All right, we are live. All right, so I am in charge right now until we reorder. Um, so what we're going to do first is I'm going to call this meeting to order. 6:30 recreation committee meeting 7:28 2026.
We are going to do a quick roll call and those are on Zoom right now. I will have to unmute you. We're just trying to be mindful of potential Zoom bomb. So I will unmute you when it's coming over to you. But we're going to start in the room with a roll call for recreation committee members.
>> Uh Richand here. >> Bob Widen here. >> Eric Aen here. Kate Hammer here. Nancy is in line here. Laura Durgovich here. Laura Nan here. >> Here
online here. Oh, sorry. >> Nick Pesro. >> One more time. Nick, sorry. I cut you off. >> Nick Pesro here. >> All right. And you guys, I trust you guys. Can we unmute yourself when need be? I believe. We got one more recreation committee member walking in
right now as we do roll call >> here. >> All right. So, we're going to start with our first agenda item and that is the nomination for recreation chair and that needs to start with a nomination. I did speak with Jay and Norman. How they do it is typically if you would like to
nominate someone, you will nominate them now. Um there will need to be a second and then discussion and then if someone would like to nominate someone else, we will nominate them now. So, if there's two people who are nominated for the chair, three people will go around and you'll cast your vote for for who you
want to be chair just to save some time. So, that's where we're going to start. So, we're opening up for a nomination for recreation chair for this year. >> I'd like to nominate Rich and another >> second
>> discussion. Not just I was going to actually do that, too. I will open it up to any more nominations. Seeing none, no discussion. So, we are going to ask for a motion.
>> Uh, make a motion to to uh appoint Richand as chair of the recreation committee. >> Do a vote. Is a second. I'll second the motion. discussion.
>> Go around the room. >> I name >> Oh, Rich. I >> Yes. >> Bob Widen, yes. >> Eric Gen, yes. >> Ker, yes. >> I don't think I can vote. >> Melissa.
>> Laura Durgovich. Yes. >> Lauren Nunan, yes. Jeppi Flair. Yes. >> Melissa, yes. >> Online is nobody that is a full member. All right. Was that six? Six. I got
>> 6. Congratulations. >> Thank you everybody. Meeting over. Thank you everybody. >> Mr. Han once again. And now you have to do the next >> seven. >> 7. Thank you. Five.
All right. There's eight of us. >> Wow. was the full house today. Um, so thank you everybody for your confidence in me. Appreciate that. Um, so now it's my honor to uh look for a candidate for vice president right now. >> Vice vice chair.
>> I'll nominate Bob. >> Any discussion? Discussion. So, we'll do do a vote. >> A motion again, right? >> I'll make a motion for Bob Widen to be voted vice chair as recreation. >> I'll second it. >> Thank you, Stephen.
>> Sorry. >> And since there's no discussion, we'll do a roll call vote. Uh, Rich Han, yes. >> Bob Widen, yes. >> Eric Gaffy, yes. Page Came, yes. >> Laura Durgovich, yes. Lauren Nunan, yes. Joseph, yes.
>> Melissa, yes. >> That's it. Congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Um, so a couple things before we start our meeting. First to welcome Kos to our um >> Ko to our meeting. Thank you for stepping up and volunteering for us.
Love to have you and thank you for keeping us in line here with the right procedures. So appreciate that. The other thing just want to let everyone know tonight at 7:30 uh the fleck board is having a meeting. So we'd like to try to keep the meeting to 7:30. So public
comment we'll try to keep it to 2 minutes um each person. Um so we're under the clock a little bit uh tonight uh for that. Um and other thing I just want to say too from a public comment standpoint. So, we have two items we'll
probably have public comment on or you can make other public comments, but one is the amplified sound and the pickup discussion. So, we'll have those uh public comments during those agenda items. So, we won't have it starting off with that if that's okay with everybody.
Okay, >> makes sense. >> All right. Uh first up is the amplified sound. So, we have um a request for amplified sound for uh third agenda. >> I must be out of agenda. There's someone else there.
>> I got an extra one. All right. Thank you. >> And Pat Silva is online right now. If he does want to speak, you can raise your hand, Pat, and I will let you speak. I have to allow you to speak. So, if you'd like to speak on behalf of the Amplified Sound, I can let you do that. >> Okay. >> Or you can nod your head or give a thumbs up, Pat, if you'd like to speak
on behalf of it. >> Okay. We don't want to be Zoom bombed. >> Okay. Okay. >> Are you sure we have it on mute, Pat? >> I'm going to let Rich read it first. >> Yeah. Uh, so this, um, event is going to be held on July 30th. Um, it's the last
game of the All-Star summer team, 11-year-old division. Um, it's open to, uh, general public. It's going to be held at Huntsfield for 4 hours starting at 400 p.m. Um the equipment is going to be the sound
equipment such as speakers, mixers and microphone, general announcement and music. And also let's like note too is that we did receive um an email from um a neighbor uh concerning the
amplified sound um for this um do they have it in their packet? >> What's that? No, that came in late last night. >> Okay. So we can I'll just paraphrase it a little bit what their concerns are and we'll make this available uh for everybody. One was the um the concern
was the level um of sound that that has been done previously at Huntsfield. Uh the other one is that um it seems that there's been music at Huntfield that wasn't permitted at the time. Um the other thing is that they think that the
events from a music standpoint is happening on a routine uh basis. Um they said that they've reached out to the little little league to talk about this and try to work things through. Um but they haven't had any reaction or
followup uh from the little league um uh leadership team. And the other thing they made comment on is around parking issues um during the baseball games as as well. And if I can jump in, this is the first time we've had a formal
complaint come in like this to Little League from um this resident that did send it in. I've never had anyone call about parking issues over um at Hunt Park. And I think the issue that happened last Sunday, I know it wasn't involving this team here. Um and I will
say amplified sound, everyone has a Bluetooth speaker now, so it is hard to certainly police when we're going to fields. My daughter plays softball and they are rolling with a big boom box and nobody knows the rules. So it is certainly um a challenge. They did submit this one as they should. So
that's my two cents on how I've seen it and what I've seen over the past few years. We do get a few calls. We get a call about the basketball courts at Bankro and then our summer camp program where our counselors were blasting news at a college and we did shut that down too. So this one here that is applying
is separate from what happened I believe last week. They were not playing. Is the Is this the first request that we've had for this field this year? >> Yes. >> Minus through Little League. Yes. But we also had Hunt Park host the Challenger
baseball game at the beginning of the season that was approved by us. >> Okay. >> I think Pat is on unmute. Pat, I'm not sure if you want to say anything. >> Um, not really. just uh I think the um permit request speaks for itself, but I wanted to be here in case there were any
questions or anything like that regarding what the expectations were for Thursday. Um barring no rain. Hopefully that's not what happens on Thursday for us. >> And congrats to Pat and his 11-year-old baseball team for being the first 11-year-old baseball team to win a state championship game and will be
representing Massachusetts up in Beverly this weekend. >> Congrats on that. >> Excellent. >> That's enough of me. >> What was the time for the request? Part eight. >> So, is is this game having to do with is
it like another championship or for that team or >> So, Pat, correct me if I'm wrong. This is their last game of their Bay State team and these kids play together. They're moving up to a new field in a new division next year. So, this is kind of their little sendoff for the summer going into the state championships.
>> Oh, but it's not the championship. >> No, no, no. This is separate. >> Is there a plan for music that night? Yes. Yep. They're in uh music. Yep. And general announcements. >> You want to speak to the music as far as
>> I got to unmute him. Anybody else said that? >> The music would be a little bit pregame um somewhat between innings, but the real request here is for walkup songs
for these kids. They've wanted to do it all summer long. Um we play at Huntfield where um that's um not allowed. So um from the beginning of the summer the kids were begging for it and we told them we couldn't do it. So for our last time playing at Huntfield as this team
um I told them I would apply for a a one-day permit to to try and do that for them. And Pat, anything you're looking at in terms of how to make sure the volume is consistent in terms of reasonable?
