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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-06 - Parks and Rec Advisory Council Meeting Minutes MINUTES OF THE VILLAGE OF RYE BROOK PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL 938 KING STREET RYE BROOK,New York 10573 January 6,2015 Convene Meeting: Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Chairman Jamie Schutzer called the meeting to order at 8:15pm. The following Members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Jamie Schutzer, Frank Carbone, Scott Tillson, Adam Zahl Christopher Dutra, Traci Erenfryd Absent Parks & Recreation Advisory Council Members: Adam Berman, Steve Ketchabaw, Brian Funtleyder Recreation Department Members: Robert Bertolacci, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant I. Minutes: a. Approve November 4, 2014 Minutes Chairman Schutzer asked for a motion to approve the November 4, 2014 Minutes. Committee Member Zahl made the motion to approve the November 4, 2014 Minutes and Committee Member Erenfryd seconded the motion. The November 4, 2014 Minutes were approved and accepted. b. Approve December 9,2014 Minutes Chairman Schutzer asked for a motion to approve the December 9, 2014 Minutes. Committee Member Zahl made the motion to approve the December 9, 2014 Minutes and Committee Member Carbone seconded the motion. The December 9, 2014 Minutes were approved and accepted. II. Public View Points: Chairman Schutzer reported that he has several Public View Points: 1. Chairman Schutzer said the Menorah in Pine Ridge Park has been knocked over several times. Superintendent Bertolacci said the person responsible was arrested for vandalism and will be dealt with accordingly. 2. Chairman Schutzer asked if there was any forum for a parent to appeal the earrings rule. Superintendent Bertolacci said there is no exception to the rule; it's a safety issue for the players and everyone else on the basketball court. 3. Chairman Schutzer said members of the public asked why there is only 2 minutes of overtime for 6th and 7`h grade and why can't there be a double overtime. Superintendent Bertolacci said it has always been 2 minutes for the simple reason, it is timing and there are other games in the gym. The only reason we do it for that group is for standings. If there is a tie during the playoffs, they keep playing until one team wins. 4. Chairman Schutzer said there was some chatter about the zero tolerance policy that maybe there was a little too much latitude given in a particular circumstance. It was 1168377.1 reported that there was inappropriate behavior from a coach. There was no physical or cursing involved. Being we are a small village, people don't want to put their name on a grievance. Chairman Schutzer said the ref was spoken to about the situation and the ref said it was no big deal. Superintendent Bertolacci said he had a conversation with this coach and addressed the situation with that coach. Chairman Schutzer said if anyone from the rec department, or a member of the public, or the referee who is not willing to formally file a grievance, you can't take any action. Superintendent Bertolacci said the referee is in charge of the game. If he deems necessary, the coach will be removed from the gym. Lauren, our rec personnel, has the authority to speak with the coach if necessary. The least complicated would be a grievance coming from a referee. 5. Chairman Schutzer said the County Center process is never going to be perfect. Kyle and Janice take a terrific amount of heat once the teams are made. There is no perfect solution. Chairman Schutzer said the attitudes from the parents shouldn't be tolerated. I don't know what the repercussions would be against the parents. Committee Member Carbone said some of these parents had confrontations not only with basketball but also baseball. What kind of a message are these parents sending to their children by screaming at the rec staff about their child not making the County Center Team? 6. Committee Member Tillison asked that the hoops in the new gym are down on the side courts. 7. Committee Member Tillison said several parents have asked why they can't walk their kids down to the gym. Committee member Tillison asked where this policy came from? Superintendent Bertolacci said the policy came into effect after the Sandy Hook tragedy. After Sandy Hook there were police in our schools for security during school hours. Superintendent Bertolacci said the school is not willing to back off on the issue. Committee Member Tillison asked that the coaches have a pre-season meeting to talk to the parents of the kids on the team. III. Superintendent's Report: a. Spring Carnival Superintendent Bertolacci reported the carnival dates are May 8`', 9"' and 10`h which is Mother's Day weekend. Superintendent Bertolacci will formally request the use of 900 King Street as in the past. We received RFP's from carnival companies and the lowest proposal was All Star whom we have used the last two years. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would talk to All Star about the quality of their rides and the quality of their workers that will be working on the rides. The Dark Ride which a kid got hurt on last year will not be used. Last year's carnival was the first week in May which coincided with the sophomore circus. Chairman Schutzer asked if we can get some action from the game booths. Superintendent Bertolacci said we get a set dollar amount for the game booths. The approval for All Star Carnival is on the Village Agenda for next week's meeting. b. Other Updates Superintendent Bertolacci said we will need a new Menorah for next year because of the damage done to it. Chairman Schutzer asked how aggressively that person would be prosecuted. Committee Member Zahl said it was criminal mischief and that is probably what he got charged with. IV.Baseball Sub-Committee Report-Scott Tillson: Committee Member Tillison asked about the winter baseball clinics