Yeah, we're good. We're live. >> We're live. All right. All right. Good evening, everybody. Welcome to spring finally, huh? It's kind of nice to see that. See the people out playing softball and baseball, which is which is great, right? So, and tennis is already out there. So, it's great to have all
the sports. Lacrosse is out there, I'm sure. lacrosse right there. Everyone's out. >> Everybody's out >> playing which which is great. >> So, uh I'm going to call the meetings to order um today. Uh first of all, we have to do a roll call. So, people who are on
Zoom, can I ask you to go first? >> Nick Williams. >> Can you try that again, please? >> Nick Peasurro. >> Alicia Williams. >> Cage Cameer. Eric Gman,
>> Lauren Nunan, >> Nancy Zimla, >> Melissa Poocci, >> Bob Widen, >> Rich introduce yourself to Jim Sullivan, recreation administrator, >> Shambo. >> All right.
Um, so first agenda item here is public comment. Anybody on the committee or in the public >> online? All right. from the public comment. Uh we have two amplified sound requests.
Let me read the first ones here. Uh the first one is from the Reading Public uh schools. Um it's on um Saturday, May 2nd. Uh this is teaching genocide. It's part of a grant um in town. It's going
to be held in the town common. The time is from 10 to 12. I think that's the first one and I'll make a uh I'll make a motion to uh to approve the sound permit as stated and then I know we got some new members here too. So the way this works we get an
amplified use permit request after they fill out a civic function permit which has different tiers that go through different town departments but these are all approved. This is like the final step for them to get the the sign off from the town manager's office. So we're not the only ones saying you guys can do this as a process. So we get this at the
end. I'll second it. >> Any discussion? >> It's pretty straightforward. >> Um, all in favor? >> We have to roll me those >> They're associate members. >> Associates.
>> You can just go right here. >> Okay. Kate, yes. Eric, yes. >> Laura, yes. >> I'm not. >> Melissa, yes. >> Bob, yes. >> Uh, Rich Hand, yes. >> That one's approved. Uh the second one
is a event um a pride event. Um it's going to be held on Saturday um uh June the 6 at the uh common. It's from uh 3 to 5. Yeah, that's that's it there.
And they have a DJ and a speaker. Um motion to approve the amplified sound requests as stated. >> I'll second it. >> Any discussion? >> What was the specific um
request? Just like a speaker. >> Yeah, it's a speaker uh a DJ and speaker. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> So, it's for the pride celebration. >> Yep. >> Kate, yes. >> Eric, yes. >> Laura, yes. Melissa, yes. >> Bob, yes. Rich hand. Yes. So that is
approved. Cra. Thank you. All right. Uh next agenda item um to start off here is kind of on public comment and procedure. And this is really a discussion for us to um I'm going to say like write a policy. We never really had a policy for public
comment. So, I wanted to get the team's feedback in terms of structure, um, time limits, if we should have a time limit, when we should have it, should we have it in the beginning or at the end or after each, um, agenda item.
Um, so it's really about discussion in terms of feedback, how we can craft the the language for that policy and then bring it back to the group to work on it, see if the language is is correct. And I asked Jim to kind of do some work
in terms of what other committees do in terms of public comment. So Jim, if you could please update the team on terms of >> So the way it works is it's up to the chair. Um, I think your tenure is up in July and then receipat and revote and whoever that is, it's your decision. So,
I think having this discussion now is great. We spoke with the town clerk yesterday, myself and Rich. Um, and she said we should absolutely have a policy if we're going to, you know, stick to it. So, something that we all agree upon, come up with some language and then vote on it and approve it as whoever the chair is. So, Frank, you
have two more months left, >> right? So, I mean, in my opinion, it probably makes sense to try to develop something that everyone agrees upon, and then whoever becomes the chair, we install it at that first meeting. Um, so I reached out to conservation, community development, and I know the select board
does it. All three of those groups, they allow it after each agenda item. Um, the select board might be changing. I know they just have a new chair, Melissa Murphy. Um, I don't know if they will be changing it, but it's up to the chair what they want to do. So, I'm here to
listen. I really have no input in what you guys want to do. So, >> I have a question. >> The I'm trying to understand the logic to have an open comment section after each agenda item. Is that to I mean,
can't people participate anyway in the agenda items or No, >> no. >> I mean, none. Okay. >> Yeah. Okay. Okay. Public comment. And in speaking with the clerk, too, it doesn't even need to be allowed. So, it's it's more of a privilege. Um, so we can
choose not to do public comment. We can choose to do it at the beginning of the meeting, which is kind of what we've done except on some hot topics here. I know we've moved when there was pickle ball. I know was a hot topic few years back. Um, we can do it at the end. Um the benefits of doing it after each agenda item, someone may be hearing
something they didn't know and it gives them an opportunity to weigh in on what was said after there's been a discussion through the group. Um if you do it in the beginning, you may not know what the committee is thinking or saying. So you may say something and they say something completely different and then you're
like, "Oh, like can you jump in and comment after that?" So what's better? Do meetings flow with it at the beginning? I don't know. Again, it's up to you guys. I have some thoughts. Um, so my first thought is if we have it at the beginning, then somebody who's
coming just for public comment, they can like say their piece and then get back to whatever their busy nights are, like if they have kids or if you know they got to put the kids to bed. So sometimes if you have it at the end, then they're like, "Oh my god, I have to wait like the whole, you know, I know our meetings aren't terribly long, but then they have
to wait the whole time." So if you do it in the beginning, then they get to say their piece and then they get to go. And my other thought is if you have it at the end of each agenda item, then you're kind of inviting the public to be a part of your conversation. And I