Um, so it's just like Jim described. It's going to be like one of those Bluetooth speakers. It's probably 12 in um in diameter. Um, and one mom or dad, we haven't decided that yet because we haven't had to do it all summer. run an app basically that has an AI voice that
says the kid's name and then a probably 8 second clip of a song however long it takes to walk from the end of the dugout to the um home plate and then it stops. So >> yeah, I guess I was just thinking about the volume >> in terms of >> I mean I would I guess be the one that
would police that I guess. Um it certainly wouldn't be overly loud. It would be loud enough that >> it would probably put the speaker very close to home plate. So it pro I don't know probably wouldn't even escape too far out of the ballpark would be my guess. >> I'm in so far like inclined to approve
this because this team deserves something like this. I had a question um four hours. Did the game start at 4? Do you really expect the game to be going at 8 o'clock? >> Nope. I certainly hope not or we terribly wrong. So I just did a 4 hour
block. I wasn't sure how this permit would be approved and so I did more hours than would be. We probably wouldn't even show up until 4:30 quarter 5. We'd play, you know, low lowlevel music while the kids warm up. Um the game is starts at 5:45 and typically at this age level we're out of there in an
hour and 15 to an hour and 30 minutes. Um there won't be a national anthem typ typically that's something we would do with this, but the this league that this last game is for is not something that typically does that. So, I don't want to delay the start of the game for the umpires or the other team um even though
a short time. Um and the and like I said, the general announcements would just be that AI voice that says the kid's name on his way up. So, so really no like announcing or or um I don't know any other thing that you could think of that would happen like no playbyplay or anything like that you'd hear at a
football game or something like that. >> What time does the game actually start? 5:45 p.m. >> Um, I too will support the the application, but can we have Jim uh maybe contact the neighbor prior to game
and have a conversation? >> I have no issues with that. Yeah. And I can have a conversation with little league as well too after hearing his concerns as well and make sure >> I don't think there's many games left Pat in this season over there. >> No, there's not. Oh, everything would be done by have to be done by Friday for
for um for B day baseball. That goes for all age levels, all uh all teams. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> All right. Any other discussions or comments feed? >> All right. So, we need a
>> I'll make a motion to approve. Second. >> All right. Do a roll call vote. Uh Rich Han, yes. >> Bob Widen, I'm going to recuse myself as I am on the little league board. >> Eric, yes. Page Came, yes.
>> Durkovich, yes. >> Laura Nunan, yes. >> Jeppi Federa, yes. >> Melissa, yes. >> All right, again, 80. Awesome. Good. So, you're all set. All right. Thank you. >> Congratulations and good luck. Appreciate it. Thank you. Yeah.
>> Good luck. Thanks, Scott. >> All right. Uh, next up is the uh temporary light request for >> one more signific on on Thursday, August 13th. Um, it's a free outdoor community moving movie screening for the general public. It's
on the Town Common. Um, the time is 6:30 uh to 10:30 p.m. >> mention for >> Oh, is for the um RCTV Reading Community Television. Uh
the movie screen is uh uh between 8 and 9:30. Uh sound equipment is going to be speakers, mixers, and microphone and general announcements. >> Not sure what it is. >> Probably. Yeah, >> I'm sure they're playing something PG,
which they have said what movie they were going to be playing. I will follow up and I feel as if it is something that potentially could have sound that may not be good for young ears. I will follow up with you >> if you would like, >> but I'm assuming RCTV has some standards and I'm assuming they have licensing
where they can only play certain movies. >> All right, >> I'll make a motion to approve it as is. >> I'll second it. >> All right, discussion. >> Any discussion? No discussion. Let's do a roll call vote. Uh, Rich Hand, yes.
>> Bob Widen, yes. >> Eric Aton, yes. >> Kate Cam, yes. >> Laura Durgovich, yes. Laura Newman, yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> All right. This uh request has been approved. Right now, we can go temporarily.
>> Got it. Yep. And I got some folks here, too. >> Okay. >> Who's who's gonna speak first? >> Just introduce yourself and address. >> Hi everybody. I'm Mike Taylor from Jeff. >> We're both board members of the
secretary on the board. >> Okay. >> If you want to tell us exactly what you're looking for. >> Sure. Yeah. Um, so the accident happened at Driscoll. The storms took the lights out. I think
probably everybody's familiar with the difficulties that created to youth sports in reading. So the way that the way that Russ adapted last fall was we used temporary lighting to Simons. Simons is a fall soccer field for us
that we um used in the fall. And so last fall to adapt we can use temporary lighting at Simonies um and it worked great. you know, we it allowed us to maintain the level of service for our teens that
typically use fiscal um ends up being about 225 kids. >> Okay. Um, so being able to use Simons, being able to have temporary lights of Simons last fall was an enormous help to us. And we were able to maintain the
level of service, maintain the level of practices, games, all of that for our players. And I was saying it it works out to about 225 kids in our grade five, six level, and our grade seven, eight
level. Um, one tricky part to last fall was last fall we used four lights to use. Um, because we, you know, we wanted to be mindful of baseball's use of Simons and so we wanted to stay out of the infield. So, we had the four lights along the perimeter of the outfield for
folks that are familiar with Simons, which worked. It was fine. It It allowed us to have practice, but um, you know, some improvements would be appreciated by the teams because, you know, you get to the other half of the field and we were in the dark. M >> so it kind of limited our ability to use
the whole field. So this year in in consultation with um baseball folks renovate Ruth um you know we kind of asked you know they mind this year we asked for six light stands so that we could more sort of thoroughly cover the
entirety of the soccer field. Um and um Mike Wandowski was person we spoke to. He spoke to some of the big group folks and and the word we got was that that was going to be okay for them. So, we are proposing six light stands this time. Um, baseball has indicated to us
that they're able to use other baseball fields. Um, so we think it's a win-win. Um, and happy to answer any questions >> and to jump in. So, they did come to us last year asking for those four lights. they were approved in this situation
greatly helps me because we are down on a field right now and we are very short on field space. So, this helps me significantly um with getting these kids out there because it is going to be a tough fall until we get those lights put up um hopefully after July one next year. So, I do appreciate the request.
Do you expect the six locations to be similar like along the outer side of it, outside of it, or would there be a couple kind of like on the edge of the infield facing going the opposite direction for like cross coverage? that
um and that's one of the advantages of having the support support of baseball or being in consultation with baseball because we avoided doing that last year because we didn't want to affect fall baseball and the you know the lights are hard to move. So if we're going to put them on the infield, they're going to be
there for >> So we do want to have three along that side and three along the outfield. >> Good. >> Yeah, man. And what what's your timing? Lights to be up and taken down.
>> Yeah, so the the game season for Russ is um September 12th to November 14th. That's the widest window. We typically start practice about a week before the first game. So we would anticipate having the lights up from about
September 5th to approximately November 14th. Um, November 14th is a makeup date for the league. >> For the league. So, if you know it's possible we could get out of there sooner, but our our regular season ends on the 7th,
>> but if we do have any makeup games, you know, we would like to practice, you know, that extra week. But if we have no makeup games, then we could cut this short by one week. >> Depends on, you know, rain outs and and other things that happen. >> Okay.
And last time we had no complaints or didn't have any issues. All >> I just ask is when the lights are arriving, you let me know so I can let Burbank know and let TPW know too. So that there's no surprise when they just show up. >> Yeah, they will show up. But the contractor, I don't believe they're allowed to actually put them on the
field. That's something that they stop show at. So they won't they won't grample the field with any >> the parks department will do that for you. So as soon as they are get dropped off, I will put in a a C click fix for them to get up there. So What kind of are they um are they
electrical? Is it solar? >> So these will be gas powered. Um we find that that provides the best quality light at this point. We have used solar in the past at Coolage. Um >> u
that's one of the things we kind of bounced around was the safety of the kids was important. So we know the stronger the gas >> last year was the gas powered as well. >> Yeah. >> And are these going to be at Koolage as well or is it just >> No, we're just here for assignments.
Kage is just an example we do. >> Okay. >> Are you going to be making a request for Koolage this year as well? >> We don't anticipate doing >> Oh, okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Any other discussion
to do a vote? >> Make a motion to approve the temporary light request by Reading United Soccer. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Right. Still a roll call. Uh Richand,
>> yes. >> Bob Widen, yes. >> I will abstain. >> Page Cer, yes. >> Laura Durgovich, yes. >> Laura Nunan, yes. >> Jeppi, yes. Melissa Poof. >> Great. >> Thank you. >> Thank you.
