Recreation and Parks Commission Meeting - December 6, 2022 - OBSERVER REPORT

OBSERVER CORPS REPORT 

RECREATION AND PARKS COMMITTEE

Tuesday, December 6, 2022, 6:30 p.m.

Jacobi Community Center Conference Room

LWVM Observer: Kay Rieper

The meeting was called to order by the Chairman, Derek Norcross.  Present:  Linda Rice-Collins, Matt Martin, Peter James, Jaime Bloch.  Absent:  Karin Ernst, Rossana Ferrante.

The minutes from the last meeting were approved.

Appearances

Mark Babineau from Troop 79 presented his proposal for an Eagle Scout project to build and install bat boxes in various locations at Gatchell’s.  Besides helping the environment, this activity would teach younger scouts in the troop new skills including leadership.   Only adults would climb ladders to install the boxes.  The boxes would be placed 12 to 20 feet off the ground, facing east or south, on various trees and poles around Gatchell’s.   They would provide a safe, warm place for bats to live and raise their young.   Besides eating many insects, bats act as seed spreaders and pollinators.  The Board passed a motion for Mark to build 6 - 8 bat boxes and install them around Gatchell’s.

New Business

Tree roots near the pickleball courts at Seaside are starting to buckle the courts.   Peter will work on a solution.

The Conservation Commission approved the plans for the Bike Park, and they can start construction.

Budget

After Peter’s vacation, a meeting will be set up to discuss next year’s budget—level funded and level services.   Increased costs for level services will be addressed as well as the increased level of responsibility the Department is taking on.

Memorandum of Understanding with Schools

Jaime and Derek will meet with representatives from the schools to discuss the MOU and what things the Recreation Department provides for the schools.

Parks - Peter

Final fall cleanup has taken place and last trash pickup for winter.

Apple tree at Seaside has been removed.

The Japanese knotweed is encroaching on the track at Hopkins field.   It will be addressed with the Marblehead Conversancy.

There are rotted timbers on the step near the double A field at Gatchell’s as well as some vandalism of the chain at the Everett Paine entrance.

The tarps (with seeding underneath) will go down before Peter leaves for vacation.

A grant for $33,696 was received from the Shattuck fund.

At Stramski’s a 2-inch waterline has been installed under the stream and the sewer pipe.  The address of the house will be 26 Stramski Way.

At Devereux Beach a second pavilion has been ordered.

At the next meeting a decision will be made about leaving the nets up at the Seaside pickle ball courts.   If there is a snowstorm, the courts will be locked.

Fixing the sidewalk at Redd’s Pond wiil be a general override at Town Meeting,  The sidewalk still belongs to DPW, not Rec and Parks.

Recreation - Jaime 

Basketball programs are in full swing.

The gingerbread house workshop was very successful.

Winter programming is underway as well as planning and hiring for the summer.   Jaime plans to lower the age for the playground counselor in training program from 8th and 9th graders to 7th and 8th, and 9th and 10th graders for junior counselors.  Her staff member have been very capable.

Correspondence

A request by the Girl Scouts to sell cookies in the parking lot of the Community Center on Saturdays from 10 - 1 from January 7 to February 11 was approved.

A request for a wedding ceremony at Crocker Park on May 13 from 10 - 1 was approved.

A request from a cheerleading group to display some of their trophies in a Community Center display case was approved.

The next meeting will be January 3 at 6:3