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The Raynham Channel
Parks and Recreation 04/01/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
Ever wondered what happens behind the closed doors of your local Parks & Recreation Commission? This revealing session offers a fascinating glimpse into the decision-making that shapes our community spaces and programs.
The meeting begins with a heartwarming request from Cub Scout Pack 49 to host a fishing event at Johnson's Pond during the state's free fishing weekend. Commissioners enthusiastically support this youth-focused community initiative while ensuring proper coordination with town officials and addressing practical concerns like parking.
We witness the commission navigating complex maintenance issues, from baseball field renovations to the eye-opening cost of painting playground equipment decks. These discussions highlight the substantial investment required to maintain the recreational facilities we often take for granted. The commission weighs cost-effectiveness against quality, emphasizing the importance of warranties for significant maintenance expenditures.
Perhaps most revealing is the commission's handling of land management challenges with the Horse Ring, where historical decisions have resulted in complex compliance issues with Agricultural Preservation Restriction land. Their exploration of creative solutions through potential land swaps demonstrates their commitment to preserving beloved community facilities while respecting regulatory requirements.
Throughout the meeting, commissioners balance fiscal responsibility with community accessibility. They thoughtfully consider scholarship requests, donation allocations, and field permit applications, working to ensure recreation opportunities remain available to all community members regardless of financial circumstances. Their discussions around Special Olympics field usage fees reflect careful consideration of precedent, equity, and consistency in policy application.
Join us for this enlightening journey into local governance where dedicated commissioners make the crucial decisions that shape our community's recreational landscape. Whether you're interested in local government processes or simply curious about how public recreation spaces are managed, this episode offers valuable insights into the often unseen work that makes community recreation possible.
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I'm going to start the meeting at 6.03pm. Approval of the minutes. Did anyone get through the minutes? Not officially, yet I'm going to make a motion to approve Second All in favor. Aye, so moved. Organization representative, town officials and community members. Do you want?
Speaker 2:to have them go now. Yeah, we'll have them go now, just so we can do this thing. This is Mr Alan Truitt. He's here to talk about the fishing event he'd like to host with his too many numbers PAC 49,. Some of the other troops come out and it's they're all in there. So yeah, so if you wanna explain what's going on, you can go from there. Sure Do you want to stay?
Speaker 3:No no sit down, so we're the local. There's not an actual Cub Scout.
Speaker 2:PAC in.
Speaker 3:Lake Henry anymore, but most of the Cubs from A&M are with pack 49. And so we just like to. There's that free fishing weekend, that first weekend in June, statewide, or you don't have to have a license. We just like to invite our Scouts out and then open to kind of that age group, that K through five age group in town. They're like hey, if you want to come fish with us and learn about scouting, we'd love to have you come learn, pull some fish out, have some excitement.
Speaker 1:It's a good thing for them at that age too.
Speaker 3:We're not looking to the size of the like. I've gone to the fire department derby a number of times and it's fun and exciting, but we're not necessarily looking to do something on that scale.
Speaker 3:We have about 30 kids or so and they probably won't all show up and hopefully we get some folks who might be interested in the community to come by and, you know, maybe pull Fish R2 out. What was that date? Again, you had June 7th or 8th. Yeah, 7th or 8th, it's that weekend that the state has the fish and bed lessons, and this would be at Johnson's Pond right. It would be at Johnson's.
Speaker 1:Pond, such a perfect fishing pond.
Speaker 2:It is. It's a nice place. The one thing with Johnson's pond is we don't give out permits, but we can, you know, know that you're out there with the Commission's recommendation. What you'd want to do is you want to talk to just I can alert the Selectman's office, but you can also send a letter as well, okay, selectman's office, and also just alert the police chief and fire chief. Okay, because there is a lack of parking here, as we all know.
Speaker 2:Johnson's fine and maybe the bank just mentioned like hey, so Sunday maybe the better day, being closed, you know, just just to let them know, make great point.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's the. Play this game a few times. That's what I would recommend. If he does, just let you know, the employees know, so they're aware of what's going on.
Speaker 2:And I'll touch base, you know, if it's a go. You know, I think it's a wonderful event. I'll touch base with you. I will be away. I'll be coming back from the trip on the 8th Post lots of pictures.
Speaker 3:Yeah, please, please do but I think it's a wonderful event. Whatever you guys think I'm all for, I'm gonna try to get my son how 10.
Speaker 1:We've been looking for something to fill this time.
Speaker 3:Now there's an extra company six-grade. Yes, move to the triple. We talked about that money time. Absolutely, now. No, fifth, first year of fifth grade. So next year I'll be in sixth grade, yes, okay, and we move to the triple E talk about that another time, absolutely 100%.
Speaker 1:Yeah, alright, so I have no issue with that. Anything else I will make a motion to approve to have on June 8th.
Speaker 2:Great, and so I guess, like they said, I'm sorry, what's the motion? Just make sure you reach out to those other offices just to make them aware. The Selectman's office and I'll send a letter as well, saying that we recommend that you guys do have it there that day. Okay, and just so all the community leaders are aware. Great, great, thank you. Thank you so much. You're all set, sir, all right.
Speaker 3:All right, thank you for your time, good luck.