>> Thank you guys. >> Yeah, you guys can take off. >> Unless you want to hang around. >> Good luck this season. >> Thank you. >> Good luck. Thanks, guys. >> You got to present the >> Yeah. Okay.
>> Great. Next. Um I turn it over to Jim here. uh talked about the um pickle ball uh court, but just before we talked about it, I was down there uh yesterday. Course look beautiful by the way. They look great. I mean it the fence is up,
the uh concrete um is is in the lights are up. Um it's going to be beautiful. It really is going to be uh world class, I think, those thoughts down there. So I think I'm looking forward to going down there and playing sometime as well. So,
um, why don't you take >> All right. So, I'm going to do a quick little presentation. Should take about five minutes. This is a discussion in a draft. Nothing here is set in stone. And I want to be very clear about this. Um, I've been tasked to come up with some policies to move forward. Um, more than
likely this is going to start next year. So, we know they're opening this fall. We don't know when. Um, whatever policies we have, I'm not going to install them until next year. Um, I'm looking at this fall is it's going to be open play with reservations that will be allowed, but it's going to be open place
similar what we have at Memorial Park. That's what I'm hoping for right now. I'm not going to charge anybody if we do decide to go what they charging mechanism. I'm not going to charge them this fall season. Um, but this is what I'm looking at based on some research and talking to a lot of folks. I did meet with um our PPA. It was probably a
month and a half or two months ago um with some initials thoughts and it brought up a lot of conversation. And so I wanted to bring it to the recreation committee um to have an open discussion and see if I'm somewhere in the ballpark or if I'm not or if they think I'm somewhere in the ballpark or if I'm not
too. So I want it to be kind of a little bit of an open dialogue here while we go through this. I'm going to ask if I'll just watch this, listen, take your notes and then after this is over um we'll have a discussion and then I think you said you're going to open up public comment right the public of the topic.
>> All right. It is a little bit of a lot. So these are the proposed reservations to open play. Um the goal here is uh we want to provide equitable access for residents and visitors while balancing um reser reserve court time open play recreation division programs leagues
tournaments and other authorized activities. Um when putting this together um I'll keep it in mind about what happened at town meeting and what town meeting members want, what pickle ball wants too. So I try to come up with a an idea that blends all of it together that I hope is a win-win for the
players. the community and what town meeting voted on. So, courts are going to be open from 8:00 to 10:00. Um, lights will go on at sunset automatically and shut off at 10 p.m. following the similar light policies we have across all of our fields. Courts will remain open typically through December 1st. I know there's been talk
about do we keep them open in the winter right now. I'm trying to be consistent what we do with tennis and there's a few reasons. Meaning that the nets do get damaged in the winter. Potential for some damage to happen to the courts if people are shoveling, but I'm being a little bit lenient when we're going to close them. If we don't have a lot of
snow in December, similar with tennis, we're not going to shut them down if it's really nice out and there's no snow on the court. And then similar to when we open them up, um if we don't get any snow and you know the birds start chirping in February and the sun comes out, we can open up early. I'll
certainly do that um too. Um, court reservations. So, all the court reservations will be managed through the recreation division. Um, for this season, it's definitely still going to be through Play Local, similar what we do at tennis and what we do at Memorial Park right now. Um, we are transitioning
to a new recreation software when we go over to the Reading Center for Active Living. Um, so potentially we could be transferring to that software which will allow reservations on our platform um, a little sooner than when we get in that building. Um, we'll see if we get there
and if the system can do absolutely everything we want it to do. We've been told it can. So, it might be some fine tweaking before we do um, open up the spring 27 season. Um, playtime schedule, it's not going anywhere. I understand that. Um, it's a great way for folks to find partners when they do end up
booking courts or reserving courts. So, that will still be an option. It's just not going to be a way to secure the courts. This is I know the hot topic item, the proposed fees. Um, again, I'm keeping in mind what happened at town meeting. I looked at what other towns do
and when I look at this, an adult resident membership for a full year for $50. What this would do is it would allow you to reserve court times on the courts. So, what I'm looking at, um, you'll see moving forward would be whoever gets a reservation or a membership pass for that $50 for the
year, you're allowed to book one court for up to two hours per day. Um, I'll get into the details of how it's going to work as far as who can show up. Do you need to be a member of somebody else booked the court? I'll get to that. Um, I think it it's going to work out for the community. Um, non-resident
membership, we would bump up that cost. I know there's a lot of RPA members that are from out of town that do travel. I don't want to price them out. So, it's a little bit of a bump. And we have to keep in mind with the park grant, we can only I talked to Andrew McNichol today, we can only double the amount that we charge non-residents. The max fees would
charge um a non-resident would be capped at $100. So, if we do 50 for a resident, it can only go to 100 for a non-resident. Senior residents with the recal center there, um trying to keep those costs downs. I know they're getting hit hard right now. Um so, that would be 30 for a year. A senior
non-resident would be 45. The youth, we want them out there playing. So 17 and under would be free. They could book a court themselves. You know, maybe mom and dad don't play a lot. They like to play. Um, as long as there is an adult on the court with them. Again, this is up for debate. Um, and then I like to
put a cap on families. If you have a large family and you have a bunch of young kids or adult children who are living at home with you with a lot of folks are finding um I would like to cap it for a family max of a resident 125 for per season and a non-resident
membership too. And with this we put restrictions on it as far as how many residents can get memberships and um non-residents too. If we see that the courts are being taken by non-residents we can certainly cap um this as well. This is just a quick little drawing. Um,
I added in the new colors, too. They weren't lighter green, but I spoke with RPA and we've added in this um I think it's a I don't think we're allowed to call it a USA blue anymore. It's called something else. Um, but we did add um a blue in there. Um, just from some feedback from the players about the colors of the balls and it's a darker
forest green, too. And a lot of courts do um this as well. This is just a quick rendering I kind of put together. There will be a shade structure where it says plaza. I never noticed that it said plaza on there, but that's kind of the the main entryway over there. So, this is how the courts would be lined. 1 2 3
4 5 6 with seven being the large court at the end. So, the way I'm looking at it right now, and again, this is open for discussion. Courts 1 through five, those would be the reservable courts, meaning um if you had a membership, you could reserve those courts whenever you want. Um
reserve courts are intended for exclusive use of the individual holding the reservation. Um, just because these are reservable courts doesn't mean they're always going to be reserved. If these courts, if there's nobody on them, you are certainly more than welcome to go out there and you do not need to have a membership if somebody shows up and
they have a reservation for this court similar what we have at tennis and you're going to have to exit that court and go to the next available court. Um, courts six and seven, um, we kind of discussed this a while ago with our PPA. Um, those would always be dedicated for open play, meaning those two fire
courts, six and seven, would be always available for anyone to show up, whether you had a membership or not, and it's open play. If nobody's there, you can play as long as you want. If a group comes up, they can go on that second court, play as long as they want. If a third group comes up, when your game's over, you got to get back in a queue.