feel like they're not supposed to be. It's supposed to be like separate so they can come and say their piece and it's separate from the board's discussion. But those are just my thoughts. I agree with Laura that I like the to have it in the beginning here if someone wants to come for something specific a
non-aggenda item and yeah the the practicality of hate to have people sit all night or try and guess when we're going to have it available you know what time it's going to be if we have it at the end and then I think historically we kind of
allow public to comment on our I Yes. >> When we've had people here after we've gone through our business, I think the chair just as a courtesy always says, "Would anyone else like to >> Right. Right. And that's what I that's what I did for the couple years that I
was doing it." And I I I I do think I I 100% agree with you that if we're going to have a standing item, it should be at the beginning. I think that makes sense. Um, and I think that if we do end up writing a policy that it gives the chair
kind of like broad discretion for specific topics to say we will welcome public comment on this. Like so like we're not we're unlikely to do that for like amplified sound permits, right? Those are very straightforward. It's town business, whatever. >> Um, but in the past like with pickle
ball, it always comes up as a as a perfect example. there's a huge amount of interest in people attending the meetings and it made sense to have that conversation happening, right? We can have our say, we can have discussion and we open it up to the public comment um
for them to make comments and we don't even have to >> directly respond to it. That's not necessarily our role. We can choose to if we want to because maybe it's a maybe it's a relevant point. um point of public comment. I think it's
good that we give the chair the discretion to allow more um after each particular topic and not necessarily just writing it in >> um because then to your point, I think it it get it could bog down topics, >> but
>> we're also >> there's nobody here tonight, you know, it's it's like we it I don't think it I don't think it it happens so often. Um, so h letting whoever the chair is have that discretion makes sense. So however
we however that needs to be written. >> I think it should be more procedures instead of a policy. >> Yeah. And I and I would give the chair real wide birth of >> you know because like someone might come and it's a it's a
>> smaller issue if you will but we don't want that you know do we want to have a you know PowerPoint presentation for an hour and a half or so the chair can kind of say you know we're going to give you 10 minutes tonight or can you do it within 10 minutes I mean they did it at
town meeting last night the moderator asks approximately how long is your presentation, you know. So, >> okay. >> To try. So, I would kind of I would give the chair >> like discretion in terms of flexibility. Yeah, >> I do think um when you guys you said you
talked about maybe um you don't want to get bogged down and then you mentioned time limit. I do think we should have a time limit so we don't run into a situation like we have recently um >> with the public comment last week. one person went on for it was 12 minutes. And I just think that >> if we had a policy that we had a time
that we all agreed on was >> was reasonable cuz I feel that 12 minutes is too long. I don't know what other people think. >> Um so if we had a time that we were like oh you can speak but you could speak for >> two three minutes whatever we say. >> Yep. Yeah. I mean I think the the
standard is maximum of 10. I mean at 15 good. >> Yeah. But I mean it's and we I mean you can limit it to five in in these meetings. Um >> Mhm. But it seems like Alicia the select board does two minutes. Is that right? Right now
>> it's two minutes there. Yeah. >> Yeah. So I think that's the other question you know do we set some sort of parameters around time or is it based on topic you know or I mean you could say you could pick a number and then
going back again to chairman's discretion this is the media discussion and 24 if 24 people show up to a hot topic you know hey for tonight because of the large volume of people we're going to
exercise or our ability to limit, you know, comment to two minutes. Um, on a normal night, it's five, right? If there's two people here, >> take five minutes. >> Yeah, I think you put that in the policies, too. And I think at the beginning of each meeting, you got to
make sure we reiterate what these are. >> That's correct. >> Um, >> Yep. >> So, >> yep. >> You also don't know what topics are going to be coming up. Like, there's a lot of unknown right now. So I think given given that you have the flexibility of you know >> you want a five you want 10 you know and
I I do think another thing we should consider is >> whatever the public comment is has to stay on topic I think that you know >> and you know try and limit people if there's a group speak once and be done you know instead of one person having
three or four times of rebuttal and you know >> what do you mean like one >> if there's five people coming to to speak on one topic >> and then they're they have multiple times >> redundancy. >> Ideally they're covering something new each >> but they they might not have come
together. >> Yes. >> So >> right but often times you know sometimes you get the >> kind of let them >> back and forth too. You want to avoid the back and forth. You'll have two different sides and we don't need one person saying this and then they want to read and then they're going back and forth. Right. And >> everything speaks through the chair
recognized through the chair. We're talking about public comment procedures, which I'm sure you caught up on pretty quick. And then I don't want to forget that we do have Nick and um Alicia online, too. So, >> if you guys want to jump in, just raise your hand and I can let Rich know. I can
see it on my screen. >> What else should we be thinking about >> with public comment? >> Yeah, what I can say too is I know a lot of this is new for folks too. So if you have questions on opening meeting laws and seeing how you do get a packet when
you join these boards, but if you need refreshers or anything like that, I'm constantly trying to up my game by watching meeting. That's where I learn a lot of this stuff just by watching a select board meeting or watching town meeting. So um if anyone wants a little bit more training in this or what we can or can't do, I can connect you with the
town clerk and I'm sure there's some trainings out there that >> I don't know everything. I'm not going to pretend like I do. I don't think anyone here is going to say they know everything about open meeting. Um, so if you have any interest in that, let me know and I can connect to you guys. >> Never never reply to all.