Speaker 1:We're also hot topics and oh, we got a lot.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, this is a you want to stay.
Speaker 1:You're more than welcome to. I didn't think you'd still.
Speaker 3:Also, I couldn't use the time, not yet. Hey, thanks so much. Thank you, have a nice evening.
Speaker 2:Thank you Drive carefully.
Speaker 1:Yes, Okay. Old business Clark softball field.
Speaker 2:Clark softball field. So I finally had a chance a couple weeks ago actually a week and a half ago to sit down with Greg and go over a few things. And the town actually has. We can go with what's called a surge contract, that one that's already been pre-approved by the state. So he's actually coming out to meet with me on Monday, give us the quote and, as long as it's within our scope, we can go with this one and not have to go with the whole mass state procurement law. So it's a lot better, and then maybe we can look at doing something.
Speaker 2:Either we close the field down for two weeks in the middle of summer or we just wait until September. Those are dry times. It'll make things a lot easier to get it done. So that's what we're looking at for that one right there, okay, awesome. Well, liberty Playground, liberty Playground, and I'll also add Merrill Playground to this one. I finally got the cost of materials that paint for the decks. I went back and forth over the past month with the company and we'll get about $3,300 in materials just for the paint, about $2,300 per day to get all the work done. This estimate is going to be anywhere from three to five days to do it. So looking at about 12,500 to get all the decks on Merrill and Liberty be painted, the decks just for the Liberty for $20,000 and that's without installation. So I think we should start here.
Speaker 1:Oh, absolutely. And if they're doing it, does it come with any kind of like?
Speaker 2:warranty here. They didn't mention that, but I will make sure there is before. If there isn't, there's no point. We can do it ourselves. Yeah, so I'll confirm that, but it has to be. Yeah, we were out there today and I'll get to that story in a few minutes, although our licenses are showing this afternoon. So I just left that meeting, came to this one itself. But all all's good, okay, awesome. So you guys, fine with that price, as long as there's a warranty on it. Yes, uh, the rough estimate was, uh, twelve thousand five hundred uh, to get the metal and Liberty decks taken care of. Rental property. So again, I think I had a chance to meet with Greg. There is procurement laws for this one and we may come back around when Chris gets here. Yeah.
Speaker 2:We do have to get the appraisal of the house, even though we looked at it a different way. So basically I have already had two real estate agents come out to give their appraisals of what they think the cost should be. One was $2,600. Another came out today. She just eyeballing, she told us you've all 25, which were just because they're saying it's a price we don't, we can go with a little bit low, we just can't go higher than they're saying. And then once that's done, I'll talk to break.
Speaker 2:We advertised and I get we're going with the quotes because they're going to have to charge us to post on MLS. But they'll do all the background checks of the families for us that are interested in the house and the credit checks, which that's something I cannot do. The credit checks, references, yes. So it's kind of all one. He normally believes it's one month's rent fees what the real estate agent is going to charge us. So, and both I've talked to have been fine with that. So we're going to look at it. I have one more. One group I spoke to did not do it. I just need to get one more written quote Okay Do you have somebody for that?
Speaker 2:I'm looking. If there's anybody you know, please let me know. Yes, and we'll go from there.
Speaker 1:All right, that's it. Cool beans it's a lot harder than you think.
Speaker 2:I wish we could do it. I'd like that way doing the lottery, but unfortunately that seems more the lottery seems more fair for this situation, I guess I agree, I would agree with that.
Speaker 2:I agree, and it's just just I do something wrong. Oh, absolutely yeah we want to do it the right way, but that's where we're at, you know. But to I spoke to both very nice real estate agents and I know them both. So okay, yeah, so that is where we're at with the rental property. Hopefully we get this done and get this thing, because, I'm not gonna lie, I'm tired of going check on the house yeah, two or three times a week and putting oil in the house for an empty house.
Speaker 2:I already needed at this point I had to put a little bit more in because we were approaching empty.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I didn't want to risk that one a lot.
Speaker 2:It's a little chilly still out. I don't need any burst pipes on us.
Speaker 5:Well, hopefully second winter, we'll hurry up and go through. Yes.
Speaker 1:Before and after school care program yes, so a couple things.
Speaker 2:We actually had our licenses show up at 2.30 this afternoon. You're welcome, sorry, our licenses show up at 2.30 this afternoon. Your, I'm sorry. Our licenses show up today. Okay so, because all the paperwork has been in for weeks. Yeah, they did come today. It actually went pretty well. Awesome, you know, in terms of everything. You know a lot of things we had. They always had to find something wrong. No matter what inspections we've ever done in our lives, they're always going to find something, but nothing major, nothing that just a little tweak here, tweak there like some paperwork. Everything is good. So we're going to move forward. We're going to wait until she's going to send us an email of things we have to put in our corrective action plan to get that done. We should have our license officially renewed in the next few weeks. That's great news, big stress relief for Bethany, who's really been working hard.
Speaker 1:It's a lot to me, a lot of stress.
