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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-12-03 - 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 December 3, 2013 Convene Meeting: Chairman Jamie Schutzer called the meeting to order at 8:30PM. The following Members of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Jamie Schutzer, Brian Funtleyder, Frank Carbone, Adam Zahl Christopher Dutra, Adam Berman, Scott Tillison Absent Parks & Recreation Advisory Council Members: Jennifer Wohl, Traci Erenfryd, Recreation Department Members: Robert Bertolacci, Parks & Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant I. Minutes: a. Approve the Minutes: Chairman Schutzer asked for a motion to accept the Minutes of November 5, 2013. Committee Member Berman made a motion to accept the Minutes of November 5, 2013 and Committee Member Funtleyder seconded the motion. The Minutes of November 5, 2013 were accepted and approved. Committee Member Zahl abstained from voting on the November 5, 2013 Minutes. II. Public View Points: Superintendent Bertolacci said he received a phone call from Mr. Egol regarding the lights in Pine Ridge Park. Mr. Egol said there are people playing basketball in the park until midnight because the courts are lit up. Superintendent Bertolacci said for about 6 or 7 years the lights are on all night. The lights are actually white LED lights. Superintendent Bertolacci asked the parks foreman if only one pole in the park is lit so there is light in the park in case the police have to see if anyone is in the park. Mr. Egol also stated that the lights are shining in his windows because there are no leaves on the trees. The light from the tennis shed shine into the kid's room and the other lights in the park shine into his house. Superintendent Bertolacci said he didn't think it would be a problem to just have one pole lit up. Also, the lights on the poles can possibly be angled so it doesn't shine into his home. III. Superintendent's Report: a. Carnival Update Superintendent Bertolacci reported that approval of the carnival, All Star, is on the Village Board Agenda for next Tuesday. All Star is the same carnival as last year. Superintendent Bertolacci is checking to see if he has some different rides. We will get $100.00 per game trailer total. All the other carnivals give the same amount per game trailer. The Carnival will be held May 2, 3 and 4. During that weekend, its' also May Fair weekend, Holy Communion etc. Committee Member Berman called Westchester Burger regarding sponsorship for the carnival and is waiting for a call back and he said he will also call other vendors for sponsorship. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would talk to the carnival people to see if they would give a discount on the ride tickets if the kids have their Little League shirt on. We will also offer licensed food vendors to cook at the carnival. The back-up place for the carnival is 800 Westchester Avenue. 1168377.1 b. Basketball Camp Update Superintendent Bertolacci reported that he is waiting for confirmation from a basketball pro to hold a basketball clinic in the summer. Potentially, Terry Teachout is working on getting Mason Plumlee for the week of July 21". The program will run from Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm for grade 3 and up. The program will be held at Blind Brook High School unless it's not available then we can use Ridge Street School. c. Behavior Policy Chairman Schutzer asked if anything was done with a behavior policy. Superintendent Bertolacci said that it's an in-house policy. The first offense will be a phone call to the parents; the second offense would be one suspension for the program. After that and there is a problem, with same child he/she will not be allowed back into the program. Committee Member Berman suggested that we put that policy in the book so we have a back- up if the problem occurs. Also, there will be no refund if that child gets suspended from the program. IV. Comprehensive Plan Survey: Chairman Schutzer said there was another meeting last night. There will be another public workshop on January 27`d and it will be held at the Anthony J. Posillipo Center. The Parks and Recreation is one part of the ten chapters of the Comprehensive Plan. Committee Member Tillison asked if the ice hockey ring was a dead issue. Chairman Schutzer said it was a dead issue. Committee Member Berman said that they reserved the right to submit the application again if they wish to. V. Baseball Sub-Committee Report Committee Member Tillison reported that he has been speaking with Chris Swallen, regarding Port Chester Baseball. The Port Chester Baseball committee meets 2 to 3 times a week and they are working on their plan for the next season. Committee Member Tillison said that at their meeting all but one member was in favor of having interleague play between Port Chester and Rye Brook. The rules for Port Chester align with Rye Brook Major League rules which make playing much simpler. Port Chester wants their interleague games to count toward their league record. Committee Member Tillison said he would like our interleague games count toward the 60%. We would have to wait for their decision. Committee Member Carbone said Little League goes by age which determines what level you play at: ages 8, 9, and 10 before Maylst are in the Minors and ages 11 and 12 are in the Majors. If you have to fill in slots in the Major division, you can bring up 10 year olds if you deem they are mature enough to play. Recreation plays 2nd 3rand 4 d `h grade in the Minors and 5`h 6`h and 7`d grades are in the Majors which means half of the 5`h graders are 10 years of age playing in the Major League. The reason is that we have trouble filling spots in the Major League. Port Chester lets their kids play up only a needed basis. The need has to be there before they evaluate the talent. Committee Member Dutra said this may be a good year to go by Little League age and build our Little League program. Superintendent Bertolacci said he was not in favor of moving any kid up. He has moved a kid up and there were repercussions throughout the season. Committee Member Tillison said Port Chester's biggest concern is field space. Port Chester is looking to us for field space. Superintendent Bertolacci suggested that the committee meet with Port Chester and then have our Little League Meeting after that. Committee Member Tillison asked who we can talk to about putting a video out on baseball during the basketball season. There is a flat screen TV in the hallway at Ridge Street School we can utilize if we can hook into it. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would have to talk to Jonathan Ross to see if it was possible. Superintendent Bertolacci said sign up for baseball will start in January. Committee Member Dutra said we can have the baseball registration forms at the basketball table. 