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MINUTES OF THE placePlaceNameRAYNHAM PlaceTypePARK & RECREATION COMMISSION
Regular Monthly Meeting, May 5, 2009, 6:00 p.m.
placePlaceNameSenior PlaceTypeCenter, addressStreet2215 King Philip Street, CityRaynham, StateMA
In Attendance: Chair Chris Shaw, Commissioner Joe Doyle, Commissioner Jim Sullivan, Director Elizabeth Francis, and Administrative Assistant/Recording Secretary SJ Blanchard.
Chairman Chris Shaw called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. He accepted a motion made by Joe to accept as printed the minutes of the April 7, 2009 Commission meeting; Jim then seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved.
LeAnne LaMarca of addressStreet49 Ward Street presented the Commissioners with the idea of running a summer Nordic walking program. She provided information on the activity, and indicated that while it can be done on any terrain, ideally she would like to use the RMS track in order to be able to simultaneously monitor all of the walkers. She said that she is currently working with a vendor in an attempt to secure loaner poles for novices to the program, so that they wouldn’t have to make an initial $50-100 investment for the necessary equipment. Liz said that space is available and she explained the town’s methods of compensating instructors. She added that she will further research the activity while LaMarca tries to secure the loaner poles.
The following field-use applications were acted on:
· Raynham Youth Soccer (RYS) president Everett Clark was present to answer any questions relative to the summer permits applied for by his organization. Liz said that while there are no scheduling conflicts, the plan is to work on the Arruda and Burke fields over the summer. However, certain areas of the Burke field will be playable while other areas are closed off. Jim made a motion to approve the summer permit for RYS/Districts with a fee of $175; Joe seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed. Joe made a motion to approve RYS’ summer permit with no fee; Jim seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
· Lowe’s employees requested the use of the Borden Colony softball field from 7 – 11 p.m. on Sunday, June 7. Jim made a motion to approve the permit with a one-day fee of $100; Joe seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
· Colonial Road Runners requested the use of the RMS track for their children’s track/fun-run series on the evenings of July 19, 26, Aug. 2 and 9. Liz stated that there are no conflicts. Joe made a motion to approve this permit with no fee assessed; Jim seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
· A request for the use of the RMS track for the Raynham Police Jocks Speed Camp was unanimously approved with no fee assessed, following a motion made by Jim and seconded by Joe. The camp will run M/W/Th mornings from June 22 through Aug. 6.
An update followed on the Borden Colony farmland proposal. Liz reported that the Board of Selectmen had approved the lease proposal submitted by Olson’s Greenhouses, Inc. of addressStreet590 South Street East, CityRaynham, StateMA for Parcels C and B. The tenant did agree to annual rent increases of 3 percent.
Currently, three proposals are being considered for Parcel A, located behind the placePlaceNameSenior PlaceTypeCenter. One proposal would make use of the entire site for an organic garden; the other two proposals, one for pumpkin growing and the other for corn production, each required only a portion of the entire parcel, with the possibility of expanding operations in subsequent years. This parcel is to be offered with a one-year lease.
Liz reported on the following:
· There could be room made available for the proposed radio-control track at the site that had been considered for relocating the tractor-pull area. It is recreation land, and some tree clearing would be necessary, which may require Conservation’s approval. It has been made clear that there will be no town involvement in this project, relative to funding or labor for construction and upkeep. Liz will discuss the project with Conservation. The Chairman indicated that he has no problem with the project and the other commissioners concurred.
· Liz suggested rather than having a sign to designate the Jared Monti Memorial Playground, that instead a plaque be mounted on a rock and placed on a bed of mulch at the site. The Chairman said that he will consult with the late soldier’s father to discuss ideas and get his input. Liz also said that some of the playground equipment needs repairing or replacing and a new woodchip base needs to be put down.
· Liz said that the Department’s FY10 budget was approved by the FinCom and will go before Town Meeting voters.
· She distributed for the Commissioners’ review copies of the department’s 3/31/09 financial reports.
· She discussed the need to increase summer playground program rates in order to cover our costs. Last year’s state reimbursement rate was $29.05/day, while our price was $26.05/day. Cost-saving measures being implemented include consolidating the program to just one school, thereby saving custodial fees, staff cuts, and making the field trips more cost-effective by reducing distances traveled and combining all age groups. Suggested price increases are: $560 per session for the full-day program, up from 2008’s rate of $525 per session, and $240-245 per session for the half-day program, up from last year’s rate of $230 per session. The Chairman agreed that the Department cannot afford to take a loss or to subsidize the program.
· Other summer offerings will include: cross-country, voice and DramaKids acting classes, flag football, a kayaking trip, and the possibilities of tennis lessons, Nordic walking, yoga, and Zumba.
· Currently we have 24 kindergarten wrap-around enrollees for this fall. This week is open enrollment for the public school’s pilot full-day kindergarten this fall, with a lottery selection to follow on May 13. The school’s program will be limited to 20 students, at a tuition cost of approximately $3000 each.
· A scholarship request for the summer program has been received, and it is anticipated that this is the first of several. While there is no formal funding mechanism in place for such requests, Liz said it would be ideal to try to give multiple families a couple of weeks apiece. The Chairman said that there is no decision on the matter at this time.
· Selectman Joe Pacheco has contacted Liz about the possibility of having the Pleasant Street basketball courts named for his grandfather. The youth sports organizations are currently working on ideas, and the Chairman suggested that a naming committee be formed. Liz will get back to Joe on the matter.
· Commissioner Joe Doyle has been re-assigned to the Open Space Committee.
· Paul Bumila has donated picnic tables for the placePlaceNameMerrill PlaceNameSchool playground area.
· The addressStreetPleasant Street basketball courts and the addressStreetKing Philip Street tennis courts are in need of repairs and Liz has sought re-coating estimates from three firms. There is approximately $14,000 in the Borden Colony account and it would be from there that the costs of the tennis courts would be taken. The basketball court repairs would have to be covered by funds in the Park revolving account, or it may be possible to have the basketball courts done “in-house” with blacktop from the Highway Dept. Two of the three firms contacted have responded to date; Liz is still awaiting the proposal from East Coast
Sealcoating. The following quotes have been received:
1) from New England Sealcoating – repairing the cracks and re-coating the tennis courts $13,343, plus an additional $4,600 to re-set the tennis posts. Repairing the cracks and re-coating the basketball courts would be $22,000.
2) From placeStateVermont Tennis Courts - $3,000 to fill the cracks and touch-up the surface. $4,721 to do the same at the basketball courts.
Liz suggested that one option might be to hold off on the basketball courts for another year and do just the tennis courts this year. The matter was tabled until the June meeting.
The Chairman apologized for missing RYBSA’s opening day due to a back injury. In his update on the new football bleachers, he stated that the Giants are awaiting the signed plans from the vendor and they are hopeful that they will be installed this summer.
Jim said that the bikers at the Merrill complex are posing a dangerous situation for pedestrians and young children. A discussion followed on possible deterrents to the situation, such as bike racks and signage.
Joe stated that the Friendship Soccer Tournament was held last weekend at Borden Colony, and he commended the Boy Scouts for the phenomenal job they did sweeping every field, the parking lots, and across the street.
A discussion followed on the mowing of town property, which is hampered by weather conditions and a shortage of manpower.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
SJ Blanchard
Administrative Assistant/Recording Secretary
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