>> Didn't learn that few years ago. I think that was my fault. That was my fault. >> Blind copy. >> ECC blind copy. Correct. >> So just you know what I heard is, you know, start of the meeting makes most sense, right? Unless we want depending
on the topic, right? The chair would have some sort of discretion. >> Yeah. at the start of the meeting is is good because there's public comment of issues that aren't on our agenda. Like there could be an issue going on that we have no idea. That gives an opportunity for someone from the public to come in and say, "Hey, I have a concern about
this. I've seen this happening." And then we don't have to comment on right then. Sometimes it's best not to comment because you're in the moment. You may be like, "I shouldn't have said that." So sometimes it's nice to sit, think about it, then it's up to the chair. Maybe that's an agenda topic for the following. >> Yep.
and you know having the chair have the the flexibility and discretion. I also like what Eric was saying in terms of, you know, if there's, you know, if if uh after an agenda item that someone's here, you can say someone has a comment on it, you know, it's like you give them
that flexibility to voice their opinion, I guess. And I think you're right, time limits make sense depending on what the topic is, you know. Um um and I think that's about it. So, I think we'll have to get together, craft
something that we can share with the the group here, and then as Jim was saying, it's going to take us probably two months to get to that point, and then we'll see what happens after that. You know, we all agree on what this new uh
procedure will be for for all of us. >> Can people give public comment on our public comment procedure? >> It's up to him today, right now. Like, yes. No, I'm just saying I'm just kind of being, you know, >> yeah, >> kind of being I guess when we get to
that point, right? We have to vote on it. Right. >> Yes. >> Right. So, it'll probably have to be uh that >> anybody know you came in late. Anything? >> No. >> Nick? >> Nick? Yeah.
>> Nick, anything on public comment? >> No. I I think that sounds great. I think it's a great idea. >> Alicia, >> she's still driving around. >> Might be on mute. You came off and then you're back on. >> There we go. Uh, no, I'm all set. I
think everyone hit all the topics. >> Awesome. Thank you. >> Great. >> All right. All right. Uh, next uh project update. Jimmy, you got recal and pickle ball. >> Recal and pickle ball.
>> Probably gonna flow right into my wreck administrator report. I thought it was going to be quick, but I got a page and a half and there might be some questions, so we'll see how long it takes. Um, quick update on pickle ball and recal. Um, we had our groundbreaking ceremonies uh about a week and a half
ago. It was at 10 in the morning. Uh, Mitch was there. He actually got up and he spoke, which was great. He spoke very well. He did a great job. Um there was state delegates there. The um COA was there. Um Karen Janowski spoke on behalf of them. Jenna spoke on behalf of the
community service department. Um there was probably close to 60 people there. We all got a shovel. We all took our little stage photos with a nice pile of play sand in front of us and got some nice photos. So there's a bunch of stuff online if you want to take a look at that. Um has anyone been down to the
site since we started? Has anyone driven down there? >> Mhm. All the trees, all the trees are gone. Right now, what they're working on is setting up for all the drainage. They got the cold tech system there, a lot of the gravel there. Um, they're moving a
lot of the excess dirt um and concrete that they had there. There was a lot of scrap metal there, even a car there. So, they're getting that all out. But, it is flying. It looks like a completely different space in town right now. I was talking to Adam. I'm like, do I want to do pictures tonight and stuff like that? I'm going to save it for a little bit
more where we have progressions going on. >> Um I'm meeting with them every Tuesday. We have a team of town employees meeting all the um construction crew out there. Our design teams, the OPMs, we're meeting every Tuesday getting project updates. Um that starts next Tuesday. So
the project's going to go very quick, especially the pickle ball courts. You can actually almost see where they're going to be placed right now with how they have um the ground laid out. Um which is pretty amazing. Um, Recal is moving in both. We have two different companies basically working on
one site. So, they're working hand in hand. Burbank Ice Arena has been great with them down there. I'm there every day at least once or twice in the morning and then in the afternoon checking in. They got their work trailers there. So, their little offices are set up in there. So, they're getting
ready to hit the ground running. But, I would recommend if you were out on Hil Street, take a take a ride in there. >> Check it out. If you get out of your car, don't go on the site. You need to have uh vests on, helmets on, all that stuff, too. But you can simply drive over by the Burbank Arena and take a
look. It's It's pretty amazing to see how much that land has already transformed and seeing where actually a building's going to be, the parking lot's going to be, the pickle ball court's going to be. It's uh pretty exciting. Um speaking of that, um last night at town meeting, the park grant
did um pass. I think it was about 1:20 to 30 in favor of the park rant being accepted. That happened last night. Um I'm meeting with our PPA, Reading Pickleball Players Association on Thursday to start talking about some logistics, which is going to include,
you know, the monetization of the course that was brought up at town meeting last year, the fee structures, how everything's going to work, the booking, the reservations, open play versus non-open play hours, all that fun stuff. So, we're starting that um on Thursday. Jane Wellman and Jenna are going to be
sitting on that meeting. And >> Rich, if you want to sit in on that meeting, um it might be nice to have you there, too, just so that you're in the loop. If you can't make it, no problem at all. >> Jim, excuse me. Were you at the meeting last night? >> I couldn't go last night. It was the only not go. >> I just wanted to point out the big
