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Regular Monthly Meeting, October 7, 2008, 6:00 p.m.
placePlaceNameRaynham PlaceNameSenior PlaceTypeCenter, addressStreet2215 King Philip Street, CityRaynham, StateMA
In Attendance: Chair Chris Shaw, Commissioner Joe Doyle, Commissioner Jim Sullivan (arrived 6:20 p.m.), Director Elizabeth Francis, and Administrative Assistant/Recording Secretary SJ Blanchard.
Chairman Chris Shaw called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. He accepted a motion made by Joe to accept as printed the minutes of the Sept. 2, 2008 Commission meeting; he then seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved by the two.
Cathy Donnelly of the Raynham Renegades requested that the $500 user fee assessed to her group for their ten fall games scheduled to take place at Borden Colony be reduced to $200. Following a brief discussion, Joe made a motion to reduce the user fee to $200 for the Raynham Renegades fall season, adding that the Board has been lenient throughout this first year of increased user fees, but that it will adhere to the schedule of fees starting next spring. Chris seconded the motion and the two voted in favor of the reduction. Joe also issued reminders of the threats of the Triple E and placeWest Nile viruses locally, as well as the fact that the group is ultimately responsible for the actions of their spectators’ pets.
Newly-elected RYBSA president John Donahue was present and stated that Oct. 25 will be his organization’s winter clean-up day, with a limited amount of additional help required. (Comm. Jim Sullivan arrived at this point in the meeting.) He said that visitors at the four major tournaments held here this year expressed high praise for the field conditions, and he expressed his appreciation for Highway foreman Tom Bullock and his co-workers.
The idea of lighting the placePlaceNameMerrill PlaceNameSchool playground during night-time games was discussed. Donahue agreed that from a safety perspective, it would make a lot of sense, and that he would look into the possibility of his organization covering the cost. Liz suggested doing it next spring, and the Chairman added that at that time, a motion-sensor security light be considered for the front of the concession stand.
Donahue said that two huge issues which need to be addressed and improved on are litter and bike riding. He stated that the first could be curtailed with more barrels, getting the trash generated by the concession stand into the dumpster, and getting spectators to pick up after themselves.
Donahue continued that this past year was the worst ever relative to kids on bikes, with the worst areas being the scoreboard, concession stand and batting cages. He estimated that shutting off bike access to the alleyway to Fields 5 & 6 would take care of 90% of the problem. Liz suggested putting up “No Bike Zone” signage, and asking coaches, adults and the police to enforce it. Bike racks will also be looked into. She asked Donahue to keep her informed of any key changes, because Raynham Fire Dept. is then alerted to the changes.
The defibulator kept at the stand was discussed next. Liz stated that it had been donated approximately two years ago and has not been properly maintained, and she is very concerned about the town’s huge liability as a result of its use by individuals not trained to utilize it properly. She also stated that it needs to have a manufacturer’s service contract to ensure that it is regularly checked and maintained in peak operating condition. The Chairman stated that maintaining secure accessibility, as well as having a town policy in place regulating its use, maintenance, and upkeep routines are of utmost importance. He said that he will inquire as to the Raynham Fire Department’s service contracts and added that the costs of these contracts would be a concern for the
Department.
Donahue said that he will look into whether there has been an individual in charge of it and if there is any health and safety policy in place. It was suggested that Town Counsel Marc Antine look into the issues surrounding the storage and training of non-town employees for the defibulator at the concession stand.
Commissioners considered the placePlaceNameNorthbrook PlaceTypeAcademy request for a field-use fee reduction. Ten students out of their student body population of 38 are from Raynham. The private school has requested field use for four Mondays through the end of October, as well as for two meets, at a cost of $100 per day or $500 for the season. Chris Shaw noted that this breaks down to $13 per student per season. Jim made a motion to reduce placeNorthbrook’s fee to $250, and Joe seconded it. A unanimous vote followed, and Joe asked Liz to reiterate the “no dogs on fields” rule to the placeNorthbrook administration.
Liz reported on the following:
· She has been working with Conservation and the Board of Selectmen to put together a game plan for Borden Colony. The Southeastern Regional Planning & Economic Development District (SRPEDD) has forty planning hours available to the town for open space planning, and the idea of putting the Borden Colony plan within the town’s open space plan is being considered.
· Liz met today with representatives from the state’s Dept. of Agriculture and Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance (DCAMM). DCAMM has surveyed the recreation space & encroachments, and the square area of encroachments will be tabulated prior to the consideration of any swap proposal. The idea of dividing the farmland parcel into three pieces is also being considered, to allow for separate tenants and/or crops according to the various soil tracts. In addition, a community garden has been proposed, which would have to be near a water source and parking. It is hoped that an RFP for the farmland can be gotten out by the
beginning of December.
· It may not be possible to relocate the tractor-pull area on the recreation land portion. In addition, parts of Burke and Arruda Fields are on APR (Agricultural Preservation Restriction) land. If agreed to by the Mass. Dept. of Agriculture, legislation would have to be filed to change these boundaries. Whether or not the placePlaceNameSenior PlaceTypeCenter and Lions Club should be on recreation land was also discussed. The Dept. of Ag does seem to be backing off on the issue of the rental house and tenant; there is a special permit for a dwelling which could be applied for and renewed annually.
· Sel. Joe Pacheco has inquired about the long-proposed dedication of the toddler playground in memory of the late Jared Monti. This request was originally made in December 2006 by the late soldier’s father, Raynham resident Paul Monti. In February 2007, the Park & Recreation Commission voted unanimously to rename the playground in Monti’s honor. That same month, former Park & Rec. Director Jen Hruniak resigned and Liz came on board and this fell through the cracks. In addition, the playground was built with grant monies from Community Partnerships for Children (CPC) and needs to be recognized as such with the placement of a
permanent sign. The Chairman suggested that a dedication ceremony be held on Veteran’s Day, and said that he will get in touch with the town’s veteran’s agent and the American Legion Post.
· The state childcare license is up for renewal and she has been working on those requirements. A site inspection is scheduled for Nov. 3.
· Final numbers for the summer programs, including a revenue report, are forthcoming.
A letter of thanks and a donation has been received from Bob Davis on behalf of the Old Colony soccer league for the summer use of fields by the men’s soccer league.
Jim made a motion to approve the field-use application for the Borden Colony softball field on Sunday, Oct. 12 as submitted by Lowe’s Store #2752, with a field-use fee of $100. Joe seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
Commissioners unanimously approved the five vacation days requested by SJ: Nov. 10, Dec. 22, 23, 26, Jan. 2, and comp. hours on Dec. 24. This followed a motion made by Joe and seconded by Jim.
Joe reported that logistics and additional information is still being sought for the previously approved permit for RYS’s Nov. 8 & 9 Mary Lou Arruda tournament, with regards to assessing a fee. Jim made a motion to charge RYS a fee of $200 for the weekend tournament; Joe seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 p.m. The November 4 meeting will be held in the Sullivan meeting room on the second floor of town hall, due to that being election day.
Respectfully submitted,
SJ Blanchard
Administrative Assistant/Recording Secretary
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