Speaker 2:I'm sure Sammy's been helping out as well. You know get things ready. But Bethany's been pretty stressed in the office but she's done a wonderful job today with the license. So yeah, she was there from 2.30 to about 5 o'clock. I do want to bring up how we're waiting on the expansion of the daycare program, meaning a third site, a third site. So we're kind of weighing two options right now. Option one is starting from scratch. Hello, mr Shaw. Hello.
Speaker 6:I'm going to take my PJs off and put my clothes back on.
Speaker 2:So option one is opening the third site at Rainham Middle School. Okay, I've toured the site with Bethany Ann and Ryan Powers. We do have the area. That's the easy part. The hard part, though, is when you open a new site, you have to go through every single step. There's multiple classes I have to take. They may be able to let us come through a couple of them, since it's the same leadership structure, but we still have to do a whole new document library. We have to tour the site, which they have to do anyway. But the problem with opening a brand new site is we won't know if we can open until the day before school starts and, in terms of getting families that want the space, we can't tell if we have space for those extra kids that are on that waiting list.
Speaker 1:Now, if you were going to do a state RMS for the PD3, it's 5 through 8? Yes, okay.
Speaker 2:But we have another option Okay, and we are looking at and I have been talking to Ryan those that have been inside the Liberty Gym. You can picture the old small gym on the back side.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, when Back in the day when I was a kid.
Speaker 2:We are talking about possibly, if it works out for the schools, clearing that site out and making that just expanding our license at Liberty, which just causes us to create a variance, to ask for an expanded enrollment numbers, and we create that space for the middle schoolers and all second through fourth will be in the daycare room upstairs, so really will affect numbers difference for what we're looking right now it's I'm sorry, no great, it's two from eight upstairs to.
Speaker 1:Right now it's two. Three'm sorry, it's grades two from eight upstairs.
Speaker 2:Right now it's two through eight upstairs, but it would keep those middle schools and elementary kids school separated. It's more of a streamlined way of doing it. We're still going to have those numbers. We're going to have it RMS, but just put them in the back gym, if that works out with the schools. I'm still waiting on a final answer, but Ryan and I haven't talked about it Awesome. So those are the options we're looking at. I'm going to continue going on both until I get an idea of where I can go. Okay, that is it for old business. Any questions on that one?
Speaker 6:Nope Daylight and a dollar short for this party. Yeah, ugh, okay.
Speaker 2:Which brings us on to new business guys.
Speaker 1:Alright, jim Connor Horse Ring. Jim Connor Horse Ring.
Speaker 2:So since you guys have information I am when the horse ring was was put in. When we got boarded colony back in 1981, the horse ring was not there. The horse ring was installed approximately 85 86 by the Proctor and Rec Commission and the Director at the time. They put it in. According to the map that we have and there's another copy of the map in your packets the back side with a couple of light poles is actually in the APR. We are looking to make sure they did do the through the lines correctly. Greg did ask about that. So we are looking at that scenario.
Speaker 2:There's a few different avenues we are looking at here. As we know, two of the soccer fields the Griffiths and the Arruda both come into APR land right now. Part that's in the legislation right now is when they redraw the lines to bring them out and put them into recreation land. But the amount they're going to bring out is more than they need to get those soccer fields in. So we're looking at, with that extra space, can they take a little bit away from there and apply it over here? That's one scenario. We're looking at that one. Greg is on that one. The other thing we're looking at is if not, do we? This is something I do not want to see is tearing the whole course frame down, because that's what been there for years. It's a wonderful record event. The biggest thing we may have to do is we may have to adjust the end line of the horsemen.
Speaker 2:That is a possibility and if we did that I would have to move where the gate was, because the gate is technically in rec land, I mean in the APR. Excuse me, so I am now. I was invited two weeks ago to be on the calls to give us more ideas what's going on, and my next call nextuesday at 10 o'clock and I'll update you guys after any new information that comes up.
Speaker 6:What, what area are laying? Would you talking about swapping out?
Speaker 2:if you picture the grippus and your root of field over there, chris. Yeah, okay, this area behind it, they're going to move that line because we're like it's kind of Grippis and the Arruda field over there, chris, yeah, okay, this area behind it they're going to move that line because we're like it's kind of almost like a V-shape. Yeah, I'm looking right at it. Yeah, they're going to push that back. So all that goes in, but they're pushing it back farther than they actually need. So there's going to be more excess rec land behind the soccer fields. Okay, so they they look like they don't have to do any legislation, because that would slow things down of moving, taking some out of there and adding it over here to get that portion of the horse ring inside of right Area. Yeah, so that that, if that can happen without really getting the major legislation, that's a major win. But unfortunately that's out of our hands. But you know we've had our reports in the past. This is the first time we're hearing this.
Speaker 6:So there's something we have to do. You also have that. There's also a section of property, according to this map, that I can't see with my glasses so I can't see what the writing is, but up behind the Cox softball field in the pine forest there. So if you're at home plate to the first base side, up and behind that that's according to this is delineated as recreational, take that land and give it to them. Nobody uses it, it's all pine trees. No, I agree, you know there's all kinds of areas and those are things that I thought that like, specifically the Arruda Field and the other stock field. Yep, burke, griffiths, griffiths, when this was an issue a couple years after they built the Arruda Field, I already thought we did a land swap by giving them the tractable area which I see is now in the API map. So did we give them, did we give them API land and not get recreational return? That's what you know what?