discussion on the pickle ball thing was the resident non-resident. >> Um >> so that's the fee that we have to pay which >> Yeah. But by accepting the state grant then that's out the we can't >> we have to if we charge non-residents we
have to charge residents. >> That's correct. >> And the resident fee cannot be so the non-resident fee cannot be 50% more than what we charge. >> Correct. >> The so if it's $10 for >> residents to book a pickle ball court
say it can only be $15. So, I think some of the no votes there were because they didn't want, you know, was they wanted control over not having non-residents play, right? I I think the biggest concern was it, you know, was less about
the money and it was more about non-residents access to reservations. Yeah. which I mean ultimately it's probably still going to be the residents booking a majority of it but you know we have to
>> yeah it's something that we you probably need to be >> ahead of the curve in terms of tracking statistics >> and being able to share it back out to the community and say >> you know hey we we've now done this for
two months or three months and you know what percentage of the bookings are coming from non-residents. What percentage are coming from residents? >> Yep. Yeah. So, I have a a general plan right now what I think will work. I don't want to say it now and have people listening be like, "Oh my god, this is going to happen." But there's going to be a way that I will be able to track
who is on that court and when they're on that court. And for a liability reason, it makes a lot of sense, too. So, having that all information because of the park ran is going to be huge. So, >> right. Okay. Just wanted to >> Yep. Um,
as far as uh next update, any more questions about pickle ball or recal? I know there was questions about the um the parking in that that plot line that came up and I know I think you had brought it up at the last meeting too. So, it has to be with the park ring. It has to be on that same that parcel. So,
it is showing I want to say it's probably maybe 12 14 spots that are looking headon at the pickle ball courts. Um there's going to be signage there that is going to direct folks that are playing pickle ball over to the um the shared parking with Burbank to go
over there. Um there'll be some folks that are coming there to use retal sometimes and they may have a program going on there whether it's kids, adults, seniors where they may park in the lot and then walk over there. That's one of those things like if they're leaving Recal for a program to play
pickle ball, are we going to make them move? No. So, it's things like that that it's going to get a little tricky, but like I said, myself and Ed will be there. So, we're going to police it. It's going to be a very active situation where we'll come up with the best plan and then >> we're going to be like, "What the heck were we thinking?"
>> We'll tweak it like we've done with the tennis courts when they were full. >> So, >> and you know, as soon as they're built, it's going to be, you know, it's going to be full rush and it'll all settle down, right? >> Correct. >> I do have a question actually. Was there any thought or concern that if
non-residents start to kind of monopolize the courts that that could hinder their fundraising efforts? >> Hinder whose fundraising efforts? >> Running our PPA like they raised what? 225 >> 225,000 >> and now I mean has there was any thought
put into that? >> I will uh talk with Judy and see what their plans are for fundraising moving forward. Um >> if I was involved in pickle ball and I know you know we raised all this money and you know for reading courts for
reading residents to use >> now the possibility that the money that we raised to put towards these courts could be used by non-residents. I'd be pissed off. >> I would argue though that some non-residents have contributed to this. >> It could been absolutely
>> y like I said it'll die down. It's it's going to be bumpy in the beginning and you're going to hear all the and you know and there's some things you can't I mean unless short of being down there and asking people for IDs every hour on the hour. Um, yeah, there'll definitely
be some policing down there and there'll be spot checking and you know, that's why charging fees is going to help us because on Saturdays and Sundays when it's probably going to be pretty busy, we'll probably have one of our staff that will be down there >> whether we have a some kind of membership that you need to sign up for a key card, um, a pickle ball pass, or
there could be day passes that we're selling or weekend passes cuz, you know, you can't just go a membership model because you're going to have families coming and visiting. Oh, your son came from Alabama and you want to play this weekend. So there's got to be options for folks. >> That's the other you have, you know,
family that don't live in reading. So yeah, that's >> So there may be a day pass for it's $10 for a day pass. You got to show that and bring it down there. Um, too. And like I said, in Winchester, we had clay courts where we charged a lot of money to use those clay courts. And they had a membership. I think it was $250 for
residents and it was $375 for non-residents, but you had the option of buying a $10 day pass >> to cover those little things. So, I'm trying to think of everything, but like I said, probably going to miss some stuff. So, once we start to finalize some of these um procedures down there,
I'd love to bring it in front of the board and have you guys overly break it down and give worst case, best case scenarios. So, that will be coming. Um, birch metal phase 2. Um, we're getting close. The playground surfacing
is in and I got to test it and feel it. I don't know if you've ever walked on it. is so much softer. >> It's almost feels a little bit like a trampoline. I think you had mentioned at the last meeting that you were in Florida when you stepped on I've never stepped on one before and >> I felt so light on my feet.