And we probably utilize a paddle system. So, there's always going to be two courts open for open play that would not require any type of membership, but you can would not be able to guarantee if you would be able to play right away. Um, you may have to
um designated open play periods. Um, this can be very flexible. Um, based on community demand, the reading wreck division may periodically designate additional courts andor specific time periods for more open play. Meaning instead of just those two courts, there might be a Friday night, a Friday night
social club, Sunday night morning, we could open up more courts, I would like to utilize RPA. They did send me over a wonderful graph, by the way, a really nice graph that had different levels with different play times on different days so that when we do open play things
like this, you're going to a group that you're going to be able to compete with and not feel intimidated. So, um, we would work with them to try to work this out. Um, open play, it encourages participation, players of all skill levels, matching them with the appropriate players. Like I said, it
promotes social play, well-being, and community engagement. Um, it increases portability for individuals who are new to the game. It can be intimidating. You don't know what to do. I think we've done a great job down at Memorial Park with RPA and getting new people involved in the game, meeting new friends, and finding players that are similar to
their ability. So, I would like to continue that when these ports open um up. We post these on the town website so everyone knew when they were um and we realized that these could change throughout the year as far as what's working, what's not working. So, we are going to be flexible with this until we
find something that that sticks. I guess recision, we'd have um certainly our programs out there. I'd work with the RPA again to make sure we're not stepping on their toes where we could do instructional lessons, leagues, it could be tournaments, special events, fundraisers. Um there's going to be days
where we may have to do maintenance out there if there's a lot of pine needles or something like that. So um throughout the years, I mean throughout the um the weeks things could pop up here and there, but we're going to try to make sure we are open about this because we do got to bring in some money with these these courts out here. um we all know
it's coming towards an override. So, there's going to be a lot of pressure on my division to to bring in money where we can, but I also don't want to tax the the residents um too much. So, again, I'm trying to come up with something something fair. Um I'm also going to look into sponsorships. That's something that's going to be coming up with the
select board coming up with a sponsorship model to um potentially get some businesses to sponsor courts for the years. I've been looking at what other towns do and you can get 500 upwards to $1,000 per court. So, um I'm hoping to have a policy set up before
the courts open um up next year. Not officially, we'll say open up um next year. They are going to open up this fall. Um is that it one more slide in there. >> I think that was uh
>> I think that was it. So, I'm going to open it up. Well, you can take it from there. So, that's my presentation. Again, this is a draft. I want to get feedback from as many people as I want. I'm a oneperson show and haven't played pickle ball unfortunately yet. So I am happy to take feedback on what you guys
have seen if you played and then um listen to what our PPA has to say. >> Yeah. Thanks for pulling this together. So we know this is a discussion. So this is what we're going to talk about to help Jim and his team write the right policy for us. >> I just had one um comment.
>> Sure. When you had talked about the park grant, you had said in terms of what you can charge reading residents and non-residents and you had said double the amount. My recollection was that you couldn't charge non-residents more than 50% more.
>> So when you say double that's like 100% more. I just want to make sure cuz my recollection was it couldn't be more than 50% more. So, say we charge reading residents $20, then you could only charge a non-reing like a north reading resident $30, but you couldn't charge
40. So, when you said double, that's the only thing that >> Yeah, I could be wrong cuz I thought it was double as well. And I called Andrew and same situation. I think you might I think it's 50%. It's >> not double. >> Again, this is why >> 50% more. No, I'm totally right. >> A draft. >> I'm pretty sure it was 50%.
>> No, it's fine. No, >> but the $70 would still fit in the >> Yes. They and I think that what they have what they have up there still works. So >> yeah, but I just want to make sure if you're commenting on what the policy is. I just want to make sure that just look up the provisions of the park brand
would say because that was a discussion at Tom meeting. It was like >> an adnauseium discussion. >> Definitely remember. >> Yeah. I would say if as far as a fee, if they're if they're limiting us to just
50% more than what we're charging residents, I would go to the max that we can charge to you got, you know, this does have to be a cost center for you, unfortunately. And I think that's >> for the non-resident. >> Yes, I agree with him. >> I agree with that. >> Yeah. So, you might need you might you
might want to uh change the 125 to a different number so it's a so it's a round number when you do 50%. Good idea. Oh yeah, right. >> United Church people 50 cents. That's right. >> Um over overall I Jim, this is great. Um
I I appreciate the work that you put into it. Um I'm I'm I know that you in the in years past for as pickable issues and items and opportunities that have come up. You always reach out to a lot of the the the fellow communities to get
insight and input. Um, and then ideally take what's best for reading and put it into place. So it looks like that's what you've done here. Um, I think that the fee structure is is eminently reasonable. Um, to the point to Bob's point and you know, Laura, you
referenced the town meeting. Um, you know, that was a that was a long discussion um about getting approval for the funding for this is making sure that there was some element of uh some revenue generation to help offset the taxpayer dollars that were going to be
put into creating the courts. So, I think that you've done that. Um, I think that's a respectful nod to the the the the wishes of town meeting um over those two nights that we talked about it. Um, and yeah, I mean, I know there'll be
tweaks. I know there'll be adds and edits and changes, but I think it's a it's a it's a it's a great start. Um, and it's a great baseline. So, thanks, >> Jim. In terms of the membership fees, um, I know that you had a separate fee up there for seniors. Mhm.
>> Um I believe that the rec department has funding if there's any families that might have um financial >> challenges that >> 100% we would still do that. The way it's set up right now is we typically if somebody needs a scholarship, it's one
scholarship kind of per season. Um this is a full season, but I can see us adopting a policy here um for financial aid for folks that need it that would come directly through me and I'd approve it. Um it's never gone to the recreation committee. I think we've been pretty fortunate where we don't get a lot of
them. Don't abuse it. >> Um, but if it started getting abused or we felt like it was being abused, I can certainly bring to the rec committee and we can try to come up with a policy maybe that you guys are approving moving forward. But I don't like to say no. I don't think anyone does. Um, so yeah, we can certainly continue to do so.
>> Yeah, because it's not just seniors that might live on a fixed income, might have an individual with disabilities who >> might be on a fixed income. So >> yeah, just keeping that in mind >> and having those open courts too. I mean, I hope that will help alleviate some folks, too. And I mean, will the courts be booked every day at 9:00 a.m.
on a warm Saturday? Probably not. Or, you know, later in the evening, maybe with the lights down there, but I'm hopeful that there will be just some open courts for folks that they won't have to get a membership um as well. And then just doing research on other towns, too. Um, some towns charge, some do not
charge. Um, like we're one of the newest facilities and, um, like Lexington, they do charge for a membership. They charge for tennis, too. And they're charging $25 um a summer. And then Andover does charge too for they call it like a premium pass where they can play at
night. I think that's um $75 just to play between the hours of 5 and 9 over there. They get a little band that they have to put on their paddle in order to be able to play there, too. But there are towns that don't charge, too. So, I was trying to find something a little bit more reasonable than $25.
So >> are we going to >> too late? What's that? We a little too reasonable. >> I'm not the end all say all. That's why I have a recreation committee here. >> Can you put these back up? Yeah. And you know, >> I looked up when I was at work today,
only two towns and I looked up and I don't know what their courts look like cuz I don't Well, but Skillington I thought was free and then Winchester was $35 for non-residents and they didn't charge for residents, but I don't know if their courts look anything like what ours look like. But that's kind of what
I had in my head. And then we got here and I heard him do this presentation and they all and I'm like, "Oh, interesting that I looked at like the cheapest has beautiful court. They just >> I think they I >> brand new.
>> I don't think at night you have to be >> I was there last night. >> And was it 35 per game or per year? >> No. Uh Winchester was 30 from what I saw on my quick Google search was $35 for the season if you were a non resident and it was free for residents and then
Wilmington it just said free. >> Reuben charges too. >> Yeah. It's a wall and fees >> the nominal 50 or 75 bucks. >> A lot of folks are charging >> for residents. >> Is that for like per booking or is that
per >> the season season pass, right? >> Those are at library park, right? Those I think it's three courts over there. >> So, I'm open to get feedback um from the recreation committee if I'm too steep or if I'm too low. Like I said, I don't want to price anybody out. I really don't. I just want to be respectful of
what we heard at town meeting 2 and not have someone come back to me and say you didn't do what we said on the town meeting floor. So I understand both sides. >> Yeah, >> it's tricky. >> And you're right. I think it's have to be a balance, right? You don't want to be too expensive to people who won't
play and but you need some amount for to meet our obligation for the town as well. >> Um >> and we did do this with tennis 20 years ago when we built those courts. Kate can speak more on that. It was $25 for a tennis pass. You had to come to the wreck and you'd have to purchase it. It
was $25 for a resident. We had staff down there and then it was $100 for a non-resident to come down there. Um and they'd sign in with a staff that was down there, too. >> That was 25 years ago. >> That was probably what was it about 20 20 plus years ago? >> 20 years ago. >> Fees 25 years ago.
