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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-02 - 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 August 2,2011 Convene Meeting: Chairman Marc Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 8:23 p.m. The following Members of the Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Marc Zimmerman, Ken Frankel, Kevin O'Neil, Sari Jablon, Frank Carbone Brian Funtleyder, Glenn Brettschneider, Jamie Schutzer and Adam Berman Absent Council Members: All Present. Recreation Department Member: Robert Bertolacci, Parks & Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant I. Minutes: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to accept the June 7, 2011 Minutes. Committee Member Berman made the motion to accept the July 12, 2011 Minutes and Committee Member O'Neil seconded the motion. The Minutes were accepted and all approved. II. Public View Points: Committee Member Berman stated that some residents approached him regarding the Rye Brook Teen camp, and reported that people love the camp and the way it is run. There are two trips a week, movies and bowling. Parents mentioned that the kids are at the high school field a lot and suggested another trip each week. Since the kids voted down a swim program as part of the camp, is it possible to use the money saved for the movies (which the kids have to pay for) or another weekly trip, for example to Oakland Beach or Saxon Woods Pool. Committee Member Carbone suggested obtaining a cover (tarp) for the baseball dugouts or a permanent enclosure. He stated that 75% of the fields in other communities are covered. The cover or tarp would keep some of the heat out and keep the kids cool. Superintendent Bertolacci said we can certainly look into it and the cost involved to discuss at budget time. He also suggested talking it over with Travel Baseball to share the cost. Committee Member Schutzer stated there is still a bee issue at the Rye Brook Athletic Field and more kids got stung near the bleachers. Superintendent Bertolacci said the parks guys usually take care of the bees but in the last couple of weeks we hired a contractor to go out on the turf field to take care of the bees. Committee Member Carbone said the bees make homes in the green spiral vinyl that is on the top of the chain link fence. Superintendent Bertolacci asked Committee Member Schutzer to e-mail him the location of the bees nest at the turf field. 1154377.1 III. Superintendent's Report: Superintendent Bertolacci stated that we received only 2 surveys out of 76 participants in the Minor League. Committee Member Berman suggested that surveys are usually filled out by parents that have complaints, so that has to be a compliment that not many were returned. IV. Old Business Chairman Zimmerman asked to continue the dialogue as to what steps the council and village should take, if any, to improve the Little League. Surveys: Chairman Zimmerman suggested sending out the 2011 survey again and indicating to residents that the recreation department and council are talking about ways to improve our Little League program for the next season and that all suggestions will be helpful in our discussions. He said questions on the survey should seek open ended thoughts such as "what would you do to improve the Little League program" and "what aspects of the program do you like/dislike, and w y. Committee Member O'Neil questioned the scope of the project we are undertaking to implement change for Little League. Chairman Zimmerman stated that we are discussing whether our Little League program is in a state of disrepair and needs to be changed or strengthened to meet the needs of the community. Committee Member Frankel stated there was not a drastic drop in the numbers from year to year except for the Major League boys age group. Committee Member Schutzer asked if there was any chance of merging our program with Port Chester. In second grade there are 89 kids and in fourth grade there are 150. That is 60 kids less. We have to look ahead and see how many kids we are going to have in 4 to 5 years. Chairman Zimmerman said there are plenty of things that people can suggest to make a better Little League, but we need to come to a consensus whether we need to take action to do something different than what is being done now. If the program is being run correctly, enough kids participate in the program and have a good time, and the parents are get as much out of the program (both recreationally and instructionally) as they and their kids require. If not, we should discuss stepping up the program we can get more kids participating in and enjoying Little League. We always can adjust the program rules, require a bit more skills training and make other less sweeping changes. If, however, we are discussing taking actions that may weaken established, successful non-rec sports programs such as Travel Baseball and Travel Soccer who also need field space to operate during the Spring season, we must make sure we have community support for such actions. Chairman Zimmerman suggested implementing only necessary steps to allow all the programs to operate without competing with each other. If those 1154377.1 steps work, and result in more kids playing Little League and a stronger program, then we could talk about further steps each year. Committee Member Brettschneider asked how many kids play Travel Baseball and do not play Little League. Committee Member Frankel stated when the kids get older they just play Travel Baseball. There is also Lacrosse and Basketball going on when baseball is going on. Committee Member Jablon said that when Travel Baseball operated cooperatively with the rec department, there was no spring Travel Baseball season. After the Little League ended, Travel Baseball had a very short elite season and a full Summer and Fall season. She stated that Travel Baseball gave their word that they would not compete with our Little League program. Committee Member Carbone stated that most towns have their Little League program in the Spring. In the Summer the kids try out for a tournament team. The rest of the kids play travel with either District 20 who has their own travel league or they break off and go to the WBA. Most of the towns do not have a spring travel. Superintendent Bertolacci said that most Little Leagues in other towns are privately run. Chairman Zimmerman stated that if we do not want Travel Baseball to infringe on the Little League season we