>> Um so it's pretty amazing. They finished that up last week. What we're waiting for now is it's an impact test that has to be done after it's cured. So that is scheduled for Monday, May 4th, where a company comes out and certifies that it meets the standards of the fall rates for the different equipment that are out
there. Crews are out there this week working and bringing in more lom mulch, making sure the plantings, the trees are where they're supposed to be, benches are tightened up, all the caps are on, whether it's the basketball hoops, the um the barrels that are over there, and then the last thing they'll do is the
hydro seating um before we can even think of turning it back over to town. Um, the town has to go through their checklist, the engineers, everyone has to go to make sure that everything they said they were going to do was done, was done properly. It's everything from the
pathways, the new curbing that's there, making sure the water is going where it's supposed to do uh supposed to go. So, um I'm hopeful that we're just weeks away. I don't want to put a time on it, but the plan is to do some kind of um
ribbon cutting down there and I want to combine that with um phase one of Birch Meadow that kind of just got done and we moved on. So um it'll be kind of a combo ribbon cutting and me and Rich have already talked about a few little fun ideas that we we'd like to do down there when we do open up these spots.
>> Um and I just want to mention too, um some kids have the like it's it's bad, but I guess it's good. They're so excited that it's there that they're finding ways to get in there. I've had the fence checked four times in the last week and a half. I've notified >> to play basketball.
>> There's basketballs that are sitting inside hoops that have trash bags over them right now. Um, but there's been kids on the playground equipment. Um, I've notified the police department. They are doing extra spot checks down there. the neighbors aware of it and I've asked that they either reach out to
me or the easiest way is to reach out to the police because that site is still off limits, but they're they're excited. I get it. It's been a long time. The weather is beautiful. They see that park and they want to get out there and start playing. But if you haven't seen that, go down there and check it out. It's uh we've gotten so much good feedback on it
>> from anyone who's been out there with kids and they love the look of it. They love the style of it and they just love that it's going to be connecting that entire area together. So, we've gotten so much positive feedback um throughout this project. Minus, we wish it was done
a little sooner. I get it. Um but we're trying to do it correctly and make sure everything is tightened up where it should be before it comes back over to the town. >> Um what do we have? Field updates. This is going I'm into my program um
administrator report right now, too. I've just flown right into it as we've been going. But if you guys have questions, >> let me know. Field updates. Uh, as you know, we had a tough winter and spring. Uh, the fields are in great condition. Um, last year we had the issue with Morton Field, the
high school varsity field, like being underwater for most of the season. I think they had two home games last year. They've already had, I think, three or four home games. So, DPW has been out there making sure they're taking care of that field and turning it over, cutting it. And I've had the high school
softball coach reach out to me. I've had the um reading um Babe Ruth reach out to me. Little league's been doing a great job getting fields ready, too. They've put a lot of work into their fields. And I've had the high school varsity baseball coach reach out to me to pass
along um the gratitude and appreciation for what has been done to these fields in such a tough season. Very happy about that. I was very nervous this year about how that was going to go and so far so good. No wood. Um, next, uh, the
adaptive sports day I'm working on with Andover, we are getting close to having a ten a locked in schedule for this. So, we're targeting June 13th right now. Um, with this adaptive sports day, it would be run through adaptive sports New England. This is the group that ran the
one in Andover last year. They had about 20 kids show up last year. Um, I think we can get a lot more in Reading. I've got a lot of connections from other surrounding towns. It's going to be open to all to come. What we're going to do is um sled hockey. So I reached out to Burbank Ice Arenas. Sled hockey was
pretty big this year. In the Olympics, it's ice hockey, but on on sleds. So they're going to bring out sleds so that folks can get out there and get on the ice if they've never done it before. Folks can try it. Anyone can go out there and try it. So um Burbank Ice Arena gave us two hours on that Saturday
from 12:00 to 2. >> Thanks. youth sports out on the field where we're going to have beatball which is baseball but for those who are hearing impaired where there's noises in the ball there's noises in the faces um that will be out there I think it's great for everyone to try that
>> it's a vision impaired >> a vision impaired I'm sorry thank you for correcting me vision impaired um and then adaptive soccer um would be out there my plan is to reach out to a lot of the groups in the high school and try to get some volunteers the unified teams
any group that's closed for here, the Ark of Massachusetts, which Ed's going to talk about um them. We met with them um last month with um Melissa, which was a great great meeting. Thank you for putting us on that. A lot of good people in there. You're >> welcome. >> Um so, I'm excited about that. Saturday,
June 13th is the date. I'm just waiting on one more group to say it's a go and then it will just be promote, promote, promote, promote >> on that. >> You think I use the baseball field? >> Baseball field right away. We're going to use the baseball field and then the
outfield will be where the soccer will be happening. As far as the logistics, how it's going to be happening. Is it all going to be happening from 12 to 2 and you kind of pick what you choose? I still got to work on that when I speak with adaptive sports moving. But should be a fun event and then I'm hoping to do like pizza and drinks after for everyone
that's involved. >> And what's the date on that? >> So, right now tenatively scheduled for Saturday, June 13th. That's the only two-hour slot um right now that Burbank, Ice Arena, and Ed said that um we could probably get ice time and that would be perfect. >> Is that town day? It
>> is not. The town day is the 20th. >> Okay. >> The following following week. >> Um >> Oh, back to fields for a second. >> Sure. >> Did as far as what was going on at Joshua Eden? >> Joshua Eden, uh with the uh the car driving,
>> the car driving and I don't know if you heard the mounds were being dug up. >> Yeah. So officer I filed the police. Yeah. So they actually came in through um >> the top of Joshua. This was probably right after our last uh it was probably beginning of April. Beginning of April,
>> down the hill. >> They came down the hill. >> Drove on there. >> Did a little loop uh on the grass field out in right field of field A, I think it is, on the right side, and then did one more little loop over on the the one on the left. So
>> Wow. Um, I reached out to Reading PD as soon as I found out and got of it. I checked it out myself, filed a police report and officer, who's the school resource officer >> at all the schools. Um, he's on it right
now. So, he's got cameras. There's a lot of cameras in the back of that school, which is great, but all these cameras typically not good enough to catch a plate, but they know what the car looks like. So, we had this happen last year, too. And I do like to file a police
report and hold kids somewhat accountable um whether something will happen. There are damages and DPW is looking at what the cost is or the time is for their guys to fix that. So it's ongoing an investigation right now.
