Town of Raynham, MA - 07/11/06 Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes

The Chairman called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. Chris made a motion to accept as printed the minutes of the June 6, 2006 Commission meeting; Bob seconded the motion and the two voted in favor, with John abstaining due to his absence from the 6/2 meeting.

The first order of business was a discussion with representatives of the three major youth sports organizations in town. Present were: Raynham Youth Baseball & Softball Assoc. (RYBSA) president Bob McCabe, Raynham Youth Soccer (RYS) president Dave Caron, and Raynham Giants Youth Football president Chris Shaw. Also present was Highway Dept. foreman Tom Bullock. Copies of the Field and Facilities Master Plan were distributed, reviewed, and discussed from the perspectives of where we are and where do we want to be. Minor errors in the master plan, such as fields with or without lighting, were corrected.

Caron began the discussion by saying that RYS has taken a hard look at its operations over the last 2 years, and tightened things up wherever possible, such as going out to bid on uniforms, which resulted in surprising savings. Currently, more than 800 local youth participate in RYS. Now the league is looking towards partnering more with the Recreation Dept. for planned upgrades and improvements. Plans include the expansion of the Griffith Field and related irrigation needs, additional restroom facilities, moving the U10 field and creating a new egress to the tractor-pull area, and the drainage problem in front of Burke Field. Fencing repairs and replacements are needed at the Burke Field, and lighting is needed for the Griffith and outside the concession area. Bob asked that Tom have Highway Supt. Roger Stolte look into the drainage situation in the parking lot and determine whether or not they are functional and can be filled in or have columns placed around the area so that cars will avoid it.

McCabe said that 814 kids participated last season, and all available fields were used 120% of the time, with each often being utilized for 2 games per night. There are no practice fields, and Field #7 is currently under construction with tilling and hydro seeding still needing to be done. Irrigation and fencing costs have been funded. At the Raynham Middle School (RMS), the baseball field is not usable on summer evenings due to the setting sun hitting the catcher and batter directly in the eyes. The adjacent water district land is categorized a Level I, which means that nothing such as fertilizers can be added to the surface. McCabe pointed out that with the large numbers of kids turning 12 to 14; it’s going to be very difficult to accommodate them without an additional RMS field. In addition, he informed Commissioners of the following changes being considered, though not yet mandated, at the national levels:

Shaw said that currently 130 kids are registered for youth football, and that 7 yr. olds had to be cut due to their large numbers. A separate program for 7 yr. olds is being designed. He stressed a need for a practice field with lights. Currently, the 11 and 12 yr. olds use the Babe Ruth left- or outfield and the 13 and 14 yr. olds use the RMS field, with the group of smallest players utilizing the center of the football field, as this group will create the least topical damage. He said that ideally, they would have their own practice field so that the Babe Ruth field doesn’t suffer damage year after year. Under consideration is land beyond Fields 5 and 6, which would require clearing to create a practice field. Games are played every Saturday and Sunday during the season.

A fence barrier is needed between the playing field and the spectators; cost estimates, which include an emergency gate and a walk-thru gate, have run $17,000 to $18,000, or $12,000 just to do the sides.

Tom spoke briefly about the town’s bleachers, stating that nine sets at the Merrill School complex do not meet code and several fields have no fields at all. Tom said that according to Stolte, all new bleacher purchases should be aluminum for no-maintenance, and they will be bolted to a concrete pad so that they cannot be moved. He stressed that Stolte will not move any existing bleachers due to safety and liability issues.

Bob asked that each group start thinking about funding for safety-related issues, such as the fencing and new bleachers, and he expressed the Department’s gratitude for each group living within their constraints.

Shaw cautioned against the town growing so quickly that field development doesn’t keep up and kids are forced to play in parking lots. Bob S. asked whether it is the opinion of the leagues that a moratorium needs to be placed on growth and hold steady where we are right now. In addition, he asked, do we need an outsider to do an assessment study? It was the unanimous consensus of the group that the town stays on track and not bring an outsider in.