1168377.1 Committee Member Tillison said he thought people will like having a pitching clinic especially if we get someone with some clout. We can get someone from Pro Swing and also there are some organizations we can inquire about. Committee Member Dutra asked if we were going to have baseball clinics that we had last year. Superintendent Bertolacci said last year we didn't get the numbers at the clinic and he can't see justifying doing it. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would rather have 21" Century there for two practices in the spring. Committee Member Funtleyder said he may be able to get one of the coaches form Purchase College for practice. Committee Member Dutra said there is Coach Chad and Jeff Charney and Chris Bisignano, the Athletic Director. VI. Basketball Sub-Committee Report: Committee Member Berman said basketball starts this weekend. I haven't heard any problems as of yet with regard to practices or scheduling. Superintendent Bertolacci said the only issue is the 6`i' and 7th grade girls. There are only two teams. Kyle reached out to the families of these girls and some parents are willing to have their child play against other teams and some parents are not willing to play against other municipalities. Superintendent Bertolacci doesn't think there will be a 6`h and 7`h grade girls' basketball league this fall. Committee Member Tillison asked if the 4`h and 5th grade team that has a buy that week, will that team be playing Rye. Superintendent Bertolacci said Kyle has to work that out with Rye. Committee Member Berman said right now he doesn't anticipate any major issues. Committee member Carbone asked if there is a problem getting 8th and 9th grade kids to play in the rec basketball program. Superintendent Bertolacci said there are 7 teams in the 8th and 9`h grade basketball program. The varsity basketball boys coach the teams. Stats are kept and posted on the rec web site. There is no parent involvement in that program. VII. Grievance Sub-Committee Report: Committee Member Dutra said there is nothing to report and nothing written up. The grievance form is on-line. The Code of Conduct is a living document subject to change. VIII. Old Business: a. Men's Softball Chairman Schutzer said he spoke to Village Trustee Rednick and was told that the Village is still paying for the lights at the Port Chester Middle School at $900 a month. Superintendent Bertolacci said in order for them to shut off the lights they would have to be disconnected and it's a huge fee to turn them off. The lighting fees were spread out through the year. We haven't been billed for this year's usage yet. We cleared up past balances to Port Chester School District. Once I figure out and see if our fees cover the cost of the lights, its' the Board of Trustees decision whether they want to continue the program as is. We can make a recommendation to the Village Board. Superintendent Bertolacci said he is working with Chris Bradbury to determine a figure. Committee Member Berman suggested that we look at some contingency plan if that is not viable. Superintendent Bertolacci said the only contingency plan is to play only early games which require no lightening. Committee Member Berman said he heard a rumor that if we pay for the lights whether we use it one night a week or 5 nights it's the same price. If so there are other leagues that would want to use the field so we would be able to rent it out. Superintendent Bertolacci said he was working on the dollar figure and to see what the ramifications are to run a fall league. Maybe one solution is to run another league to offset the fees. Committee Member Berman said that Port Chester teams may come into to Rye Brook to play because their league folded. Committee Member Berman said it would be good if you have these figures by January so we can notify other leagues who may be interested in renting the field. Superintendent Bertolacci said he is 1168377.1 working on the figures now and hopes to have a definite figure. Superintendent Bertolacci said there is a meeting for Men's softball in February. b. New Programs Chairman Schutzer said that at the last meeting Kyle had mentioned something about a show. Committee Member Tillison said that at the last meeting, the residents didn't seem to receptive about the show. Committee Member Tillison said the kids would come and the rec staff would have activities in the gym for them and the parents would watch the show. Committee Member Tillison asked if we ever tried a whiffle ball league for the kids. Superintendent Bertolacci said that we never tried a whiffle ball league. Chairman Schutzer asked about an adult dodgeball tournament. Committee Member Funtleyder asked about a kids' dodge ball. Superintendent Bertolacci said he just received an e-mail from Peter Corbin who wants to run different activities 3 days a week; one program would be dodgeball, another one would be floor hockey and whiffle ball. He would also like to do a flag football which he did last year at the turf field. This year he would like to run the flag football program indoors. The programs would run 3 days a week for 6 weeks after school in the old gym at Ridge Street School from 4:30 to 5:30pm. IX. New Business: a. Defibrillators Chairman Schutzer said about 3 weeks ago, November 16`h, a resident was at the turf field and he collapsed on the field. CPR was performed and the school's AED was used. Superintendent Bertolacci said we have since met with the company who supplies our AED which was at the concession stand locked up. WE are trying to figure out how to make it accessible anytime someone needs it. One AED would be located at the concession stand, Pine Ridge Park and Garibaldi Park. We have to figure out how to make it accessible if it becomes necessary. Chairman Schutzer spoke with Trustee Rednick and it was mentioned that they could be placed in the bathrooms. Superintendent Bertolacci said there would be a number to call the police department to get the code. Chairman Schutzer asked if want coaches' to go through CPR training and also training to use the AED. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would like to do a class in January for anyone who may be interested in taking the course. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would contact Scott Moore from the Port Chester Rye, Rye Brook Ambulance Corp to teach the course. X. Adjournment Chairman Schutzer asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Berman made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Committee Member Dutra seconded the motion and all approved. The next Parks and Recreation Advisory Council meeting will be held on January 7, 2013 at 8:15pm. The meeting adjourned at 9:45PM. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick 1168377.1