>> And what's happening to the mounds? >> Somebody was digging up the pitchers the pitcher rubber. You know pitcher we're just digging them up >> and they're pretty heavy. Those pictures around 80 pounds. So, they dug that up and there was one sprinkler head that I got a photo of, too. That was uh looked like
it was kicked out over >> Yeah, that's some serious work to take that up. >> I know. >> Right. >> Yeah. >> Did they take it or dig it and leave it? >> Left it. >> Okay. >> Wow. Kids, right? >> Yeah.
>> Kids got to get that playground and play on it respectfully. >> Yeah. >> Uh we got a lunch and learn coming up. So, the town did an initiative this year with Albert Plus where, you know, they're trying to bring different departments together. We do a lot of stuff together, but sometimes we don't know what the heck every department does
in this town. So, myself and Ed went to the police uh department. It was about a month and a half ago. Um, learned a lot of what they do. It was actually kind of a lot of fun. We got a tour of that building. I have never been in there. >> Um, it's a large large building.
>> Um, so we did that. Um, >> we are scheduled community services. We were one of four departments that were chosen across I think it's close to 10 departments about our other colleagues wanting to know what we do, how we do it, and all that stuff. So, myself, Ed,
um, Elder Services and Veteran Services will be doing a lunch and learn scheduled for May 18th at the Pleasant Street Center. Um, it is for town employees and you do have to register. I'd say I'd love for you guys to come and I think you know what we do, >> but um it's a chance for folks to see
what we do and ask questions about how we do what we do. Uh next big thing for us and myself, Ed, and our team have all been working on is our new software implementation. We've had the same website for the last 20 years. It's very outdated. Um I don't
think it's userfriendly. So um we had a few companies come to us offering services and we went with Rect. Um, Elder Services has already rolled it out and I think they have close to 200 Ed, you might have checked before, they have close to 230 people already set up their accounts. There's a little bit of a
learning curve when you set up a new account. Um, but I can tell you it's much more user friendly and the purpose of doing this is when we get into this new building, we all need to work cohesively. We're going to have people registering for WCK programs. We're going to have seniors registering for
programs. We're utilizing the same space. So the software allows us to see who's in what rooms. You know, the elder services can put in, you know, they have their chair yoga going on here. So if we're looking to run programs, we're seeing where they are, they're seeing where we are, and it just makes it all
one complete system. Um there'll be key tags involved when you you come into recali tag or um you get a little QR code that gets sent to your phone. You come in, you check in every time. So, it's really good technology and a lot of
folks in Massachusetts at the other rec departments are all utilizing this, too. So, um I'm sure there's things in there a little quirky, but the group we're working with, if we tell them to do something, they've been so proactive like this makes complete sense and they'll implement it into the software. Um, pickle ball reservations, tennis
reservations, they can rent out the pavilion. It can all be handled online, which will be really nice. Will there be a way for people to come to you directly if they don't have technology access or aren't able to for whatever reason? >> Right now, the plan is to have a
computer right out in the lobby. So, if someone doesn't know how to set up an account, we can help them right there in the lobby. >> And once their account's set up, they could always just go do what they've, you know, they call a register, they can just call us again. We'll have their account there. We'll sign up.
