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MINUTES OF THE RAYNHAM PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION
Regular Monthly Meeting, March 2, 2010, 6:00 p.m.
Raynham Senior Center, 2215 King Philip Street, Raynham, MA
In Attendance: Chair Chris Shaw (arrived at 6:08 p.m.), Commissioner Joe Doyle, Commissioner Jim Sullivan, Director Elizabeth Francis, and Administrative Assistant/Recording Secretary SJ Blanchard.
Acting as chairman, Jim Sullivan called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. and asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the Feb. 2, 2010 Commission meeting. Joe made a motion to accept as printed the minutes of the Feb. 2, 2010 meeting. Jim seconded the motion and the two voted unanimously in favor of the motion. At this point, Chris Shaw arrived to chair the remainder of the meeting.
Raynham residents John Kourtz and Arthur Whittemore returned to inquire about the next step to be taken in dedicating the gazebo in memory of the late Richard “Butch” Slavick. Mr. Whittemore indicated that he had not been able to run the idea by Butch’s sons, but that he would get back to Liz with their consensus within the week. The two were advised that the next step would be for them to take the idea before the Board of Selectmen, and the Commission agreed to send the Selectmen a letter in favor of the action upon hearing back from Mr. Whittemore.
Present were Borden Colony Radio Control Club representatives Thomas Tripp of Taunton, Joe Baron and Christopher Tripp, both of Raynham. The Chairman explained that there is an issue of maintaining a “good neighbors” relationship with the farmers who lease the abutting agricultural land, and he suggested that the organization notify its entire membership of this and that should an issue arise, that the Department be notified immediately. Liz said she will email the field-use schedule of the multi-purpose field to the club president, and a discussion followed about the Department’s future placement of warning signage on the guardrail. Jim made a motion to approve the group’s seasonal field-use application, with a fee of $300. Joe seconded the motion and a unanimous vote
followed.
The following spring field-use permit applications were acted on:
- NBHA requested five summer horse show dates between June 26 and Sept. 4. A unanimous vote of approval followed a motion to approve with fee waived made by JS and a second from CS.
- Mass. Rough Riders requested sixteen dates between April 11 and Oct. 24 at the riding ring. Liz indicated that there are no date conflicts. A fee of $300 was assessed and a unanimous vote of approval followed a motion made by JD and a second from JS.
- Sunday Morning Softball requested the use of Reid Field and the BC softball field on Sunday mornings from 4/25/10 – 10/31/10. This application was unanimously approved with a fee of $1,250, following a motion made by JD and a second from JS.
- Christ Community Church requested the use of the BC softball field for Monday and Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings from 4/1/10 – 10/1/10. A unanimous vote of approval followed a motion made by JD and a second from JS. A fee of $1,250 was assessed.
- East Taunton Softball League requested the use of the BC softball field for a flexible schedule of Saturday and/or Sunday daytimes from 5/1/10 – 10/31/10. A unanimous vote of approval followed a motion made by JD and a second from JS. A fee of $100 per game with a seasonal maximum of $1,250 was assessed.
- Scorpian Soccer Club requested the use of three fields on Sunday afternoons from 4/10/10 – 5/22/10. Due to a shortage of space, JD made a motion to disapprove this request; JS seconded the motion and a unanimous vote followed.
Liz asked for a Commission decision on whether or not Kevin Ellis should fill out a field-use application for September’s Pride Day, noting that it would be useful in pinning down one date in the event of subsequent scheduling changes. It was their consensus that an application should be filled out annually.
Liz reported on the following:
- Plans for the Monti playground project continue to take shape. Liz noted that the Bristol County Savings Bank’s charitable grant period is coming up in May.
- She obtained a quote of $2,386 (plus shipping) for two sets of three-row, 27 ft. aluminum bleachers for the BC softball field and McKenney Babe Ruth Field. There are also plans to have a split-rail fence installed at the football field to alleviate parking problems.
- Liz presented Commissioners with the department’s 1/31/10 accounting report of income and expenses.
- She submitted the department’s budget for FY2011 to the Finance Committee. She noted that it reflects a 3.5% overall increase, primarily due to contractual salary increases. The final warrant will be voted on on April 13.
- The School Committee has voted to approve another Merrill School classroom for a second full-day kindergarten class for the 2010-2011 school year. Liz noted that it is difficult to foresee exactly what our wrap-around plans for this fall will be until we know our enrollment, but that she plans to look into whether or not we could run this program at a loss if necessary.
- Liz is working on the preliminary summer brochure, and asked for the Commission’s consensus on keeping the playground fees the same as last year’s, which were $245 for a 4-week session of half-days, and $560 for a 4-week session of full days. The Commissioners were in agreement to keep the same rates as last year.
Liz distributed the spring field-use schedules for the Commission’s review. Following a motion made by JS to approve said schedule, a second from JD and a unanimous vote, plans call for the distribution of the schedules to participating leagues and organizations. It was noted that Bettencourt Field will be shut down for reseeding and repairs after May 6.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
SJ Blanchard
Admin. Assistant/Recording Secretary
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