>> Yeah. We we were actually trying to discourage um nonresident use. We we were illegal with the $100 non-resident, but we didn't know it at the time and it did the trick. We signed it and got rid of the
>> So, I think I think Melissa touched upon it. So, the two six and seven are no membership required. Always open play unless the town needs it or >> that would be posted, >> right? Okay. So, >> and those two are fenced off from the one through five, right? Uh, so there's
fences in between all the um, you've got it >> signage. >> So there would be signage, separate signage on there. I don't I'm not ordering signage until it's freezing. Um, I wanted to pull up the court photos. Go this way. Yeah. So it' be six and
seven over there. The main entrance way is right where that little says plaza on it. Right through there. So there'd be signage on court six and seven. And there'd be signage right on the front that would say that, too. >> Seven's a larger court. Seven is so they are all handicap accessible. Number
seven is fully handicap accessible. >> So they all can be used with >> bigger buffer zone, not a bigger court. >> Correct. Just a bigger out >> cuz that court looks bigger. >> It is bigger. >> It is bigger 100%. Like in actual life it's bigger. >> Oh, it is. >> Yes.
>> I'm sorry. So this was I needed help with >> it's a rendering AI to change the colors of the courts and get the seventh cuz I couldn't find a seven. So I had to. >> But the court, every court is the same size. I'm sorry. I thought you were talking about the actual >> No, no, it's 20 by 44. All 204. Just the the
>> buffer zone. >> Can I ask a question about six and seven? So it's open play. You don't need a reservation and you don't need a pass. Is there a certain amount of time that people can play on the court? like could
I show up at 10:00 and play to 12? Do who what if there's a line of people that want to how do you control >> how do you control that? >> So with open play and correct me if I'm wrong as far as so with open play you can play as long as you want as long as
there's not a weight. Um, typically with open play is when you finish your match, a regular standard game, that game ends, you come off the court. If you want to play again and there's not a big wait, you put your paddle in a little queue system and then you let them play and then you're back on. And games don't take too long sometimes. Correct. >> 10 15 minutes.
>> 10 15 minutes or so. >> Um, and if they do show up and those courts are full and 1 2 3 4 5 like me, >> no reservation, you can slide onto those courts, too. >> So, if I'm on two >> Mhm.
um in and using it as open play. I um if someone shows up with a a card, like how would I know if I were on the court that the person coming had a reservation? >> So when they get a reservation, they get an email that goes to their account so
they can pull it up on their phone and they can show you. >> Okay. So they >> and then we'd ask you to move from that court. I wouldn't want to say just move over to court for that one could be reserved later. you'd have to leave the court that they were booked on because we don't know if that court is going to be booked moving forward. >> And so one other Sorry, go ahead.
>> And there would probably be signage up there with the with the rules and the regulations and you need to, you know, if there's a line, you need to get off the court when you're finished and put your paddle in there.
>> And that's pretty standard at any open play court. So if anyone's playing or anyone's new to the game, >> there will be signage there, too. And And when I was talking about this too, so the way it works and the way Lexington does it too, the only person that needs to have a membership is the person person that is reserving the
court. So if you want a membership and your cousins come up, if you book that court and you want to bring your cousin, your son, your daughter, and they don't have a membership, as long as you are the one that booked that court, they do not need to have a membership. >> Um, I
that person will need to be there. >> That person must be there. I did have I don't know if I said that was there. >> Do they have but they don't have to be playing? >> They need to be on the court. >> They need to be on the court. >> Should we have more control over the fully accessible court?
>> Um yeah. So I mean if someone does come in, you know, with if it's a wheelchair and they want that one, meaning like have that one potentially >> instead of that one being open play. >> I feel like that could be Good point. I did think of that. >> Yeah, >> maybe priority.
>> We don't want to push that away from anyone that could certainly utilize that court. >> So, it could potentially make sense. Move it to five and six. Um, and seven >> be a reservable court with priority that you could get bumped off if you
>> accessibility. I think that's a really good point. Or if you wanted um them specifically to be at an end, you could make them one and two. >> Yeah. >> Right. >> Instead of five and six, >> correct? >> Right. >> Yeah.
>> How are you how are you policing court number seven? like there were visible disabilities, there's non-visible disab um on reservations. I think we have to make note that Court 7 is, you know, fully accessible. Um I think there could
be signage there too stating that it is fully accessible. Um, I can look in what other towns do that have fully accessible courts and see how often they are using, but I think what just said is, you know, yeah, making sure that we are allowing folks that need to utilize that court to have the
first opportunity. Mhm. >> I mean, if they if somebody needs that court and it's reserved, but they're able to just say reserve court 4. >> Mhm. >> Could they contact you and say, "Hey, can we swap courts with we because this is the one we need?" >> Yeah. Unless all the
>> It might be as easy as there can be a there can be a selection in the system so that you guys can be notified of a request for a switch for that purpose. >> Yep. That way they have the same >> Yeah. If if booking court seven, there
is a possibility that you could be bumped to a different court to a different court based under the circumstances of the individual looking to play. >> Yeah, >> it's a good point. >> Hey Jim, what's the name of the um the recreation the new uh management uh rec
management software? >> Rec. >> Thank you. But there would always be two courts available for open play. Correct. >> Yes. >> Right now, that's what I'm proposing. >> Uhhuh. >> Is that there would be two courts.
>> I think it's really important, too. I I agree with the scholarship in light of what's happening with the town finances. I mean that those rates look pretty reasonable to uh many of us but for some
people those rates might be very difficult. >> So I think it's really important. I know EHS has a form that has to be filled out if there's a hardship for paying for something. So >> we have the same one.
>> You have the same >> similar. It's very similar. Yes. >> Yeah. I forgot it was a town town forum. Any more rep comments before we Yeah. have the public comment anymore?
>> Can I just I just wanted what if we made court seven reservable only for people with disabilities >> number one is I've been playing football 10 years all over the country. in that 10-year time period, I had seen one one
person in a wheelchair um down in Florida where they have 66 courts in that one park and only and I was chatting with him and uh you know he plays with fully abled bodied players.
So I I just I just not very common to see wheelchair play. Um in fact we were discussing at RPA about trying maybe for the uh naming or the grand opening whatever you trying to have a wheelchair game assemble that you know
>> we've been looking hard trying to find people in wheelchairs who play so I I don't think it's going to be utilized by wheelchair people very often in general that was my one comment but also just a couple of things profit center wise I'm
not sure you know this particular park is going to be the only park in writing that I'm aware of that would be a cost center except for those that run leagues like baseball fields and things like that and u you know I think the object here is promote
recreation and uh we have raised a lot of money we've worked long and hard to try and raise money um we've collected money from many non-residents and the way pit ball is played is never just for the residents of the town it is a you
know inter community uh far-reaching regional and we would know people in Westford will know people all over New England because we bumped into them on a pimple ball court too. So that's kind of the the how the concept is um inter
community and a lot like I said a lot of non-residents gave us thousands of dollars uh toward this these new pivotal courts and um another point I'd like to make is we we passed this at town meeting believe me I attended every
single town meeting there was as you know I'm sure you were all there very long discussion about you know monetizing these courts um Our budget was 1.5 million. That's what got approved, came in at 1.2. We were able to get secure the park grant. Thank you
to your efforts. Um we're giving we gave $225,000. We're paying another $10,000 for the shade structure. We're continuing to do some level of fundraising on our own to try and offset costs. Um it just seems like to me we want to keep the cost
down. No one represented at Tom meeting how much money we had to raise just that we had to monetize these courts and so I would like to keep it as fair and equitable as possible even to the non-residents and I don't think we're
the numbers you presented Jim you know suppose I can live with but I don't feel like we should be increasing those costs at all not after all the effort that many many people have put in and all the contributions many residents and non-residents have made to make this
happen. So, and then the last thing I want to say is um yes, towns charge, some ch towns charge. Woo charges $25. No one ever shows up there. I'm telling you, you can play local. I mean, the playtime schedule.