Speaker 6:I'm saying it's almost like we did not think they were supposed to straighten out that line where it bees in and it connects those fields. That line was supposed to be corrected when we gave them the tractor pole and the airplane field one or the other, because we also had to do a swap of land.
Speaker 6:when we had this in-kind all-purpose field built, we did a swap of land back then Again can't remember if it was the airplane field or if it was the tractor pull area, but there were two significant incidents where there was a land swap. One had to do with the all-purpose field and the other one had to do with the backsides of those two soccer fields and to my memory I thought that we had that all squared away. First time I'm ever hearing that the voice ring was extended into the API.
Speaker 6:First time I've ever heard that was seen it on a map. I mean, I could have seen it and heard of it in the past, but it just doesn't make any. It didn't To me, it didn't ring any bells. Well, that's good then. So at least they're communicating and they agree to work on swapping lands and making things correct.
Speaker 2:It all comes down to the legislation, because if the legislation they have to put more into this to happen, it'll slow down the process and effect everything else that may.
Speaker 6:Oh, well, should have included us to begin with my answer you nailed it. Yeah, that's my answer. You should have included us to begin with. Sorry, no, no you're fine.
Speaker 2:No, absolutely not. No, I'm saying sorry. You've been here a long time. You know this very well. All righty, that's all for that I get a lot of talking.
Speaker 1:That's all right. Lions Club parking lot.
Speaker 2:Just want to give you a heads up. The lions club approached us, uh, last week, I believe they stopped in. He's looking to uh, you know, fill in some holes with the gravel. I'm going to talk to norm, you know, just the gravel parking lot. Just have them throw some stone dust in there and smooth it out. So just want to see them out there doing their thing.
Speaker 1:So just want to see them out there doing their thing, all righty Pac-49 efficient driving, which we already did.
Speaker 2:Chris, just to give you an update, the Pac-49, they want to do like a kind of just an update to their Pac, you know, introduce other kids to Boy Scouts. They're looking at June 8th. I told them we can't give an official permit because we don't give el johnson's bond, but we have no issue with it. You know, we did the vote and I said they just have to contact the selectman's office, the police and the fire to make them aware and I said sunday, in terms of parking, would be better with, you know, bank clothes and things like that. They. They need some extra parking to use the heads up. All right, baseball shed Baseball shed. Rybsa is asking permission to put this small little shed inside Field 3 just so they can store some, uh, some of their equipment and buy the dugout over there so they're not hauling all the way from the other side of the complex I have the drop box that they had to use.
Speaker 6:Yeah, that's you, don't?
Speaker 2:want to use that anymore.
Speaker 6:That's completely gone, is it you?
Speaker 2:stole it I'm not sure what happened. They took it out or rusted out or whatever. So, yeah, okay, just want to see about, with your permission, to put this storage shed in, I said, and make sure it's anchored and it's secure to the ground so it doesn't go missing, or lol.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I would be more concerned about somebody being injured by being turned over or somebody getting wedged and thrown in there like a high school locker.
Speaker 1:That's my concern. No, you're right Under the sun barn. No, you're right Under the Sun Farm.
Speaker 2:Are we. Is that, you guys? All I'll?
Speaker 6:make a motion to approve. I want BSA's application to erect this.
Speaker 1:I'll second that motion. All in favor, aye, so moved Under the Sun Farm, under the Sun Farm.
Speaker 2:Under the Sun Farm reached out as well last week. They're looking for your approval to run their farm stand again this year down at Border Colony. They've been doing it for years, except for one year. They just couldn't find help. I know it was a couple years ago, but they do a wonderful job. We've always approved and last year we approved it with a fee of $1,000 for the. You have a pen, chris. No, I left my phone with that. I'm good, you're good. Okay. Next is Sam.
Speaker 2:I'm hooked up, sammy helped me out with the housing thing, just looking for your approval. And he's just updated their insurance insurance policy and, like I said, it was a $1,000 fee last year.
Speaker 1:I have no issues with that. Anyone else like to say anything? Alrighty, I'm going to make a motion to approve. All in favor. Aye, so go ahead. Springfield use permits I abstain. So what is it? Springfield use permits I abstain.
Speaker 6:Okay, this, I'm just catching up a little bit here. So I yep, this is the letter from the Scouts. Yes, it is Alan Truitt and Abigail Woland. Yes, sir, I think I've worked with her.
Speaker 2:So again we're on field permits. The first permit we have is from the Special Olympics in Massachusetts, the Taunton Thunderducks. From Massachusetts, the Taunton Thunder Ducks. They're looking for a one-season permit starting April 19th running until June 7th. Looking at the RMS soccer football field any time in the afternoon. Last year we approved 2 to 4 o'clock. We found it was less busy on Saturday afternoon than on the day of, with no fee.
Speaker 6:But that was for a fundraising event.
Speaker 2:Last year. No, we've had multiple special Olympic groups come and use that field With no fee. We never charge fees for the special Olympics.
Speaker 6:I thought that was when they had their actual event or they were bent or they were doing a fundraising. This is this is just right to yield for a season. Yeah, different friend we?
