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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-09-14 - 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 September 14,2010 Convene Meeting: Chairman Marc Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 8:50pm. The following Members of the Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Marc Zimmerman, Ken Frankel, Richard Gutner Kevin O'Neil, Sari Jablon, Glenn Brettschneider,Jeffrey Komblum Jamie Schutzer,Adam Berman Recreation Department Member: Robert Bertolacci, Parks &Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant 1. Minutes: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to accept the August 3, 2010 Minutes. Committee Member Kornblum made a motion to accept the August 3rd, 2010 Minutes and Committee Member Jablon seconded the motion. The August 3rd, 2010 Minutes were approved and accepted. Committee Member Gutner abstained from voting. 11. Public View Points: Committee Member Kornblum asked if Rye Brook Recreation ever considered a rec soccer program. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that there was a soccer program run by RBR on Friday afternoons about 10 years ago for children from 3rd to 6t'' grade. It ended due to the number of other programs going on and the fact that most kids joined Rye Brook Travel Soccer. Committee Member Gutner asked whether there is enough interest in starting a rec program, for example because people are disenchanted with travel soccer. Committee Member Berman stated that he believed that, for the upper grades, Rye Brook Travel Soccer satisfies the majority of the town's need for soccer, and asked if there was a need for a rec soccer program. Committee Member Kornblum stated that there are kids in certain grades that are on a waiting list for Rye Brook Travel Soccer. Committee Member Brettschneider said he believed there would not be enough kids to establish a program. Committee Member Gutner asked if field space would be available to introduce a rec soccer program. Superintendent Bertolacci said if the need for a soccer program is substantial, we would have appropriate field space, but that he does not lrnow if there is a need to compete against Rye Brook Travel Soccer. Chairman Zimmerman said there may be interest in having neighborhood children simply playing with their friends and against their friends in a more infonnal program and avoid the time and expense of a travel soccer program. It would be more of a recreational program rather than a formal instructional program. Committee Member Berman stated that he didn't know anything about a wait list for Rye Brook Travel Soccer, but there are local towns nearby that would welcome these kids that are on a wait list, and that they don't need to reside in the town to be on their travel soccer team. Committee Member Berman said there is a scholarship program with travel soccer. If anyone has trouble making the payment they fill out an application to the Rye Brook Travel Soccer Board and the Board covers that fee. 1125517.1 Committee Member Brettschneider stated he does not think there is a demand or interest for a rec soccer program. Committee Member Schutzer heard that Rye Brook Travel Soccer is snaking kids from 4 years of age through 2nd grade play rec soccer. After 2nd grade these children usually sign up for travel soccer. Chairman Zimmerman stated that we are losing revenue and kids to Rye Youth Soccer from kindergarten through 2nd grade kids. All we would need to run a program is the King Street field for one day for 4 hours and some parent coaches to generate revenue for the Village. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that Elite Soccer Academy runs a soccer program through Rye Brook on Saturday mornings at the King Street field for 4 year olds through 6 year olds and a pre-travel soccer for 7 year olds. The program starts on September 25d'and there are 48 kids registered right now. Chairman Zimmerman stated that he reviewed copies of the evaluations that Superintendent Bertolacci handed out for rec baseball. Many of the baseball evaluations said the best part of the program was they were able to play with their friends on a non-travel level. Chairman Zimmerman suggested that we table a discussion of a rec soccer program under Old Business for discussion at a later meeting. Committee Member Brettschneider asked about the Lacrosse program. Superintendent Bertolacci said that 4 girls are registered for Tuesday ages kindergarten through 2nd grade. There are 14 boys in kindergarten through 2nd grade registered for Thursday. There are 2 boys registered in grades 3 to five and there may be more signing up for that age group. Committee Member Brettschneider stated that soccer is a big program for a lot of kids and they do it on Thursdays when Corbin Crusaders is holding their program. Superintendent Bertolacci said it may be an issue but it is not a complaint that we are hearing. One of the complaints we are hearing about lacrosse is the cost of the equipment they have to buy that is needed for that program. Committee Member Brettschneider asked if there is a potential to run lacrosse as a winter program. III. Superintendent's Report: a. Fall Program Update Superintendent Bertolacci stated that we started our fall programs yesterday. Bowling and Mid- day Kinderplay started yesterday. Next week we start kindergarten and 1St grade floor hockey. The numbers are similar to last year's registrations. We have use of Ridge Street School on Wednesday and Thursday from the PTA. There are two kids signed up for the Middle School cooking class and no adults. On line registration began on Tuesday, September 7th at 9:30pm with minimal issues. b. Little League Wrap Up Superintendent Bertolacci stated that he sent out the Little League summary to the council members this afternoon. The actual surveys are here if anyone would like to review them. Most of the surveys returned were positive. Committee Member Berman suggested looking into the possibility of inexpensive trophies for rec programs. He said the Rye YMCA had a basketball program for the younger kids and they gave out a little medal, and that it would be a nice gesture to do for the younger kids. Superintendent Bertolacci said it would be an item to work into the budget. Committee Member O'Neal said that it seemed like some ree teams had more practice time. Superintendent Bertolacci said practices can be alleviated by starting the rating process a little 1125517.1 earlier and getting the teams done earlier so there is more practice time before the season starts. For example, some coaches of the Rookie League wanted some practice time and we found them some field space to practice when available. Committee Member O'Neil asked if we could look into getting the Ridge Street School gym for some instructional baseball to teach fundamentals, and asking some of the coaches to come in early spring to do a practice or two. IV. Basketball Sub-Committee Chairman Zimmerman stated that slots on the subcommittee are appointed and that anyone interested in serving on the committee should submit a letter of interest before the October meeting. Chairman Zimmerman would have to speak to the basketball committee in advance to see if they want/need another member on the committee. The basketball sub-committee reviews the basketball surveys, rules, ratings process and draft and determines whether there is anything that has to be updated or changed. V. Old Business Rye Brook T-Shirts. As of now, one t-shirt was sold. Superintendent Bertolacci said he would put them out at the concession stand this weekend. Committee Member Jablon said that at the Blind Brook football game, they could not buy the clothes fast enough. The football booster club sells the clothing. Chairman Zimmerman suggested that when the residents sign up for programs on Community Pass, there could be a check box where they could sign up to order a t-shirt for $10.00. VI. New Business Pine Ridge Park Baseball Field Condition Chairman Zimmerman stated there have been some complaints from residents and the Travel Baseball Club about dangerous conditions in center field on the Old Field and on the New Field the infield is very dry and sandy. Superintendent Bertolacci was called out on Labor Day for a sink hole on the old field at Pine Ridge Park. Superintendent Bertolacci viewed the condition, called out the parks department to cover the hole, and the next day the situation was corrected. VII.Adjournment: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. Committee Member Gutner made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Committee Member Kornblum seconded the motion. All approved. The meeting adjourned at 10:00pm. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council will be held on October 5, 2010 at 8:30pm. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick 1125517.1