have to discuss that issue with Travel Baseball; for example, to say we have reason to believe that Little League participation is dropping and we would like to try in the next year to figure out ways to increase our numbers. Chairman Zimmerman suggested that the proper way to increase participation in Little League is to create more practice and instructional time. He said what he believes is missing from Little League that Travel Baseball has is that the kids learn skills and repetition, discipline, teamwork and how to play the game at practice. Travel Baseball holds practices two and sometimes three times a week. If we choose to go that route, Travel Baseball (and perhaps other programs) may have less use of our field space because we will be using the fields for Little League. Chairman Zimmerman also stated that if there was only one 8U, one 9U and one IOU "elite" team in the Travel Baseball Spring program, there would be no suggestion that Travel Baseball is infringing upon the Little League participation level. Committee Member Jablon asked if we spoke with any other towns to find out how they run their Little League, with respect to Travel, to find out when their Little League ends and when their Travel Baseball starts. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that Harrison is the only other town that runs their Little League program in Westchester County. Committee Member Carbone said he heard from some parents that their children do not want to play Little League because their child does not feel like he is good enough. Little League should be for everyone. With Travel Baseball, some kids feel it is a stigma not to be good enough to make a travel team, while others feel they are too good to play Little League and therefore only play Travel Baseball. 1154377.1 Committee Member Berman stated that Travel Baseball never had an 8U team, and if there was no 8U or 9U Travel Baseball team in the Spring, maybe those kids would play Little League. Chairman Zimmerman stated that Rec basketball at the 4th and 5th grade level is great because all the kids play, despite that many of those kids also play CYP, AAU and Hooperstown. The reason they play in the rec program is because it is fun and they want to play with their friends. Similarly, if we can figure out a way to increase the number of kids that play in the Little League without diminishing the Travel Baseball program or decreasing the ability for the Travel Program to use the fields, that is the goal. Superintendent Bertolacci said you know basketball is going to be a positive experience because that program is built. How do we bring baseball to that level and make that program a place where these kids want to go? Chairman Zimmerman said the answer is coaching, and that enthusiastic, experienced coaches will have any group of kids thriving in the program. If you give kids the time and they have the desire to spend the time properly, those kids are going to get better and enjoy the program more. Committee Member Brettschneider said if there was no Travel Baseball and you had Rye Brook Little League, you would have a nice run program. There would not be any competition. Chairman Zimmerman asked whether you have been successful if you made the Little League into a real competitive Little League with playoffs and all the trimmings, but at the same time eliminated a Spring Travel Baseball program that has been a systematic success? If we want to do that and we think that the community wants that Little League presence as opposed to having a Little League and Travel Baseball presence in the Spring, then we have to do something about it. If not, are we really doing any service to the community? Committee Member O'Neil suggested outsourcing everything to Travel Baseball. He asked how much time and energy are we dedicating to our program, and whether we are making any money. Committee Member Jablon stated that another thing Travel Baseball was going to do was to run the girl's program but Travel Baseball never took over the girls program. Committee Member Carbone stated that Travel Baseball runs a phenomenal rookie program in the Summer and Fall which proves they can run a Little League program. Committee Member Berman agreed that the Rookie program that Travel Baseball runs is great, but if you now have Travel Baseball run the Little League, that will not eliminate all conflicts. In fact, there may be people who left the Travel Baseball program because of the way it was run. Committee Member Berman suggested we go to Travel Baseball and identify the problem with our Little League — that our numbers have decreased steadily for the last couple of years — and ask what we can do together to improve our Little League. This way, we can try to work it out collectively as opposed to saying we think they should stop running all Spring travel teams or that we are going to use all the fields for our Little League. 1154377.1 Chairman Zimmerman said the Spring Travel Baseball teams are important parts of the Travel Baseball Program, whether or not rec makes the fields available to them. Committee Member Berman said if they do not get a discount for the use of the Rye Brook fields, that would be an issue. If it really becomes a problem, the Village Board may rescind the discount for the fields. Chairman Zimmerman stated we need to determine whether there is a discussion we need to have with Travel Baseball. If there is a need for a discussion with Travel Baseball, will we be asking something so drastic as whether Travel Baseball wants to take over the whole program, or that they cannot operate in competition with the Little League program? Or is it something less sweeping? Remember that the Rookie program that Travel Baseball runs, which is a very good instructional program, does not run in the Spring so as not to infringe on our Little League program for the younger ages. Committee Member Brettschneider said we need to talk to Travel Baseball and have ideas thrown out from both sides. Committee Member Berman's opinion is to go to Travel Baseball with an open-arm approach to see what their reaction is to changing the way things are run an helping strengthen Little League. Superintendent Bertolacci said Travel Baseball likely does not need rec, even for the fields, since they can go elsewhere. Chairman Zimmerman disagreed. There is some availability at other fields, like SUNY Purchase, but that is not what anyone wants. As a Travel Baseball coach, I want our kids to play