Speaker 2:you can say that we definitely, yes, but we've never charged and the time I've been here for special in return anything we're gonna have to go out there, like football in the fall, we've never charged them.
Speaker 6:Yeah, I was always under the impression those events were either fundraising events or you know one-time thing. I don't remember the seasonal permit for them, for the especially these people talking.
Speaker 2:Thunderstrike's them. For the, especially these people talking pound of strokes, yeah, I mean you can definitely change it. That's blue, the alcohol, nothing, all my records. We've never charged for so season yes. For the. For the Special Olympics yes, we've never charged it would be my opinion.
Speaker 6:They should be treated like everybody else okay, I would agree with that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, okay, dei all right. So what kind of what seasonal permit? 500. That's like a plan then, 600 600. So I will make a motion to approve then, uh, for six hundred dollars all in favor.
Speaker 2:Aye, aye, so voted all right. The next permit we have is for fearless one Sports Academy. They're looking for a two-season permit starting today, running till the August 31st. They're looking for Monday, wednesday, thursday, friday evenings and Sunday mornings. Mondays at until August 31st. They're looking for Monday, wednesday, thursday, friday evenings and Sunday mornings Mondays at the field. They're requesting it's going to be at the RMS softball. There's a conflict so it will really be Wednesday, thursday, friday evenings and Sunday mornings. We have approved them in the past for two seasons for $1200. Okay.
Speaker 1:LaVonda is going to get the softball. I don't have a problem with that. Approved them in the past for two season for about 1200 dollars. Okay, um, anyone have more?
Speaker 6:say you can help, just make it in that moment yeah, I know I'd make a motion to approve their permit, based on availability of fields, with a fee of $1,200.
Speaker 1:I have a second. Is this a charged motion? All in favor? Aye, aye, so voted.
Speaker 2:The next one we have is for the Colonial Roadrunners. They're looking to use the track for starting July 13th, on Sunday evenings from 4 to 7 to August 10th. We're letting down August 3 3rd. There's no rain. Uh, we've approved them in the past.
Speaker 6:Uh, just with an updated uh insurance binder and no fee, and we charge you enough it's a free event, but I think it's one of the requested donation, or a buck or something yeah, um motion to approve second.
Speaker 1:All All in favor. Aye, aye, so voted.
Speaker 2:The next one we have is for the mass drifters. They're looking for their annual two-season permit, starting May 1st until August 31st at Reed Field, monday through Thursday 530 to 830, and Saturday mornings 8 to 12. We approved last year for a fee of $1,200 and an updated insurance policy. Can we handle that? Yes, sir Reed Field. They're the only group that's using Reed Field at this time. I have a motion to approve. I will second. I will second Mr Shaw's motion. All in favor? Aye, you have to use the rave volunteer parade for royal Memorial Day weekend is just looking for their annual permit to use the gazebo field and gazebo for their end of parade ceremony. Yeah, from 8 to 1 on Saturday, may 24th. Yeah, there is no soccer games going on that day because they don't play on Memorial Day weekend. Yeah, and I did want to make sure there was nothing on the horse mass rough riders and they have nothing that day either and I always keep that one blocked off for this parade.
Speaker 6:So, and we improve with no fear, let's put a pack of rec float together.
Speaker 4:We should, we can do that. We can have our junior representative in it.
Speaker 1:Who Hunter this time? Oh, you weren't here last time. Yeah, he was. No, I was in.
Speaker 5:Oh, yeah, that's right he wasn't here, I had to bring him again, did ya? He was playing the organ, did he stay here?
Speaker 6:No, he sat here. He sat here, he scared me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, he hit Chris. I didn't see him. He hit the uh, turned the organ on.
Speaker 1:Surprised, I'm alive. Motion to approve Ray's permit. Second, second, thirded All in favor, aye so voted.
Speaker 2:Just a couple more things on the new business that came in over the past 24 hours. I just wanted to bring to your attention the first one. I have a letter in your packet for you guys. A family in town wanted to make a donation in memory of a former Rainham PE teacher and coach, mr Bob Tatufo. You know, mr T was gym teacher for me. I'm sure he was for you as well, riley going through school no, no, I had his daughter as a teacher. Oh, mr T was gym teacher for me. I'm sure he was for you as well, riley going through school no, no, I had his daughter as a teacher.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, yeah, so a donation was made to the parking rec from a family in his name, okay, what do we do with that? Money. When I spoke to the family that made the donation, they were hoping something towards the baseball fields. The family said you know any type of upgrade, if there are any projects going on to help them out.
Speaker 6:Is this the Andy McCormick from Judson Street? Yes, really.
Speaker 2:He played for Miss TES and I actually spoke to his father when he called and I actually went to his. I didn't realize it. I went to school with his older sister, andy's older sister oh, the little one on Judson.
Speaker 1:Street. Yeah, he did, and I think the old man is older, sister Andy's older. Oh, they're a little on Jenton Street. Yeah, he did. I think his old man is still there. Yeah, he's still there. Yeah, I saw him.
Speaker 2:He's on Miami A little past, going towards like On that street. Yes, in that direction.