that were discussed at the last meeting. Superintendent Bertolacci said he spoke with Teddy Sabato and is trying to have some clinics sometime in February. Committee Member Tillison said he would volunteer his 1168377.1 time to work the clinic. We would like to have a clinic for the young and older boys, and the girls. Chairman Schutzer said to rent the batting cage at Pro Swing is $65 for '/2 hour, $200 to rent the field for 1 hour. Committee Member Dutra said another option would be to rent time at Game on 13. Superintendent Bertolacci made an appointment with Committee Member Tillison to meet on Thursday at 9:15am to discuss the winter baseball/softball clinic. V. Basketball Sub-Committee Report-Brian Funtleyder: Superintendent Bertolacci reported that Westchester County has notified the Recreation Department that they want the County Center Basketball information sooner. By getting them the information sooner, we are eliminating some teams matching up against each other. Some of the coaches won't see some of the players. To deal with that situation, Kyle suggested to have each coach put 2 players from their own team on the ballot for each grade, which means if they are coaching 6th and 7th grade, there will be 2/ 6th graders and 2/ 7th graders from that team. Not voting for them, just making them available on the ballot from that team. In the process of voting, you cannot vote for those players on your team. Committee Member Erenfryd suggested a tryout for the Count Center Team and have someone that is impartial to rate the kids. This way there would be no coaches or parents picking the players. Chairman Schutzer said you don't want to announce the alternates, but you could say there were alternates selected if someone doesn't make the 60% or can't play for some other reason, that alternate would play. Superintendent Bertolacci said the alternate players would be placed on the roster. Chairman Schutzer suggested having an independent person come for a few different weeks and watch the games instead of having a tryout. That person would have to attend games each week so they see the kids two times. Superintendent Bertolacci said if we see kids that deserve to be considered, we will place them on the ballot. VI.Grievance Sub-Committee Report-Adam Zahl: Committee Member Zahl said the grievance process was pretty much covered at the beginning of the meeting. It is a bad situation for Kyle when a grievance should have to be filed. This is Kyle's job and if he does see something wrong, it should be sent over to the grievance sub-committee to be addressed. VII. Playground Sub-Committee Report-Traci Erenfryd: Committee Member Erenfryd said she would vote for the company Miracle because she liked his presentation. Superintendent Bertolacci asked if we want to vote as a committee to work with one group and recommend to the Village Board to appoint a playground company to work with the committee to get the best possible playground. Another option is to set up a few road trips to see other playgrounds. Superintendent Bertolacci said he put a blurb in the Winter Brochure asking for interested adults and kids to give feedback on the new playground. So far no one has reached out to me. We need to work out a plan by late spring, put it out to bid and have the work started in the summer. There were some different points of view with regard to the companies by a couple of members that were present at the meeting. Superintendent Bertolacci said the members present at the meeting liked the first presentation which was Kompan. Superintendent Bertolacci asked if the committee wants to take a ride and check out the playgrounds that they just built around the area or do we want to recommend to the Village Board to work with one specific company. Chairman Schutzer suggested that we take a ride and check the other playgrounds that were just built. 1168377.1 VIII. Old Business: Superintendent Bertolacci said Committee Member Berman is willing to help get more men's softball teams. In order for Rye Brook to pay for the lights, we need ten teams. Chairman Schutzer suggested a 35 and over men's softball league. Superintendent Bertolacci said Greenberg has a 40 and over and 55 and over men's softball. Obviously you might lose some younger teams but you may attract some outside towns. Superintendent Bertolacci said there really isn't a demand for softball. You get the same guys playing in multiple leagues around the county. We are going to talk to Port Chester and Rye to see if there is any interest in night games. The men's softball meeting is held in February. Committee Member Tillison asked if are working towards hosting District 20 games. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would talk to Kyle about hosting games this year. We have to find out from the District what we need to do to be hosts. Mayor Paul Rosenberg would also like to see us host District 20 games. Committee Member Carbone said White Plains hosted games and they don't have a concession stand, they brought in a PA system and a food truck. Committee Member Dutra said the rules are much more lenient. Superintendent Bertolacci said we are looking at canopies for the dugouts either at the old or the new field. The new field mound is at the right height so the portable mound will stay at the old field. Superintendent Bertolacci said we are also looking at fencing for warming up pitchers. On the new field the fencing would be on the left field line and on the old field the fencing would go on the right field line. IX. New Business: There is no New Business. X. Adjournment: Chairman Schutzer asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting Committee Member Tillison made the motion to adjourn the meeting and Committee Member Carbone seconded the motion. All approved and the meeting adjourned at 9:50pm. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will be held on February 3, 2015 at 8:15pm. Minutes prepared by: Carmella Swick 1168377.1