>> Yeah. They can come in. We can register them right there, too. So, it's it's much easier and it's easier on the eyes and it's a lot easier to find specific programs opposed to what we have right now. >> So, it's exciting, but we are learning a completely new software. So, there'll be a little I'm sure hiccups. So, we're
going to try to start promoting that. We're just working on our timeline when we want to do it. We don't want to roll it out probably when we have flag football registrations open up because that would those fill up very quick and we have 800 registrations within 10 minutes. So, if there's a little hiccup in there or someone forgot to set up an
account, it will be not fun working that day. >> They can't migrate accounts from your current. >> Um, so they they can, but you still got to go in and you have to log in and get a verification. So, it's going to be more of a slow roll out for our other fall programs. I I don't want to do it during
>> No. Yeah. Um, my last thing, uh, Ed and I since we last met, we attended the MRPA conference which was out in Springfield, Massachusetts. Never have been out there. It was right next to the new casino they have. Um, it was at a nice hotel in um, the conference was held in
that large conference center that is next to I forget the name of the arena where the >> Mass Mutual Arena with semi-pro hockey team plays out there. Providence Bruins were in town that day um, playing a game too. Um, it was great. Um it's Ed's I
think second time going there. Um and I think we had talked during the whole meeting and it's just like such a learning experience and the connections you make out there with whether it's the vendors or during the sessions my focuses this year was was all on inclusive adaptive recreation going to
things like that like I've gone to different ones about programming and stuff. It's great for Ed, but I'm going to these sessions that like I feel like I can learn a lot more. So I learned a lot. I took a lot away um from this meeting and I know Ed's probably going to talk about when he gives an an
update. We're very fortunate some towns won't fund this to go there for professional development and the amount of knowledge we gain in such a short time. Um I don't think he you could put a price on it but not a heavy price so it's well worth it. So very lucky that we get to do that.
>> That's great. >> That's it for me seven. I thought we end by seven. My fault. >> I'll pass it over to Any other questions on anything I just mentioned? Anything online from Nick and Alicia? I don't want to exclude you guys.
>> No, I'm all set. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I got Everything sounds good. >> Nice. Uh, I'll leave it. Um, yeah, right now it's just spring programs are off and running kind of in the middle of all of that. So, it's just a lot of just day-to-day maintenance and stuff that
might come up with that, but everything's been smooth so far. We do have a uh as a Vermontter, I'm excited that we're hopefully we hit a minimum to run a Tuesday hiking program for middle schoolers school program. Um it's with a
company called Guinea Fowl Adventure. Um I got the contact from our friends over at Winchester. Brought them to Reading. Um and sometimes it's hard to get new programs off the ground, but um kind of delayed the start of a couple weeks and we got a few more registrations. So, I'm
hoping that that starts on May 12th or whatever that Tuesday is of that week. Um, so >> where do they go? >> Um, they go to um they bounce around a bit. So, they have their own band. So, it's kind of like similar to like our ski program where they're going to pick
up at Cool Ridge um they have a van um and bring them to some different spots, but um the Stonem reservation. >> Yeah. >> Um but yeah, so The thous field trip >> sex woods.
>> Is it the fells? >> The fells woods. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> It's pretty cool. >> It's a good spot. >> It's a good It's close by. >> Yeah. And it's good paths in there. >> Get up to the peak there. It's good. >> Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah. Hopefully I can go on a field trip or two with them as
well. So, >> um like Jim said, I went to the MRPA conference. Um I focused a lot on professional development stuff, programming. Um, I even went to like a talk about leg legislative stuff and being an advocate and he told me five
years ago I'd be at a talk like that. I probably thought he was crazy. That was interesting a little bit. Um, but yeah, a lot like Jim said, just a lot of great networking. Um, before the conference, I joined MRPA new professionals and
education committee. Um, as a group, uh, we welcomed about 20 kids from Springfield College that were there. Um they served as kind of room hosts and um obviously attended the the learning sessions and whatnot. Um and we also led a fun little trivia game for new
professionals for social hour. Um it was just a way to encourage networking amongst people who are new to the field of 5 years or less just to interact with each other, do a fun game and and so it was fun to kind of help organize. Uh I agreed to be a part of the committee
again for next year. Um, so we're hoping to just plan more um socials and more educational stuff um along that lines. So I went to um a new kind of network thing that MRPA is doing. It's a camp and program network. Um that was today.
Um it's just a group of people who program and we share ideas, share vendors, the good, the bad, um new ideas. Um today's talk was actually all about therapeutic recreation. So, everyone kind of has a has a theme to it
and we share contacts, share ideas, all of that. Um, Jim kind of mentioned it, but Melissa invited us to um do a call through the Ark of Massachusetts. They're kind of the organizer of it, but it's a group of a ton of uh
professionals and a broad range of different roles around the Northeast and Metro Massachusetts. um just a really cool like dedicated group of people for adaptive inclusive programming and just creating positive opportunities for all
sorts of people. So great place again for connections ideas and a really cool just group of people to get to know and looking forward to doing more with them. >> Going to do a jam session. >> Jam session. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. That's what we do adapted sports day but
>> what do they call it? It's almost like a touch a truck, but it's it's an instrument where they >> instrument petting zoo. >> Yeah, instrument say I love that. >> Yeah. So, we did Yeah, we talked briefly and we got follow. Yeah, that would be I'm I would love that. So,
>> yeah, they do like a jam session, too, I think. So, I think it'd be kind of cool. >> I found out Ed likes karaoke, too, when we're at this >> video that I No, I don't. a long game.