Speaker 6:Okay, we should have a discussion on that and give it its own purpose? Yeah, absolutely so motion to continue then? Yeah, we can. I mean, we have to do something with the donation, right? Yeah, we can go into the general fund or the donation fund and we can just put that money that he donated. Do we have a line item for a donation? We have a line item for a donation. We have a line item for a donation.
Speaker 2:We have a line item for a donation, go into the general fund or the donation fund and we just put that money that he donated. Do we have a line item for donations? We do better said, we put it in that donation account, at least just to protect it. Yeah, we'll do that and just go from there and then we'll figure out what we want to do and help the baseball. I know baseball does have some projects coming up. They want come in in May and talk to you guys about it. Yeah, but they weren't ready today.
Speaker 6:Well, they already started on their projects. I was down there over the weekend.
Speaker 2:He's quite busy, that's been quite the project, the caps that's been going on since February. Caps screens.
Speaker 6:Yeah with, like the TNL, yeah With like. Well, the TNLP guy was down there. I don't want to get into trouble, but he was down there with a TNLP website Putting the screens up, which I thought was brilliant. In the old days you used to climb up on ladders and actually hang on the fence to wire tie them in. I don't think we had the screens when I played, probably not. The sun just came right through.
Speaker 6:Yeah, your parents didn't blame the sun for you being terrible at the plate. Yeah, it wasn't much so when the parents complained about the pitcher not being able to see and that's why they were getting banged up and they decided the screens would probably fix that. Should have used that excuse when I took a fastball off the mouth.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it didn't help. No, it didn't. No, that would happen to the time ball to me Squared. The button bang that would hurt, not gonna lie, I bet the other one that just came in. We do have a scholarship request, so I just got all the paperwork in yesterday. I didn't want to wait, so I wanted to bring it to you guys tonight. I did review all the paperwork and I do recommend a scholarship for the family, 100% for the remainder of the school year.
Speaker 6:I'm sorry, what did you?
Speaker 2:say Recommending approval of a scholarship for the family for the rest of the school year. So once we get them in and get all the paperwork and they get the debt paid.
Speaker 6:That was going to be my question. Do you want? Well, there's an outstanding debt and they get the debt paid? That was going to be my question. Do you want? Well, there's an outstanding debt. There is an outstanding debt. Has there been any negotiation on how to resolve that debt?
Speaker 2:I have spoken to this party in the past. She said she does want to pay but right now does not have the bill. But that was in the past and then they stopped coming. But if that's something you guys would like me to do, so I just got all the paperwork in yesterday. I didn't want to wait, so I wanted to bring it to you guys tonight. I did review all the paperwork and I do recommend a scholarship for the family, 100% for the remainder of the school year.
Speaker 6:I'm sorry, what did?
Speaker 2:you say I recommend the approval of the scholarship for the family for the rest of the school year. So once we get them in we get all the paperwork.
Speaker 1:And they get the debt paid, that was going to be my question.
Speaker 2:There's an outstanding debt. There is an outstanding debt.
Speaker 6:Has there been any negotiation on how to resolve that debt?
Speaker 2:I have spoken to this party in the past. She said she does want to pay but right now does not have the bill. But that was in the past and they stopped coming. But if that's something you guys would like me to do, I will resolve that debt.
Speaker 1:Something better than nothing yeah.
Speaker 6:Incidentally, during this time I accrued a balance owed to the program and I hope to be able to fulfill my balance owed. So she's saying she wants to pay it.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's why I didn't bring that part. And if you wanted to start with a scholarship, I can talk to her and I can just revisit this with you guys as we move forward.
Speaker 1:That part. I would be fanatic. I'm good with it if she brings up a payment plan, okay.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would like to see A dollar, okay, two dollars.
Speaker 6:Just anything. What about the $50?
Speaker 4:you? Yeah, I would like to see the dollar. Okay, $2. Just.
Speaker 2:So so my recommendation again would be to make the motion to approve the school option Once we get all the paperwork. We cannot take them until we get all the paperwork in. So once she starts, 100% of that for the remainder of the school year, which is approximately 10 weeks give or take, depending if we don't have any more snow days. Don't say that 1996.
Speaker 6:Yeah we're't have any more snow days. Don't say that 1996. Never going to happen again. On this day. Never going to happen again. I had about a week's worth of baseball canceled.
Speaker 2:I remember it very well, I was working for the high school. We were throwing shovels at the snow banks. Yeah, my mother was working in Boston that day.
Speaker 1:Chris, I pray you're right on that one, because I never want to see that again. We're in second window right now. Be careful, Alright. So can you refresh that again?
Speaker 2:So my recommendation would be to approve the scholarship 100% for the remainder of the school year and then we can revisit this if they decide they want to come back. In the fall, you have to. They have to reapply, yeah, for a scholarship, and we talk about what those numbers will look like sometime in the summer.
Speaker 1:I would be for that. So anyone else like anything?
Speaker 6:I would be for it as long as there's some sort of discuss. Yeah, I'll make a motion to approve request, as stated by Tim, for the remainder of the school year, um ensuring that she knows that she's got a balance she's responsible for in order to reapply for the fall I will second mr charles motion.
Speaker 1:All in favor. Aye, so moved. Commissioner's reports.
