Business). Ron stated Mansfield Youth Sports is an independent association not under umbrella of Recreation Commission. Motion by R. Reeves to approve minutes with the changes highlighted below regarding New Business -Mansfield Youth Sports: Delete -R. Reeves understanding is that all Mansfield Youth Sports Programs come under our umbrella. Delete - Program recommended as service offered by commission to centralize registration activity Second by B. Pierce Motion passed ALL IN FAVOR GUEST- Tony Calcia, N. Attleboro Recreation Director unable to attend Will be rescheduled to December 8th, GUEST- Mark Cook, Mansfield Highway Department, Foreman, attended to present information regarding Placement & Cost Analysis for Skate Park at Memorial Park, parking lot expansion, temporary football fields at Plymouth St. etc. Barry Young present to representing Pop Warner offered limited financial support MEMORIAL PARI{ - Highway Department was asked to provide estimate and site plans to expand parking lot. (Project would need site plan approval from Planning Board before implementation.) Proposal presented leaves a 45 f} wooded area. Parking lot boarded by boulders. Creation of approximately 120 new spaces on gravel lot. Skate park would use up 50 spaces leaving total gain of 70 spaces. Lot would accommodate two-way traffic. D. Blandori proposed alternative plans regarding expansion. M. Cook estimated cost to pave parking lot additional $15,500. According to M. Cook, implementation of recommendations by D. Blandori were not feasible due to construction needs and noise. A public hearing would be needed to move forward. SKATE PARI{ - Estimated cost $41,000 to complete. Includes stump, stone, drainage, fence, and lights. Only $1,000 in donations for park received to date. Lorilee suggested Capital Improvements requests as an option. Comment made that due to high cost, the project should not be pursued any further at this time. R. Reeves recommended Lorilee notify interested parties of Skate project what information we have to date, including cost estimates. Commission concerned about substantial amount of money needed for relatively small interest group. COMPOASPO may be an alternative. Motion made by D. Blandori to select location to building skate park on 100ft by 150ft area at Memorial Park. No second on motion. TEMPORARY FIELDS - 2 Year Plan Request was made by D. Blandori for an engineering study of Plymouth St. facility. M. Cook distributed plans and presented proposal to build two temporary practice fields at Plymouth Street. Un -cleared area would need a lot of tree removal. Front area is open and would not require site plan approval. Lights will be a costly Area was originally intended for tennis courts. M. Cook assured commission land is available to build tennis courts when ready. After lengthy discussion, need was established to move forward with project as soon as possible. Motion made by B. Pierce to allocate ALL remaining funds from Capital Improvements account to building two temporary recreation fields at Plymouth St. Second by D. Leary. Motion passed. ALL IN FAVOR Motion amended by R. Reeves to allocate remaining Plymouth St. funds to start the improvements at new Plymouth St. fields beginning with engineering services, land clearing & stump removal. Second by D. Blandori. Motion passed. ALL IN FAVOR Lorilee recommended to approach Board of Selectman regarding Capital Improvements. Request of $70,000 for Phase I of 5 year plan. B. Pierce agreed to be spokesperson at Town Meeting, Capital Improvements & Finance Comm. Meetings. Capital Improvements need to be in by January 9th. Motion made by D. Blandori for Recreation Commission, through Lorilee, request the Town Engineer to see about handling engineering services. No second. Motion withdrawn. GUEST -Barry Young, Lacrosse Purpose to created expansion of Youth Program in Mansfield. Currently 40 towns offering Lacrosse programs in Massachusetts Bay Youth Lacrosse League. Primarily on North and South Shore. Informational video shown and packets handed out. 1997 Fall sign up has 45 children enrolled to date, (2 teams). Program is offered to boys & girls 12yrs. and under (5th & 6th grade level) and 14yrs. and under (7th and 8th grade level). Cost per player is approximately $200 for stick, pads etc. Field size required is 60 x 110 (similar to football field) Hopes to expand league in future by adding additional age groups as children get older. Field space a concern for Team's practices (2x per week) and games. League hopes to find a Tuesday evening time slot plus one other whenever available (Friday evening). Games are scheduled to be played on 5 Sunday afternoons, approximately 12:30 - 4pm. Lorilee felt field space at Plymouth St. for games should be available for (5) Sunday games. Practice fields will be a concern with Memorial Park being closed down this spring. Barry advised to contact Margaret Conaty for available school field space. Request for field space forms to be available in January. Marking of fields and goals is the responsibility of individual organization. Discussion opened regarding monies allocated to building of fields in front of Jordan/Jackson Complex. GUEST- Paul Hubrich, Mansfield Youth Basketball, Treasurer, present to discuss fee for use of office space within Recreation Department Office. A paid Director for program is currently using office area to centralize registration process etc. for Youth Basketball league. Question was raised as to whether Recreation Commission has permission to lease out space on their own. Lorilee noted that prior approval was given through Acting Town Manager to lease office area to Mansfield Youth Basketball. R. Reeves will draft letter to Board of Selectman for Commission to review confirming authorization to lease office area. P. Hubrich proposed a rental fee of $750 for first year. Any additional expenses incurred would be paid by individual organization i.e. telephone, metered mail etc. Lorilee will check into separate billing. Suggestion was also made to make rental agreement effective January 1, 1998. CORRESPONDENCE 1. Midget Football 2. Halloween Parade - very successful about 2,000 turn out. 3. Arts & Crafts Show - Made approximately $2,00042,500. Average profit for event 4. Letter to Mark Cook re tree decorating South Common 5. Graveyard Gazette 6. Survey response low- R. Reeves advised to put out again. 7. Skate Park 8. Mansfield School System brochure 9. "Buy a Brick program flyers TABLED: 1. Field Reservation Forms: Discussion opened regarding use of field schedule and fees. - -Recommended to highlight available fields on a master record. -Amend fee application to include "Groups with permission from the Recreation Commission may have fee waived". -Remaining fees schedule .final review ready for December 8th meeting. Motion made by D. Leary to charge for profit groups $1,000 per day per park non inclusive of clean up etc. Second by D. Blandori. motion passed ALL IN FAVOR. D. Blandori requests audit of gift accounts. Town Auditor audits books annually. There have been no problems reported to date. 2. T. Hernan request to use Plymouth St. field. New fee schedule will be charged. CORRESPONDENCE H 1. Capital Improvements due January 9, 1998 - 5 year plan - Lorilee will put in for the following: $70,000 for 2 temporary fields at Plymouth St. No allocation at this time for Skate Park (prior recommendation - $25,000). No allocation at this time for Rails to Trails (prior recommendation - $27,000). 2. Budgets: Request to move electricity, water and gas from Parks & Recreation over to DPW. Request of Department personnel budget an increase of 3% Requesting of 1 more year to complete cemetery restoration plan: $2,000 for Capital Outlay - $5,000 for personnel which already exists. - Begins fiscal year July 1, 1998. 2. Revolving Account balance as of June 30th agreed upon through treasurer's office & Town Accountant $74,416.05. $10,000 more than last year. ADJOURNMENT Motion to adjourn by B. O'Connor. Second by D. Leary. All IN FAVOR i Respectfully Submitted by: Eleanor McCarter, Commission Secretary Date Betty O'Connor, Commission Clerk Date