There's one player. I mean, they never play there. Lexington charges 205, but Lexington's also building a billion dollar high school. So, you know, totally >> they're sold out to sell out of memberships every year. >> I mean, you know, it's Lexington and
over they are free all of the time except peak times, weekends and evenings and they pay the $75 and one of the monitors there a friend of. So, he was telling me about how they do it there. But so, so that and that's that's an
open play format during those times. >> So, um so that that's it. That's those are my two steps and I would really like to see because I'm not sure how enforcement's going to go, but I would really like to see this as nominal as possible uh on the pickle ball players
because there's a lot of us and just seems like the more most fair thing to do. >> Can you repeat what you said about the um the accessible court? Do you think that should be res only reserved for accessible? So if we're concerned about
um people with disabilities playing, make that port reservable only to people who are so right now it's it's open play but wants to reserve it open >> that has handicap they they trump open play
>> for for open play during that time. >> So it's guaranteed for them. >> Yes. And I I just I just don't think there's going to be a barrage of handicapped players. We just I mean maybe my my colleagues have seen it but I I have not seen it in
the first >> because there's nobody with a wheelchair doesn't mean there won't be handicap players and disabilities because as Bob said there's visible disabilities and there's invisible disabilities. So you could pull up in a handicap placard and park in the space and get out of your
car and walk to the court and still be handicapped. I assure you um and need to play there. Well, they can play many. I think the unique nature of that court is specifically designed for a wheelchair. Like that's >> I see what you're saying with the buffer zone, but when they're saying that there
won't be that many handicapped people there because there won't be that many people in a wheelchair. I'm just saying that there visible disability and there are invisible disabilities and somebody could be disabled and not be in a wheelchair. And that was the point I was making. >> The visual woman that plays with us, she has a blocker and she plays at memorial
with us and she's fine. She does stand. >> But those with mobility issues, I'm sure you'd want a fence further away. If you're going towards a sideline, too. Mobility or visual instead of running into a fence, you you'd want a bigger fence, too. So, yeah, you may not they may not be in a wheelchair, but they have a visual mobility where they would
benefit from using this court opposed to a smaller, more confined court. Correct. >> Yeah. or a child with a disability that needs space to run and you're trying to take him to play pickle ball and >> he needs a little bit more room to move.
>> Did you by any chance have this >> I didn't pull that up right now. Um I just wanted to get this all together and then >> so we appreciate your effort but I think this has a really nice approach. Um
the thing is pickle ball is played a little bit differently than other sports. >> It's usually a group of people that play over multiple sports. So right now um to try to reserve the courts every every day and people are on there at at the hour two hours before reserving the
courts and then we kind of open it to people. But what we're what this shows is we're trying to break the courts down levels of play. sort of an advanced level of play and intermediate level play and more novice level of play. When people take lessons now from um the
reading wreck, they come out and they want to play, but they have nobody to play with. There's no infrastructure. So often the way pickle ball plays is there'll be there'll be sessions where they can come for that level. So beginners after they have the lessons, who do they play with? They don't know anybody else. But we have courts blocked
off in in a proposal we have. So people can then say, "Oh, I know I can play on Mondays from 8 to 10 on courts four, five, and six." And there'll be other people at my level to play. If if play isn't leveled, then it kind it gets it gets a little contentious. You have, oh,
I don't want to play with you or or you're too good. I'm not I'm not good. But if it can be leveled play, then it encourages more people to come out and find their people, find who they want to play with. So open playing just the two chords it is is as we've we talked about
that initially but as we've talked more about it talked to other people in play we realized that two courts just doesn't quite do it because then you're mixing all the different levels on those two courts but we've come up with a scheme so every morning and every evening each group of play players the the novice in
the band will all have courts with other people where they can play >> open play o open and they'll be an open play so people go in and play and once they finish their game they put their pals in the next people go on. You mix it up. You don't just play with the same four people every time. But you mix it
up. You meet more people. We often do winners and losers or you meet new people to come play. You play with people you don't even know before. Many from reading. >> So if that's the open play sort of format. >> So if I wanted to play like the hours there are kind of like kind of I guess the peak hours like the mornings you
like and then the evenings. So, if I had four or eight friends that I just want to go with and I want to play with after work. >> Yeah. >> And I just didn't want to go into a play. I want to reserve it for for an hour or two hours. Could I do that still? >> Yeah. There's some white blocks here. So, on
>> it just look there's a lot of those every single day. That's the only thing. >> Monday from 5 to 7 the 34 reserve. >> Okay. >> If somebody wanted >> Yeah, that's what I mean by being flexible. >> What's that? >> That's what I mean by being flexible. We can try that and then we're going to be like this isn't working. We can certainly adjust.
>> It's sort of it's right now, like I'm saying, it's um unless the session is posted for a certain level, there's some levels that never ever get posted. So, people don't know how to play. And that's why our open play sessions on Thursdays and Sundays are popular because people say, "Oh, I can go and play, meet people." We try to divide it
up by level on those four courts, which is hard, >> but we try that's where people meet each other and groups have launched from that. >> Yeah. >> But it's a way to be inclusive of more people coming to play and purging that recreation. So would folks if they played on that Monday 5 to 7 they found the group for that day they don't need
to have a membership or they're not paying anything so they have the potential of going there every day every week >> we don't know how it fits in winter res so we did this independent you're thinking and I like the fact that reserve courts but it doesn't necessarily monetize it the same way it does here
>> but we also feel there's great opportunities for monetizing by having drilling sessions drilling is I'm sure Carl knows everybody wants to do drills you so you're charged for drills drills and people come and do drills. You charge for um a ball machine. There's pickle ball machines. You have a ball
machine at the recal center and you can rent out the ball machine and you have balls over and over >> like it. >> Um there's other coaching besides just drilling. Um lessons for advance. >> Yeah, we'll actually do some lessons >> and we think that those are all opportunities for monetizing
>> that may may in addition to maybe you have to pay to reserve those would be other ways to monetize and raise more money. And those value added services are things people are going to be more interested in and more willing to pay for. >> We don't I don't want empty courts. No one here wants empty courts.
>> Right. >> It's finding a balance. >> And this is more the flavor of pickle ball. Um you open play sessions everywhere. How you do the open play is what we're trying to make sure. It's an it's a cooperative. It's open. Everybody, nobody gets turned off. How you do the open the play is what we
spend a lot of time talking about. So having the different levels of open play. >> Yeah. How do you feel about the fee structure? Like the peace structure, Jim. >> Well, the fee structure for reserving courts, I think that's great. No, >> the amount.
>> Yeah. What how do you feel towards that? >> It's a little I'm trying to roll it into the way we play now. So, somebody will reserve three three courts. I mean, I mean, two courts. >> We have two courts for two hours and everybody else comes and plays. So, you have to get money from all your friends.
If you want to do it in a pickle ball scheme where you don't know people, how do you collect money from people to reserve? Somebody just stands up and says, "Well, I'll pay for it." And they pay for it for the season. But I don't know how many people I don't know what kind of money you're going to raise between us. >> But you think that's in the ballpark or
not in the ball because I think we have to have some >> Yeah, I think I think paying 50 a year, 30 year is fine. I'm just not sure how much money that's actually going to raise. Mhm. That's fair >> because you only need one member to reserve >> because it's one person reserve the court. >> I see. So
raise money. >> And as you guys know, when you play pickle ball, you play with a lot of people and you mix it up. You don't play the same game with everybody the whole time. You play with another group, >> right? >> So I love the fact that Jim was created this way. Y >> but I'm wondering if instead we can monetize by doing drills and lessons and
>> right the add-on services. that that to me make more sense too because we don't want to be much different from tennis or basketball or anything else in the town. It just doesn't seem like a good idea. >> Why should this one sport be different and monetize every single play?