at home in Pine Ridge Park. Field space is leverage for any Rye Brook sports programming. He asked if it was the council's position that we need to meet to say we want to increase our participation in Little League and the only way to do this is by decreasing the participation in the Spring Travel Baseball program or figuring out another way to co-exist with increased Spring travel team participation? If so, are we suggesting limiting the field space allotted to Travel Baseball so that Little League can increase our use of the fields? Committee Member Berman said another way to increase our participation is for kids to play Little League before they can play Travel Baseball, which they had to do years ago. They have to play 50% of the Little League games to qualify for Travel Baseball. Every one of these kids will be at the games 50% or more because they want to play Travel. That is why the basketball kids play Rec because of the County Center Tournament. They check those score sheets to make sure they make that percentage to qualify. If Travel Baseball will work with us, it would also benefit them because the kids on travel teams would have more practice. Chairman Zimmerman asked the Council if we need to have a conversation with Travel Baseball. All members of the Council agreed that a conversation is necessary with Travel Baseball. Based upon the discussion among council members Chairman Zimmerman recapped the council's decision that a discussion is needed with Travel Baseball. The point to be made is that we would like to improve our Little League program and increase our participation in Little 1154377.1 League, and ask the Travel Baseball to figure out a way to scale back its Spring program to give rec an opportunity to try to meet those goals. All agreed. Committee Member Brettschneider said Travel Baseball may come back and say to us; in order for rec to increase its participation you want Travel Baseball to have less games, and no spring season, so you can take our kids for your Little League. Chairman Zimmerman said that the council essentially is asking Travel Baseball to weaken its successful program that is working for the community, just so rec can possibly increase participation in its Little League program. Committee Member Jablon says the fact that we are here discussing it; the program is not working for everybody. Chairman Zimmerman stated that some Little League parents appear to say the program is great and some say it needs more practices, but none of the surveys indicate that the program does not work. Committee Member Brettschneider said the way we have to approach the issue is that it has to be a win situation for both sides. What is in it for them that would allow them to do something that would make it better for us. Committee Member Funtleyder said let Travel Baseball take over the Spring Little League. This would be to their advantage and they would get the revenue. Committee Member O'Neil said that we are a non-profit organization and we break even. Committee Member Berman said Travel Baseball is a not-for-profit organization. They can make money and they do, and probably pour it right back into the program. Committee Member Berman said it is not a bad idea but there are too many concerns from too many people in this town to have another sport that is under rec go to a private organization to run it. Then you would lose all that control. Chairman Zimmerman asked Superintendent Bertolacci if Little League would work better with a private organization. Superintendent Bertolacci said he was open for a discussion about it. Committee Member Brettschneider asked what is Travel Baseball's incentive not to have travel in the Spring. Committee Member Berman said that all those players are playing Little League so it opens up additional revenue for them for the Summer and Fall. Chairman Zimmerman said the biggest incentive is that Travel Baseball will continue to be able to use the fields in the Spring during the period Little League operates, and perhaps a promise that Travel Baseball can have fields exclusively on specified days, for example Tuesdays and Sundays, and that Little League will not conflict with Travel Baseball's use of field space on those days. Chairman Zimmerman noted there are not enough fields outside of Rye Brook for 1154377.1 Travel Baseball to field an 8U, two 9U, three 10U, and an 11U or 12U teams. Other towns are all using their own fields for their Little League and travel programs. Chairman Zimmerman suggested that Travel run the Little League World Series. They can take the charter and run the World Series at the end of the Spring. They can look at our Little League teams, pick the kids and coach the team. Committee Member Jablon asked the council members who are in Travel Baseball if they think it is unreasonable to ask Travel to scale down their program for one season and give us a chance to improve our participation in our Little League program. Committee Member Berman said he does not think the request is unreasonable but he also is not in at that level with Travel Baseball. Superintendent Bertolacci's opinion is that Travel Baseball will want to work with us. It has never been Travel Baseball's goal to interfere with the Little League program. No matter what, the more these kids play baseball, the better they are going to get. Chairman Zimmerman stated that if we have this discussion with Travel Baseball concerning us trying to figure out a way to enhance the Little League for the upcoming Spring season, we put that ball in motion and have to get more kids into Little League. That means responsible coaches and more field time to get the kids better. They will see the ball more, hit the ball more and have more competitive travel tryouts for the summer. You are going to have more kids that are more exposed to baseball than they were before. Chairman Zimmerman suggested that we sit down with Travel, raise our issues, and bring it to the council in September. If there is something to discuss with the council before then, we will bring it to the council. Committee Member Berman stated that Travel Baseball may come back with an alternative suggestion that we didn't think about. V. New Business New Business was discussed with Old Business topic. VL 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 was adjourned at 10:00pm. The next meeting of the Parks and Advisory Council will be on September 13, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. 1154377.1