Speaker 6:Commissioner's reports. I do not have anything to report. I got a communication from Girls Lacrosse regarding the goal. That's the next one of the goals.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Cool me in today be moved, we can move. I dealt with it yesterday.
Speaker 6:He, yeah, he told me that he talked to you, but I just I didn't. I don't understand what the issue is.
Speaker 2:It's hard for me to First of all ever since we've had BP on those fields, we've always had the big goals. They've always been there Because those things are hard to move and where to put them on. The complex is another story. You know what we are. I explained to them the individual that they still have from the end line to where the goals are. They have a good six, seven feet. There's no. In my opinion there's no big difference between when they play games over at Bettencourt, where the field goal posts are, compared to where the soccer goals are. I told them they can move the smaller goals, but the big ones we've always left on the fields. We've never taken those off. We've never had a complaint from BP. We've never had a complaint from anybody. They've always been there and there's never been an issue. In the two plus years we've had girls lacrosse. The boys lacrosse has about 20 feet to the end Because boys fields. Don't ask me why Boys fields are shorter than girls fields.
Speaker 2:Yes, which blows my mind. Wow, you're shorter than fields. You play on a boys field. So I spoke to Norm and then I went back and forth. We looked at it. To move those nets it would be tough to even get through the gate area, so in the lift over we risk damaging the fence. I recommend we leave them where they are.
Speaker 6:I thought this issue was dropped but obviously, what's the distance between the back side of the goal to the?
Speaker 2:fence, the back side of the goal To the fence, maybe another five feet.
Speaker 6:Okay, you know it's really not so a couple of, because, from what I understand, the rule is five to 10 yards.
Speaker 2:Which is 15. So and I offered to move it to the corner. And what's interesting is, if you wanna go on the sidelines, there's maybe five feet to the fence. So I don't Good point, I don't understand. I understand, and I told him turn the goal, so the big poles that go straight up so it'll just be the ones on the ground Against the fence Will be against the fence. Fence. I came in this morning they weren't turned, they were still in that same position. We left them yesterday, but they're difficult to move. Yeah, they are difficult to move, but if you just swinging them and turning them, it's one thing. Those wheels they do.
Speaker 2:But yeah, those are not the greatest things and especially trying to move them when the grass is still this wet. I don't want to just tear up the fields either. Yeah, so I'm thinking from a lot of different areas.
Speaker 6:Okay, how about? That's where I was going, like the goalposts, that's where I was going, yep that's a huge the.
Speaker 6:Giants have a round pad that they put on those. Mm-hmm, I don't know what they did with the old ones, but they're still around. Yeah, there's two pads there. They can buy their own pads. We can buy pads to accommodate them if it's a safety issue. But you throw in the fact that the defense from the sideline of the field is under 10 feet, what are we gonna? Spray foam the entire fence? Yeah, so yeah, I think, to accommodate them, give them the option of either turning the.
Speaker 2:I took a picture yesterday when I was out there. Just to give you an idea, I'll come over to you guys. Did you see the game yesterday? No actually I have physical therapy yesterday. I missed the game yesterday. I apologize. So here's the big goal. Yep, that's about six to seven feet from the white line yeah, the end line, yeah, and the yellow line is the boys line.
Speaker 2:Okay, so you know that's a non-issue, yeah, so just to give you guys an idea, but you know where we're at. But we can offer the padding, but we've never had that issue, guys. And this is our third year of having so many.
Speaker 6:So why is it an issue now? Do we know?
Speaker 2:Different parents, you know, with kids out there.
Speaker 6:Somebody said but again. That would make sense. Only because they lost a lot of seniors last year there Somebody said but again he's not getting the battle in time.
Speaker 5:That would make sense to me because they lost a lot of seniors last year.
Speaker 2:But even if it was JD playing out there and they, I mean I'm not, I don't want to if this this is the BP group, yes, but the AD, the coaches, have never come to me on this one at all and they, they appreciate the use of the field. Yeah, I mean I can't. I don't want to speak for other towns, but other towns are probably in the same situation we are. You know where do you put all this stuff. You know where do you store it? And I was out on the field last week with two of their landscapers and the head of facilities Never said a word to me.
Speaker 6:I'll text the individual and have a conversation with them to see if what the problem is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, if you look at the sideline, from the sideline to the fence, 5-6 feet it's actually farther from they're thinking going just as fast towards the sideline there, towards the end line, oh sure, so yeah, yeah all right, all right, yeah.
Speaker 6:Yeah, the infields look great. Yeah, the guys are oh. I'll add you should, yeah the infields look great.
Speaker 2:Yeah, the guys are just starting it. You know they've done the. We did the conversion up in the Clark softball field Looks great, and what's going to be nice about that is when we get into the dog day of the summer and those weeds are popping through. We're not going to see the weeds on that field like we have in the past, which basically we're mowing the infield.
Speaker 6:So I'm loving his guys that wanted to no, yeah, they look good, they look good. Okay, I'm done my commission reports.
Speaker 1:Put a fork in me. Staff reports.