It was fine. But yeah, then again, we're just prepping for summer vacation stuff. Again, it's a new location at Barrow. So, just some more planning um that goes into just obviously being a new location. Um so, just planning staff
orientation, the logistics of the new building, supplies, t-shirts, all that jazz. Um, and then just trying to work on getting some more registrations for our summer programs, email blast, social medias, stuff. So, get that really pumping because obviously the initial uh
release of all of our summer programs bring uh a lot of registrations, but it kind of, you know, slows down. So, just trying to get remind people of all the things that we are offering. So, >> uh, and then again, I'll be planning stuff for fall here in like no time.
um as with the new >> registration system. I know, right? Uh always like a season season and a half ahead. >> Um but yeah, with the new registration system, uh been a little bit of a lift just to get all of our new programs in there and
>> work with them, but looking forward to it. I'm excited about that, too. So, few things going on. >> Just a few, man. >> And we did have to make a quick adjustment with the school calendar this year with all the we had um it pushed the day when they're getting out of school. So they're
getting out on Monday, June 22nd. That's when we were planning on starting our camp program. >> Um so we have to move in now on Tuesday, June 23rd. We got to move in and do all our stuff. So our first day won't be until Wednesday. So we're in the process
now um at notified all the families that signed up for week one and we're making sure that they're getting um credited the amount that they're missing on this too. So if you hear folks saying, "I signed up for this and he's already sent emails out saying that they will be getting their money um for those days
that are lost." So it was a little hiccup, but we knew it might happen. We're hoping it wouldn't. Hasn't happened in a long time, but we had a lot of snow towards the end. >> Any questions for Andrew and Jim? >> I tell you guys, every time you guys talk, it blows blows me away. It really
does. I mean, you guys raise the bar every time, you know, of all the programming and I like the doing things out of the box, like you're saying, your hiking that you're doing and uh the sports day you're planning. Um, you know, it's just fantastic. I just see, you know, when this new center opens up,
it's just going to get grow and grow, grow and bigger and bigger. So, >> you know, thank you for everything you guys do. It's it's it's amazing. Yeah. Really, you know, do great. Such a small >> staff. Yeah. all the two of us. You're
>> right. Right. It's it's amazing. Um >> a lot of towns have a lot of staff, but we I think we do a great job for what we do. And new and he's young. My eyes are literally getting older and older. I need glasses. So, he looks at things much clearer than I do sometimes. And
>> a good combination. So, but yeah. And then I just want to say too, like with folks here too, whenever you're having something you want on an agenda, he's the guy to reach out to. Let him know that you want something on agenda, too. So >> he's not coming up with stuff or asking me if I have anything on the agenda. So
>> yeah, >> your input's important, >> right? >> And then I have to say that I I have homework for everyone. See these wonderful meeting uh minutes that I sent you guys. For some reason, I forgot to put it on the agenda to approve the meeting minutes. So I didn't want to get
in trouble. We're going to table that. So you can take that home and you can read it. Or if you don't need to take it home, I did email it to everybody. just give it a quick review. There is one more um the joint meeting that we had I believe it was in March. Jen is just
waiting for that to get finalized. So we'll have three of them to approve our next meeting. So maybe a little homework so when we come in you have all the wood edits I need to make. That would be wonderful. >> Yeah. Okay. >> And the other thing we should say is that hopefully our next meeting u we
want to get back in terms of note takingaking that help Jim out. We can just someone can volunteer for our next do it now for our next meeting. We'll just you know go around in terms of take turns taking notes that'll help getting jy out a lot. Yeah. So if we can do that
for our next meeting to think about wants to be the first volunteer um our next meeting we can do that'll be great. >> And and with it being recorded I do we do get a recap. It's kind of broken down of what was said. Is it 100% accurate? Not even close. So, you do have to go through there. But it gives you a good
starting point to >> to go the full version. >> Don't rely on that though because one time I did and it didn't tape and I thank God I did it like the next morning and I was able to piece together with my minimal notes, but >> it's taping today. So, we'll get it before. So, >> probably the one time it didn't tape and
I'm like, "Oh, I'll do it." And the one thing I did just miss was uh the next joint meeting of COA um or elder service COA and committee is uh Tuesday, May 19th, either 6 or 6:30. I will confirm and get that out to you as
soon as possible. Um I think the the majority of that meeting is going to be talking about the new software that we have coming in. I don't know if transportation will be discussed at that point, but um Tuesday, May 19th will be our our next joint meeting. Did you say 6 or 6:30?
>> I know you like the >> My train pulls into at 5:' So if you have something at 6, like the chances of me being on time are like not good. >> 6:30. COA, Nancy, you might recall better than I. Is it usually six or is it >> They changed it to 6. Y
>> um but you know, I think it's flexible. >> Yeah. Okay. I'll push for 6:30. I think I did with the last >> Yeah, I could do 6:30. >> Yep. Thank you. Yeah. Okay. >> I think there's a couple other COA people that could use 6:30, too. So,
>> if my train's late, then >> yeah. All right. Well, that's it. One more. What? One more >> motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> Any discussion to a vote?
>> Kate, yes. Eric, yes. >> Laura, yes. Melissa, yes. >> Bob, yes. Yes. >> Oh, sorry. Sorry.