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Town of Hampden

Regular Meeting of Parks & Recreation Commission
7:00PM at the Hampden Town Hall
May 9, 2002

Approved:  May 23, 2002

In attendance:

Board members:  Tom Crogan, Kathleen Duquette, Glennice Flynn, Chris McDonald (8:00PM) and Jim Morris

Others: Jay Fenlason, Director; Sue Gorman, Clerk; John Flynn, RAH President, Jim Smith, Selectmen, Peter Fatse, Phil Lauro.

Bills paid:

Mike D’Amours (cement pad, shed, trench), BFI(2 pick ups per month) Mass Elec., Olde Tyme. Abacus, Whips Sports (Soccer, baseball), Dr.Play (mulch), Park Cleaners (Baseball & softball uniforms). King Ward Travel (Red Sox Trip), Home Depot.

Election of Officers

It was voted by the board to elect Jim Morris as chairman and Glennice Flynn as vice chairman. Chris McDonald was not present.

Pool Update

Jim, Glennice, and Tom met with Gary Swanson at the pool to go over what was necessary for operation of the pool. Gary suggested that possibly a filter be added to the pump. Jim is waiting on quotes from Diamond Water Systems and F.C. Taplan. Check with Mike D’Amours on cracks in pool. Hydraulic cement may be used.  A special meeting will be scheduled for May 14,02 to review quotes and make decisions concerning the pool.

Memorial Park

Ct. Valley Artesian Well has already opened the bathhouse when they changed the valves for the pool. New barrels may be needed. Dana has always gotten barrels in the past. Check with him first. Some new tools will be needed (beach rake, safety equipment).

Camp

The camp interviews have been completed for counselors and CIT’s. Letters will be going out this week to notify applicants of their position. Thirteen counselors, ten CIT’s and six lifeguards will be hired. A meeting will be scheduled to clean up and organize the camp building and also begin setting up for camp in early June. Staff shirts will need to be ordered. White t-shirts for the kids to paint with the Memorial Park logo on them will also be ordered.

Events

The Boston Red Sox Trip is scheduled for July 27,2002. The cost will be $55.00 to include ticket, grinder, chips, and soda. Gratuity extra.

The next movie night is scheduled for June 1,2002. It will be the first outdoor movie. Harry Potter will be shown. Children will be encouraged to dress up as their favorite character.

Future programs may include a walking club.

Playground

The school does not require a border around the plays cape. Paul Gagliarducci and Jeff Sullivan feel otherwise. Jay felt the mulch had not washed out into the parking too badly.

Sports

Soccer sign ups need clarification on two-year combination (5/6, 7/8). This information needs to go into the school flyers. There was question about kids playing up in the East Longmeadow league. Rules should be written to allow this through second grade only.

Soccer, baseball and softball all are going well. Some new equipment is needed. A call was received from Dave Quill stating that his kids were away and missed softball practice. They were not informed about the game and did not receive uniforms. He was told that there were too many kids on the team and a few missing did not matter. He spoke to the coach and informed us of this situation. He was not going to pursue this with RAH.

Summer basketball will not be allowed in town until the facility usage policy is clarified.

Maintenance personnel of fields have been taken care of. Jay is going to purchase new tools for Memorial Park, TWB and GM.

RAH

John Flynn presented a letter about an injured player. Coaches need to have an injury report filled out. Coaches should have first aid training and have all medical information on all players. Emergency telephone #’s should be printed on all rosters. Coach’s basic first aid training should be made mandatory in the fall.

Field Usage

Peter Fatse has requested the use of facilities for his private baseball team. If he is allowed to use fields will this challenge the town in the future?

 Jim Morris gave an overview of the Park and Rec policy, which has been maintained since 1998, that private teams, not be able to use town facilities. These teams are only allowed to use facilities for practice only but may not use the facilities for games. This policy has been consistently maintained over the years. Jim checked with surrounding towns (Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow and Springfield) to see what there policies were. (See attached) Should we maintain the present policy? Does it need to be amended? Open, independent evaluations should be allowed to be fair to all residents in town.  The town offers the same sport (baseball). Why can’t these teams work and play together? Only when there is not enough town kids to fill slots can the team be opened up to outside kids to fill the openings.  Will town residents be sacrificed by allowing private teams to use facilities? Jim would like to check with the Regional School District to clarify Peter’s question about two Wilbraham teams using the facilities at the same time. Hampden is not included in Regional District. These teams are part of a league with open tryouts. Peter needs to put his game schedule request in writing                                                                                                               Jay felt a fee should be charged and these teams should be put into empty slots after town teams have been completely satisfied.

Glennice was concerned about scheduling conflicts should there be rainouts. She would like to find out more in depth, what other towns policies and fee schedules are. She felt that the policy should be upheld. Follow the fee schedule and do not allow usage of facilities for games by teams other than Park and Rec and RAH sponsored teams only. Why would it be exclusionary for kids (6 boys involved with private team) not to use fields but not exclusionary for kids not to be able to tryout for the team.

Jim Smith questioned if this policy was consistent, right or wrong, equitable, fair or exclusional? In his opinion this seems to be excluding kids from town if the fields are available. He agrees teams should not be hand picked. He feels troubled by residents not being able to use the fields. He does not want to exclude.

John asked Jim Smith if it was allowable for any group to use any room in the Town Hall? Jim answered,  “yes” for all non-profit only.

Peter Fatse has a baseball team involved in the John O’Sullivan league. He has filled out the facility usage form and paid a fee in the Park and Rec office. He would like to hold practice and approximately 6 games in town.  Peter said that if the town needed the field when his team was scheduled, his team would have to cancel. He wondered why the policy involving private teams was not printed on the usage form. The forms need to be clarified to avoid loopholes.  He would like to use fields when town has openings. He feels he should be allowed this year. Why deprive kids who are town residents. Is this discriminatory?  Have two Wilbraham teams used the facilities at the same time? (Yes) Why don’t they have to pay a fee? He will rake and line fields and do whatever is necessary.

Chris was concerned about field usage and how it would impact the town teams. What would happen if the private team was using the field and the town needed the field? Chris felt that since the fee was paid and the form was filled out Peter should be allowed to use the field at this time. The field usage policy would then need to be modified.

Phil compared this to a similar situation he is involved with in Longmeadow that is presently in court. He wants equal protection and feels that the request for a maximum of only 8 games is not a big deal. If a conflict arises the town team gets first preference and Peter will have to reschedule. Why not just let the kids play. Phil. clarified that he was incorrect in his letter to the office. This letter stated that another private entity has been allowed to use the fields. It simply was not allowed.

Miscellaneous

Next meeting

May 14, 2002 Tuesday at 7:00p.m.

Meeting adjourned at 11:30p.m.

Respectfully submitted:

Sue Gorman, Clerk