Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-03-08 - 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 March 8, 2011 Convene Meeting: Chairman Marc Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 8:1 Opm. The following Members of the Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Marc Zimmerman, Ken Frankel, Glenn Brettschneider, Jamie Schutzer, Sari Jablon, Adam Berman, Kevin O'Neil, Jeffrey Kornblum Absent Council Members: Richard Gutner Recreation Department Member: Robert Bertolacci, Parks &Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant 1. Minutes: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to accept the February 8, 2011 Minutes. Committee Member Berman made a motion to accept the February 8, 2011 Minutes as amended and Committee Member Frankel seconded the motion. The February 8, 2011 Minutes were approved and accepted as amended. Committee Member Kornblum abstained from voting Public View Points: Public View Points would be discussed in New Business. II. Superintendent's Report a. Basketball Season Wrap Up/County Center Teams Superintendent Bertolacci reported that the basketball season is over. The County Center teams start up next week. All the teams should be matched up with equally talented teams. The teams are practicing every night for the tournament. There was an issue with one team having 3 coaches and they couldn't resolve who the head coach was and who the assistants were. The issue was resolved by having 1 head coach and rotating the assistant coach position for the games. Superintendent reported that a number of surveys have come in. Committee Member Berman said there probably will be quite a few surveys coming in this season because the teams were evenly matched, the coaches were good, and the players enjoyed the games. Committee Member Berman commended Janice on a job well-done. it was a good season. Superintendent Bertolacci said that Men's Softball registrations are coming in. There are a couple of new teams entering the league this year. Committee Member Berman stated that there was some discussion about the County Center team selection process. The sub-committee decided that it was too late to do anything about this year's selection process but would address it at the beginning of next year's basketball season. 1138935.1 Chairman Zimmerman asked when the applications for the basketball sub-committee should be in. Superintendent Bertolacci said certain members terms of the sub-committee are expiring at the end of next month. IV. Old Business a. 2011 Community Event 1. Guinness World Record Update Committee Member Brettschneider said that after some diligent research, the conclusion is that it is very difficult to set a worlds record in a small community. There are two ways to do it, you can ask Guiness for help and it becomes a corporate event. The other way is you give your idea and you set it up and get their approval. Then either they will reject it, or they will say they have an idea with some changes or we have something similar to that. it takes about 4 to 6 weeks for them to get back to us. We can expedite it but it will cost $500. Many of the events called for well over 2000 participants. There is a record for 339 participants for standing on one leg simultaneously. If the event is acceptable, they will send out a packet with further instructions. Superintendent Bertolacci said that it would not be a problem to get the participants in front of the Crawford Mansion during the Rye Brook Birthday Celebration. 2. Alternatives Chairman Zimmerman made a motion to take number 2, Alternatives off of the 2011 Community Events Agenda. b. Pitch, Hit and Run Event Superintendent Bertolacci reported that Kyle will run the event on Sunday, April 10`'. From 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Both fields at Pine Ridge Park will be used. Kyle will call Cliff Shaw and get all the instructions. Chairman Zimmerman asked what assistance would be needed to run the event. Superintendent Bertolacci said volunteers are needed for the different stations and for registration. Committee Member Berman suggested that once we get all the materials, send an e-mail out through Community Pass with the date asking for any volunteers. V. New Business: a. Spring Baseball 1 . Maximum Number of Official Coaches Paul Rosenberg, Village Trustee and former liaison to Parks and Recreation, suggested that 3 coaches are needed for Little League. When there are only 2 coaches, it is very difficult for those who work in the city to get to the weekday games. Not everyone can get out of the city by 5:30 pm. If there is a 3rd coach, he can get the equipment bag from the other coach, and he can do the line up. if there isn't a 3rd coach, we are relying on one of the parents in the stands to help out. Committee Member Berman stated that there is no limit on the number of coaches per team; the discussion is whether you can coach together with people of your choice. If there are 3 of the top 1138935.1 players on one team, Superintendent Bertolacci and Janice who know the players, should step in and say to the coaches, guys this doesn't work out. Paul Rosenberg agreed that Superintendent Bertolacci and Janice should have the ability when forming the teams who want to coach together, and if the teams are uneven, step in and say the teams are not fair and fix it so they are fair. Committee Member O'Neil said if there are 3 coaches that want to coach together, you can honor that request to an extent that it doesn't make the team unfair. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that it is not an issue unless you have the top pitchers paired together and it is not an issue having 3 coaches for a baseball team. 2. Rules Roundtable Minor League: No new inning will be started after 90 minutes from the starting time of the game. Make rule consistent with Major League. Chairman Zimmerman asked if it is worth a discussion about metal bats. The statistics concerning the speed of a batted ball off a metal bat compared to a batted ball coming off a wood bat are so statistically insignificant. We have not found a wood bat that is satisfactory for a child to swing. Committee Member Berman has told parents unless your child shows me he can catch a ball, he is not playing 1St base and if he can't stop a ball, he is not being pitcher's helper. Chairman Zimmerman's only reason for not using a wood bat is the aura of safety and if we elect to change to metal bats and something happens, the question would be, why did we change after a 2 to 3 year use of wood bats. Superintendent Bertolacci said since we require every player to play an infield position, it is important we do as much for safety reasons. We can address the bat issue in January for the next season; it is too late for this baseball season. Pitching/Catching: Pitcher may pitch a maximum of 2 innings per game with a max of 4 innings per week. Rule should be consistent with Major League. There will be no 3rd strike rule. Calling a game after 3 '/2 innings if home team is winning, this rule only applies if game is called due to rain. Superintendent stated that if the game is rained out, there will be a make-up, if it is not rained out; the game is not being made up. Chairman Zimmerman stated that runners are not permitted to lead off any bases until the ball passes over home plate. The rule should read that the player would be called out if he leads off the base. Coaches have a tendency to lead kids off the base. Superintendent Bertolacci said just put in the rules that the player doesn't lead off the base until the ball is over the plate. 1138935.1 Batting: Unintentionally throwing the bat. In Minor League only: Teach batter to drop bat in bucket. Major League: Pitching/Catching: pitching 2 innings per game, maximum of 5 innings. Batting/Base Running: Chairman Zimmerman stated that a player is not allowed to leave the base until the ball in over the plate. Committee Member Berman suggested that the coach and umpire meet before the game and go over the main rules. Also, when the e-mail goes out regarding the coach's meeting, include the copy of the rules. The last batter up can't be walked. Minor League Softball: Uniforms: Girls do not have to wear white pants. Girls can wear slider shorts. Pitching/Catching: Coaches will pitch to their own team using an underhand lob. Strikeouts occur only on a swinging miss of the third strike. This means when the coach is pitching. Chairman Zimmerman said if a batted ball hits an adult pitcher, it is considered a dead ball. Why is this rule considered in softball and not in baseball? Superintendent Bertolacci stated that we can take this rule out. If the pitch hits the batter, the batter is awarded 1St base but only when a player is pitching. Metal bats are not allowed. Major League Softball Batting and Base Running: If the pitcher is in the mound area and catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher, runners that were not already moving will be granted their base. This is not a steal Superintendent Bertolacci stated that there should be a time out and is stated under Fielding. Superintendent Bertolacci said to take the rule out entirely. Vi. Adjournment: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Berman made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Committee Member O'Neil seconded the motion. All approved. The meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council will be held on April 5, 2011 at 8:00 pm. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick 1138935.1