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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-10-04 - 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 October 4, 2011 Convene Meeting: Chairman Marc Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 8:l Opm 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, Jamie Schutter, Adam Berman, Glenn Brettschneider Absent Council Members: All Members Present Trustee Michael Brown, Parks & Recreation Advisory Council Liaison Carey Liebman, Rye Brook Resident Recreation Department Member: Robert Bertolacci, Parks &Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant I. Minutes: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to table the September 13, 2011 Minutes. Committee Member Berman made the motion to table the September 13, 2011 Minutes and Committee Member Frankel seconded the motion. The Minutes were tabled until the next meeting unanimously. II. Public View Points: Carey Liebman, a Rye Brook resident, suggested that the sub-committee looking over the ratings is a good idea and also thinks the County Center Tournament team should be decided by the Recreation Department. The voting for the County Center teams should be taken out of the coaches hands. Janice and her staff is at every game and they know the players. Committee Member Berman said a suggestion was made to him that the coaches nominate 3 players from their own team then have Janice and Lauren pick from that pool and decide the top 10 players. Committee Member Berman, a member of the basketball sub-committee, would welcome any other suggestions on how to better select the Westchester County Center Team. Committee Member O'Neil suggested the sub-committee have people write the number of the player for each game and give points for the top 3 players, the ref and the opposing coach can also pick the top 3. This number can factor in their rating at the end of the season. Committee Member Berman stated that 2 years a go a survey went out to the coaches and if the survey wasn't filled out by a specific date and returned he would not be able to coach the following year. That year everyone filled out the survey. That's the time a coach doesn't have any reason for miss ranking a player. 1154377.1 Chairman Zimmerman said there were some comments made at a recent baseball game regarding the stakes in the ground at Pine Ridge Park Old Field. One of the parents at the game said a scoreboard was going in the Old Field. Some parents started questioning why the money was being spent on a scoreboard when the money should be used for better uniforms. Superintendent Bertolacci said the scoreboard has been on the 6 year Capital Plan for a number of years and it is being done now because it is the time scheduled for it to be done. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that Pine Ridge Park, Old Field, is a great field and the scoreboard is a nice addition to the field. Travel Baseball will have their own remote to use and Recreation will have their remote to use for the games. The cost of the scoreboard when finished will be approximately $12,OOO.which was the amount allocated for the scoreboard. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would like to have a banner placed under the scoreboard at the Old Field and New Field at Pine Ridge Park that says "Home of Rye Brook Little League". A recommendation would have to be made by the Recreation and Advisory Committee for the banner because it would have to go before the Village Board for approval. The sign would be 1 ft by the length of the scoreboard. Committee Member Schutzer made a motion that the new scoreboard being erected at the Old Field and the scoreboard at the New Field at Pine Ridge Park have a sign permanently affixed to the scoreboard itself saying "Home of Rye Brook Little League". Committee member Berman seconded the motion and all approved. Superintendent Bertolacci said the scoreboard will be in place by the end of October. Trees will be planted which will shield it from residents in the surrounding area of the scoreboard. Mr. Liebman asked it there was any thought to putting some type of canopy over the baseball dugouts. Superintendent Bertolacci said that issue can be discussed with the baseball committee. 111. Superintendent's Report a. Fall Sports Signups Superintendent Bertolacci said registration for ice Skating, Session I starting in November, is down. An e-mail was sent out today as a reminder to try and get more participants signed up for that program. Right now there are 7 participants signed up for skating and last year there were 20 kids signed up for Ice Skating. Registrations for recreations' other fall programs are consistent with last years numbers. Committee Member Berman suggested sending out an e-mail reminder for the basketball ratings. He also suggested another basketball rating for anyone who didn't make the two scheduled ratings. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that having another rating would be a sub-committee topic to discuss. Chairman Zimmerman asked if there is any problem having different people rate different kids. 1154377.1 Committee Member Berman said there would be no problem having different people rate the kids as long as Janice, Lauren or Kyle are there. Whether it be basketball or baseball, Janice, Lauren and Kyle know the kids. Overall, the ratings are a tough job for either sport. Chairman Zimmerman stated that he would hope that when the teams are made, there wouldn't be teams that have 2 or 3 players that would be playing on other basketball programs and would only show up to about 60% of rec games. Committee Member Berman said that Janice gets the schedule from CYP and AAU before she schedules rec games which minimizes the conflicts. Committee Member Frankel suggested to Janice that after the teams are made, the sub- committee do a review of the teams before releasing the teams to the public. Chairman Zimmerman suggested, if the sub-committee reviews the teams, they shouldn't recommend any changes unless there is a good reason for the change. b. Halloween in the Park Superintendent Bertolacci stated that Halloween in the Park will take place at Rye Hills Park on Saturday, October 29th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. All sorts of Halloween scenery will be set up around the park. The people will congregate on the basketball court where a train will pick them up and take them around the park. Superintendent Bertolacci asked if anyone is interested in volunteering to get in touch with him or the rec office. Committee Member Jablon will address the school for volunteers. Superintendent Bertolacci said about 10 to 12 high school kids dressed in costumes would be great. They will be given Community Service for volunteering. We will be serving hot cider and the kids will get candy when they arrive back at the basketball court. IV. Old Business a. Little League Sub-Committee Committee Member Carbone, Chair person for the Little League sub-committee, reported on the meeting held earlier this evening. Discussions on Little League issues are as follows: 1. Superintendent Bertolacci created a Little League web-site that will have the team stats, scores and you can also upload photos to the site. 2. Send a survey out to the public to find out what would make Little League more attractive to increase participation; better uniforms, more practices, clinics, better coaching etc. 3. Ratings to be held in February so the teams can be formed to start practicing early in March. 4. Baseball pants will be required for baseball and softball and uniforms will match the hats. 5. Superintendent Bertolacci said there would be a 4 week clinic for all Little Leaguers. it will be 1 night a week for an hour for Minor League and the following hour for Major League. There will be baseball specific coaches to run the clinic in January. 6. There will be a coaches clinic set up for all baseball coaches. 7. Little League Baseball rules will be discussed in December. 8. Rye Brook Logo embroidered on the uniform shirt sleeve. 1154377.1 9. Superintendent Bertolacci said structured practices would be held to work on specific drills. 10. Major League teams would stay on the same team for 2 years. 11. Committee Member O'Neil suggested having a Most improved Player on each team. b. Recreation Basketball Sub-Committee Committee Member Berman said the basketball rules were circulated to the sub-committee members and after they review them we will set up a meeting to discuss it. Some of the items brought up were as follows: 1. Coach numbers 2 vs. 3. 2. The sub-committee reviewing teams before making the teams public. 3. The County Center procedure for picking the players. 4. Keep the coaches in line. There will be a procedure set in place for the coaches regarding the yelling and screaming at officials etc. There will be one warning, and that coach will have to go before the Recreation Department or the basketball sub-committee and would have to answer to either or both for his behavior. If the situation doesn't get rectified there could be a suspension for that coach. V. New Business The Recreation Department reported there were 22 kids signed up for Saturday, Teen Night. The kids went bowling at White Plains AMF. Chairman Zimmerman stated that many residents don't know that there is a Men's over 30 Basketball program on Sunday mornings. It was commented that many men have different events going on Sunday and would like to pay as they go for the men's basketball program. Superintendent Bertolacci said that would be a discussion for the new budget session with the Village Board on how to make a per week sign in for about $20.00 for the day. There is a rec staff on duty and that person can collect the fee. 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 was adjourned at 9:45pm. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board will be on November 1, 2011 at 8:OOpm. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick 1154377.1