Speaker 5:I put a copy of the draft of the annual report in front of you guys. I was going to go over some more specific details with Tim, just to add and then submit it tomorrow late afternoon. So if you guys wanted anything added or taken out, um, we mentioned adding something about the gymkhana um would be good and the horse and people. Um, every year we run so many annual events now, which is great, but, um, I basically just have to try to include the highlights of each year, because our events have been carrying over since coven. So it's a good thing, um, but I try to make each event different every year in the annual report.
Speaker 6:Just highlight the differences and we're bringing in new vendors and trips and such, so I tried to add those as well. Okay, alrighty.
Speaker 5:So it's a rough draft, rough draft, yep.
Speaker 1:My name's about rough. That's okay, let's get it over with okay, 99.9% of the time. I just look at how many.
Speaker 5:D's you need in there. It's not on my last name.
Speaker 1:I usually get called Eric. Do you yeah, okay, yep.
Speaker 6:You do get that. Yeah. What do you think about adding something in here, because I just went over real quick, just briefly, something the effect of it. Tell me if it's already in here and I just I just overlooked it come up with. A number of programs have permit, have been permitted, to use our facilities there's certain percentage of those programs are out of town, people wanting to use the facilities because of their condition, and how much money we've raised to help support our efforts to maintain these fields without using fees.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we'll definitely look at it tomorrow.
Speaker 6:Sammy, yeah, that's great.
Speaker 5:I just want to show them that we're doing our part. You said effort to put the maintenance of the fields. Yeah, that would be perfect, and then I'll add members for our district and stuff for the child care as well.
Speaker 6:Okay, that way, when we come to town meeting in the spring. Hopefully they don't break down the budget.
Speaker 5:Yeah, he's smiling because he knows. Do we get an official date when I can submit this? Is it May?
Speaker 2:No, you can submit it to May 19th. But you can submit it to the clerk's office, masha or Amy.
Speaker 5:I submitted it this week last year, so I might as well just get in and out.
Speaker 2:We have a department meeting on Thursday, so maybe we'll be brought up, but if you get in to Masha or Amy tomorrow, that would be great. Okay, eric.
Speaker 5:And we have six reservations that the community garden plot, so we've got plenty more of them than we can know. Anyone Should be planting your onions and your potatoes right?
Speaker 2:now Just a couple things for me. We're going to be fertilizing the week of school vacation. The exact dates aren't set yet but as soon as I have those I will let you know. Sinus Rapeful Vacation Club are going well and fast. It's three days, so it's going to be a great time to work for vacation, heather, and it's been a wonderful job getting that together. Also, the official summer information is going to be coming out later on this week or early next week, followed by sign up. It's going to be June 30th through August 15th.
Speaker 2:Seven weeks of fun, fun, fun, but it's a first come, first serve basis. But we only allow Rainham residents in If there is room come end of May, early June. We we have spots we will reach out. Just too hard to let out of town is in right now with the demand for the program. Uh, we do have our summer concert series starting july 15th and we're gonna run for five weeks on tuesday nights and uh, ed, this would be good for you if you want to bring the sun. We have the easter egg hunt this Saturday. What time is that? The younger group goes off at 10. The older 5 to 8-year-olds go out at 1045.
Speaker 2:Well can you help? I'm happy to come by. I'd love to have you there. I'll help you spread eggs. Okay, perfect what was that date, April 5th this Saturday? Let's see what we can do this Saturday. See what we can do. Can't make any sense. Go from there and that is it for me Is it outside, oh my. God, I hope so. The past few years it's rained. We've had to do it inside the gym. I know, Don't bring this down on me yet.
Speaker 1:The one positive about this weekend for me is it's supposed to rain?
Speaker 2:I'm not missing much. So if it does rain, I'm not missing much. So if it does rain, you'll be inside the gym at Liberty and we'll have a petting zoo and other activities going inside the cafeteria.
Speaker 1:Is there a petting?
Speaker 2:zoo outside of the gym Petting zoo. If we hold the event outside, we'll do that in the gym.
Speaker 6:Okay, so it kind of spreads everybody out this Saturday, this Saturday, yeah, oh.
Speaker 2:Oh man, what time are you doing? Uh, I'm going to start. It goes on to what? 9 o'clock, sammy. Yeah, the first group goes on to 10,. The second group goes on to 10.45.
Speaker 6:I'd love to be there. I really would I mean come on, Stop.
Speaker 1:Well, it's a high probability of rain. So if you're stuck, oh, is it outside? Well, it's a high probability of rain. So if you're stuck outside, oh, is it outside? Nope, enough of this rain, talk here, Come on, I'm killing you.
Speaker 6:I'm worried about the fields getting torn up.
Speaker 2:And that is it for me. It's all right. They're going to freeze next week. I saw that too. Well, grass isn't going to know what to do.
Speaker 6:Grass is overrated, unless you're sliding back with somebody gonna know what to do Crisis overrated. Let's just slide and tackle somebody now, yeah.
Speaker 2:So, uh, we do have uh executive session on the menu, so we have to make a motion to.
Speaker 1:We have to come back and let the cameras address it I talked to Mikey.
Speaker 5:I actually said if you just stay in your motion, that you're not gonna return to public session to adjourn.
Speaker 1:Okay, so I'm going to make a motion to adjourn from public session to executive session. All in favor? Aye, so voted, thank you.