Chris Shaw asked whether any thought had been given to constructing an all-purpose field with artificial turf. Bob M. pointed out that with the subsurface being the costliest, with an overall cost of $500,000 to $1.2m, together with the lack of land still available in the town for field development, this has not been a consideration. He went on to compliment Tom and his department for the appearance of the fields, to which Chris B. agreed, adding that in hindsight, our department working together with the Highway Dept. was the only way to go. He added that the focus should be on improving what we have before developing further. Bob M. also noted the on-going vandalism at the concession stand and dugouts, and requested additional police patrols.

Tom Bullock noted that two trees are located at the football scoreboard, one which blocks it and the other is behind it with its limbs reaching the Field 5 dugout. Should he cut them down? Chris S. pointed out that this is the only shade available at the field and asked that he try trimming the branches as a first course of remedy. Also, an electrical box located mid-driveway near Field 5 is in need of professional repair.

Bill Nickerson and John Green met with the Commission, requesting the use of a soccer field for a proposed group of Raynham U13 girls who will not be affiliated in any way with RYS. This group, called the Raynham Renegades, is under the umbrella of the Mass. Soccer Conference for insurance purposes, and coaches and parent volunteers have been lined up and CORIed. The group is requesting the use of the RMS soccer field for nine wks. from Sept. 10 to Nov. 5, 2006, with practices on Fridays from 4:30 to 6, and games on Sundays from 11:30 to 6. Jen reported no conflicts with these dates and Dave Caron indicated no concerns and that he will bring the matter up at his next board meeting. Chris made a motion to conditionally accept this request, pending any conflicts; John seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.

The Commission voted unanimously to approve one-day liquor license permits for 10 dates submitted by the Lions Club for their charity events scheduled between August 2006 and May 2007. John made the motion, seconded by Chris. (See addendum on Page 4 for specific dates)

* GB Sons’ bid includes the removal of the two silos on the property. The other two do not include the silos’ removal. Repeated calls to GB Sons’ office to obtain a quote just for the garage proved unsuccessful.

Chris made a motion to accept the quote provided by Hercules; John seconded the motion. Discussion: John asked that the town consider making the silos safe by sealing their openings and cutting down the ladders, and leave them standing as a tribute to the area’s agricultural past. The town building inspector is quite adamant that they be removed. A related issue involves the DEP demolition application which must be submitted to the state. An asbestos survey must be included with the application, and a listing of qualified professionals located state-wide was provided with it. Jen will contact the three firms located closest to us: Buzzards Bay, Stoughton, and Plymouth, and find out which firm can complete the earliest job. A unanimous vote followed.

Bob reported that his revision of riding ring rules was provided for review to each of the three horse groups that utilize the ring. George Pacheco and John Ford had no problems with them; nothing has been heard from Joyce Cravens. These new rules were adopted through a unanimous vote following a motion made by Chris and seconded by John. Starting next year, the town will no longer need to drag the ring on a weekly basis.

Jen announced that five individuals were interviewed for the childcare administrator position and it was offered to Brooke Albert, who formerly worked in the after-school program for three years. Brooke is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education and she will start with us in early August.

Jen’s request for time off was approved by unanimous vote (Chris 1, John 2); as was her request to purchase a new office fax machine (Chris1, John 2). In addition, she will obtain prices for a new executive desk to replace her second-hand, rapidly deteriorating one.

Chris offered his sincere regrets for missing Field Day. He noted that the Burke sign is finished, with the Griffith sign remaining to be done. Bob McCabe had expressed concern over the field being lined for the Legion Baseball team without their having paid a user fee.

John, who represents the Commission on the Borden Colony Advisory Board, announced that Olson’s sub-lease has been signed. In addition, the board is looking at an area beyond the tractor-pull area for a community garden. Apple D’Or continues to express its intents to be a good corporate neighbor; it has planted a large field to pumpkin seeds in an effort to test the soils there, and is interested in donating the pumpkins to any local youth group interested in selling them as a fundraiser.

Relative to the requests of kindergarten staffers Karen Clarke and Ann Marie Vienneau, who are seeking reclassifications to permanent part-time town employees, entitling them to compensated vacation, sick, and personal time off, Town Administrator Randy Buckner has advised that this go on the Nov. town meeting warrant.