>> It's just they go back to town meeting, >> right? No, we haven't said we have town meeting. >> So, I have a question. So, they're all open play unless a reservation comes. Correct. >> What would stop every single person? Nobody buys a membership. Not one
membership is sold ever and then they're just free all the time. What is stopping anybody from doing that? >> Crowds and not being able to play when you want to play and you can spend $50 and over time it breaks down. >> All I'm thinking of is if that happens then what everyone voted for at town
meeting doesn't it it's not happening and there's no there's no money being made and >> you can't control that though. >> I was just thinking what what is there a safeguard in their head? Has anybody thought about that? I think that's what I was saying. >> I I think one of the one of the aspects
is that because this is new and because this whatever we put in place will get modified. Whatever we put in place, we will find something that worked great and something that didn't work, >> right? And then we'll adjust. Um, and
you know, to your point, Laura, like yes, you know, could the could the could the whole pickle ball community collude to like all it takes is one pickle ball player who wants to do it and then somebody else will do it and somebody else. So, um, but yes, I I I think that, you know,
I I I think that whatever whatever come whatever is for 2027 will be adjusted, maybe even on the fly. Um, but certainly probably redone for 2028. >> You're also going to get a dry run for what, however, however many months it's
open once it opens up. So, you kind of you can see you can, you know, trial and error it's at. >> Yep. And then with the membership too, it allows me to see who's registering too. And if there are updates, I'm going to have emails that I could send out to the group. So it'll certainly help me get the word out if things are happening
or too many people are parked in the retail parking lot and they need to be over behind Burbank, things like that. So getting emails, I know there's ways we can do that that are probably much easier like sign up for the pickle ball court newsletter or whatever, get updates on all the happenings. But um I was looking at that way too just to give
updates if like at the tennis courts our lights are out right now. If that was to happen just to be able to communicate with folks um it would help a little bit. But >> could the system stop somebody from reserving two courts at the same time? >> Yep. >> Okay. >> Did I make one more question? Um often I
I can see what would happen is people would reserve or one and two for two hours and then they'd combine that into a group. Um Oh, and if we have to reserve two weeks out like we do now, two weeks out the person does the reservations, they might
get sick. Something might happen and then they're not on the court. And that's what happens all the time now. People reserve it. Their schedule changes. You already have eight people going out there. The eight people come out, they get a sub, the personal reserve isn't there or the two people who aren't there. So having to have those people that made the reservations
there >> isn't also as is >> problematic. Problematic. Yeah. >> Yeah. Not that people are trying to cheat the system. >> No, I get that. >> In my office, we'll be all right, right? I'll be looking over there and this is not like trying to pull back.
It's because life comes in the way. >> I get it. >> Yeah, we'll adjust accordingly. We're not going to fault anybody for doing that in the system. Is it just all the things that go into >> and that was part of the issues that we were trying to solve with the open place trying to make sure that there's court
time for all the different levels to play so there's not that >> having to figure out how to get a chord two weeks in advance and then shoot a lot of what now is craziness we play from 10 to 12 11 o'clock you stop court back you reserve a court I
didn't get it you stop the play reserve it's just >> and you will still people reserving courts. I guarantee you >> there'll be people including me reserving serving courts the many white blocks that are available. >> Yeah, like I said, hopefully there'll be
we have seven courts which I think I don't know what other town has seven courts. I hope they do get utilized and I hope we come up with a way to make it work for everybody. >> I have to say I I really like your idea and it might be all of your idea ideas.
um on accommodating different levels of play. That is so important. Um as a pickle ball player from a long time ago, first
became popular. Um, and then as people got more skilled and played harder, some people are are sportsoriented, others just are there for the social and the fun of it.
>> So I think some of building that in that that's really important. >> It builds community more. >> Yeah. >> As opposed to getting people at odds with each other. >> Yeah. >> I think it's your question. One of the things I've seen on the on Facebook, um,
if you can get out some sort of like comment or something, people think that this pickle ball courts are recently I saw 2.5 to 3 million and you know how people are talking about the overall. Yeah. >> So if you could I think the town is in
it only for like 600,000 now as opposed to town needing approved 1.5 million. Can that be um shared with the community? I could have the actual class what the act Katie and Josh who do communications and stuff on the town of
Learning Facebook page. Where are you seeing that being posted on? I try to avoid posting. I see I've seen 1.5 and I've seen the other day was like 2.5 to three million. I was like shocked. I have no idea where they got it. I don't can't even remember
when. >> But if we could just Yeah. Let people know that the we significant class savings as it turns out too. >> Great. >> And courts are beautiful. >> Yes. >> And those fence posts will be lowered. You see the double fence post there?
That's because they got to paint the courts and they drop those down and they put the fabric on there. So it's not a double fence post up top. That's the bottom railing that's been raised so that they can paint under there. >> Get it out to the town members specifically. That's a quite far. He'll make it two
million. >> Lara can do that. Lara can do that. >> Yeah, Lara can do it. >> I'll talk to Jane. Just saying there's a lot of miscommunication going misinformation going around that that could get a >> inerson meeting. >> Yeah, I certainly get that and I want to
post some photos too, but I don't want to stir up the pot right now that's happening. If I post a photo of all the progress right now, I I certainly understand people are going to probably throw negative comments out there, which I don't want to do. Jim, I just had a clarification on one of the comments you had on there was about if someone was running or clinics
or anything they needed to get approval from you. Is that only if they are charging a fee? >> If they're charging a fee that's a very slippery that >> Okay, it did. It said monetized. It did. >> It did. >> Yeah. One of the paragraphs says if they
monetize it >> an individual organization wishing to conduct less than clinics camps or any other organized activity must receive prior written approval. It doesn't say that monetiz you know anybody reserving a court is
kind of organizing either play or sometimes drills or something and I wouldn't >> but they can't be charging Right. And and they're not currently. >> Yes. >> I just have one more thing. We do have a big a goal to try to get more accessible players out there. Um we do want to have
um uh an exhibition game as Marian said, but maybe I think ideal would be two wheelchair players or two non-w wheelchair players to play and then have the voice of the basketball group wheelchair basketball group that I've seen. have them come and just so we do have aspirations to try to open this up
for more because I know these just don't see them. >> Yeah, we're trying to do a much better job with that and we are looking to get therapeutic wreck involved and that's still hopefully happening that position. We're not cutting that right now. Our part-time therapeutic wreck when the recal opens up too. So, we are still
pushing for that too. It is much needed for sure for a long time. We talk about it way too much and we're going to make it happen. I might change. >> All right. Um I know we're getting up against time. Um so to cut off public comment, but thank you for all the public comment.
>> Um so you know Jim and team have taken all this feedback. We'll probably come back again, get some more feedback, refine, refine, refine until we all agree to what the structure is going to be. >> All right. Jim, can is there any way
that you can send that out to the committee? >> I will send everything I put up here >> and you guys can look at it and know if what you want to do is break it down and let me know your comments and I can put it together. You guys can do the same with >> you guys after this, bring it back here. We do have some time, like I said, I'm not going to do anything this fall. Just
going to play local and then, you know, we do want to do a big grand opening for this event sometime this spring that we're going to set up too when the grass is all and we've kind of figured out how this is going to all operate. So, appreciate all you guys. Those really good combos. >> Quick question. I'm sorry. Does Memorial
Park stay the same? >> Memorial Park is going to be a conversation for another meeting because I um I do get complaints from the neighbors there and it, you know, it's probably going to be one of those things where folks go down there. There may not be the the portable nets that are out there. I'm sure some folks like that
area and they're used to it. But we get neighbors who are behind there that every year they they are calling about the noise and sometimes the parking down there. So I want to be respectful to them and if we just built these courts that are brand new, it'd be hard for me to say we can continue to take a tennis
court over when we just built the seven court complex. But I'm open to conversations and inviting neighbors into and >> not the end all be all for all this stuff. But I certainly knew that was going to come out. >> Okay. >> Yep. That's a good point. >> All right. Thanks. Thanks for everything
putting that together. >> No worries. >> All right. So, um, next item here is the draft naming policy for town fields, courts, and building. So, again, this is the discussion. >> Yeah, I will go real quick with this one. I know we are behind the eightball and some folks want to jump on that Zoom
meeting to see that. Um, so two weeks ago, I was asked to present at the um, select board meeting. Jane Wman asked me to where's my from beginning? Here we go. Jane Wman asked me to come up with my best shot at coming up with a naming
policy for any town own property basically outside of libraries um and schools. School departments have their own policies. Um so what I did is I looked at what schools do and what other towns do and I'm going to kind of just go through this quickly um in respect of time to go over this. Um
>> can I make a suggestion? >> Sure. Can we So we're not blown through it. Can we shell this for next meeting? I'm someone wants to make a motion to do that. I >> I'm going to make a motion to shove this agenda item for next meeting. >> And and could you send that presentation to us prior to the meeting? Certainly.
Would be good. >> This is just a draft and a policy that has been >> Yeah. >> Any any discussion? >> I just have a question. >> Go ahead. >> You don't send a packet out to everybody. >> What's that? >> But why wasn't this sent in in advance of the meeting? Why are we
>> always had just the agenda in Yeah, we don't get a packet. >> So maybe that's something we should come up with a policy while we're coming up with our public comments policy as well as what should be in any packets. >> So Jim in in the past
I you have sent out stuff in some cases in some cases. Yeah. So um I don't think there's a specific policy or rhyme or reason. Um I'd love to get stuff in if if they're going to be presentations. I'd love to get them in in advance. I'm
also fine with with having something small that's already here. Yeah. >> Um like if like the amplified sound permits like no need to send those out in advance. Um if it's a larger presentation um I think it's I think it's worthwhile sending out in advance so people can have do a little pre-eread
that way you don't have that way you're not going through the granular stuff. Um, I also understand there also might be times when you don't want people to necessarily uh have things in advance for one reason or the other. But for
>> what would that reason be? >> A public meeting. What would that reason be? >> I don't know. >> There is no reason. >> Yeah. >> Did you name one? >> Don't public meetings. >> Yeah. What are you talking about?
>> It's on the agenda. It should be in the packet. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think maybe we should we do our So, we've been working on a public um comment policy. >> Oh, no. I I get it. >> But I mean it's something we should maybe we talk about in terms of putting
a packet together before our meetings as well. >> So that >> I think it's very helpful. >> Yeah. No. Right. >> I agree. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Right. >> But then sometimes there's a time crunch as well. I think we all acknowledge that. >> Not right, Jim. >> No, you're good. I want to do it. I want
to do it right. >> I want right time and have a discussion. >> We get it. >> Doesn't the select board packet >> to go? >> Well, I'm not in the board anymore. I don't >> No, I I still watch it, but I watch. I I I think the select board that's their
their protocol, their policy, their guidelines, but individual committees and and boards can choose to do what what they want to do. And Carlo is right, it is public. So once it's
discussed, it's like out there. >> It's in there. And this is on video, too. But no, it's going to benefit, I think, folks for looking at it prior. It's going to make the meeting go We need a vote. We need I made a motion. We need to vote. Right. Discussion. >> Oh, discussion. Discussion. Yeah.
>> Any discussion? >> All right, let's do a roll call. I'll let you go first. >> Just yes. >> Laura Nunan. Yes. >> Yes. >> Laura Durgovich. Yes. >> Kate Came. Yes. >> Bob Widen. Yes. >> Chan. Yes. >> Yes.
>> Right. So, we'll move that. Um, you want to keep the administrative one? >> I mean, yeah. I mean, yeah, we got some stuff going on. I can keep it super super short there. I think most people know what's going on courts. Right now, we're just waiting for the surfacing. They're waiting for good weather to get
out there. Hopefully, in the next two weeks, the surfacing will be down. They'll finish up with the fencing on the watering plants, getting the grass growing, and then it's just that road that they got to get down there, that double road down there. Um, I don't want to say a timeline when they're going to be open up, but we're still shooting for the fall. I've set a date before and
birch metal didn't open when it was supposed to open. So, it's planned to open in fall. As soon as I get a I guess a hard date, I will let you know. Uh retail is moving along. They got steel beams up in the gym. You can actually see the walking track going around the gym. If you haven't been down there, I recommend going down there. Um we buried
a time capsule on there two days ago. We took photo, dropped some stuff in there. I did put a pickle ball in that time capsule. Um so, they will be wondering what this might be in 100 years from now. And then we are getting through summer. Um few little challenges with different things with we've had a heat
wave where we had to get kids inside and cancel some stuff. We've had the smoke where we had to cancel some stuff and then just the rain stuff. So every day is constantly moving things around and putting out small little fires. But it's been a very successful um summer season. Jenna is off um she's off until November
or um soon to be a mom. Very very very soon. Very soon. I don't want to say too much. Um, so she'll be off till November. And then um getting ready for some some stuff coming up. And I'm going to just let Ed give a quick little report about what's going on with um Ed
real quick. You don't have to give program reports, but Ed's got some news. >> Yeah. Real quick, uh update for me. Uh my wife and I have decided to move back to Vermont. Um this has kind of been going for the the duration of the month. So Thursday is actually my last day. Oh,
>> so I'm glad we can get a meeting in before that Aspen so I can say my goodbyes. Thank you for all your support. Um, but yeah, >> quick. But, uh, >> yeah, >> we're excited. It's bittersweet. So, my shirt,
>> it's a good move. Ed has been great. He's been here for three years. He came in, hit the ground running. I was new when I came back in, so I was able to get him a lot of stuff and he picked it up very quick. I'm hopeful we can get someone half as good as you've been head. Um he's making the right move. He's going back to potentially uh well
he's soon to be athletic director up at his old high school. >> Yeah, it's a it's a good step for him. >> It's a very smart move. So I was encouraging him to do it and uh wishing him the best. So
>> So I'm going to be alone for a little bit. If you guys want to come visit me, come on and visit me. The job has been posted. Um it got posted um on Thursday. It's going to be posted until filled. So, if anyone is interested, send them to the town website. Um, and hopefully, like I said, we can get someone in hopefully by midepptember or October.
But, I will hold the fort down and I will keep going. >> Great. >> Well, thank you, Ed, for everything. You know, thank you for your energy and your passion and programming and listening and helping Jim and the town and the wreck. So, thank you. And I I'm excited
for you going back to Vermont. It's awesome. That's >> where in Vermont? Uh, Springfield, Southern. >> Yeah. Yeah, that that's your home. So, >> welcome welcome home. So, >> are you gonna miss the ski bus? >> Don't answer that.
>> It's a unique program. >> Grow up real quick in that bus. >> All right. >> Oh, the minutes. We got to look at >> last one. The minutes. We need to get these minutes approved. That's one thing we need to get done. They've been getting pushed and pushed because of joint meetings and then me inadvertently
leading off the last agenda. So, I did send those out earlier. I know Laura had sent me an email um correcting um attendance. I did adjust that on my most recent one. >> You're welcome. Thank you guys. >> So, you could do a motion to approve them all if you would like at once.
Correct. Or should we >> already amended? >> What's that? >> Her comments already amended in the >> just on mine. So, why don't we >> pull that out? Which one was that? >> So that was on the 428 one. >> So you had sent an email with all of the
minutes and I looked at the March ones and in the March ones that he sent out in the email, Alicia Williams and Eric was listed both for members present and also members not present. So I said, "Jim, can I tell you in an email or do I have to bring it up in a meeting?" And
he was like, "Tell me no and I'll send it all corrected." So he sent out a correct one before everyone got here. >> Amended ones. No, it wasn't the correct. I added I added it to mine. So that needs to you need to vote to make that amendment on the 323 ones. >> So I make a motion. Can I make my own
motion since I make a motion to correct the um 323 meeting minutes to correct the attendance for Alicia Williams and Eric Beamer. >> Second. >> Any discussion? Let's have a roll call. Rich, yes. >> Bob Widen, yes.
>> Kate Came, yes. >> Mara Durgovich, yes. Eric, yes. >> Lauren Nun, yes. >> Yes. >> Yes. >> We'll say yes. >> All right. That's approved. >> Now you can combine all the minutes. Okay.
>> So, you've got all you want to just read these ones, the dates on >> Yep. So, we got the here um May uh 5th May, excuse me, May 19th minutes, April uh 28th
>> and December 15th. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It came up and it was on not on the agenda last time, so we couldn't go back. >> Yeah. Right. >> So, we need to make a motion to accept these agreement. >> Uh I don't have to remember the dates.
Uh just say I'll make a motion to uh to approve all mentioned minutes. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Do a roll call. Um Rich Hand, yes. >> Bob Widen, yes. >> Came, yes.
>> Laura Durgovich, yes. >> Eric Cath, yes. >> Laura Nan, yes. >> Sub yes. >> Yes. >> All right. So the minutes have been approved for December, April and May
>> in March. >> All right. And a motion to >> motion second. >> Any discussion? Let's do the roll call. Rich handy. Yes. >> Bob Widen. Yes. >> Page C. Yes. >> Marovich. Yes. >> Eric G. Yes.
>> Yes. >> Yes. a journal. He has been adjourned at 755. All right.