Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-05-05 - 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 May 5, 2009 CONVENE MEETING: Chairman Marc Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 8:15pm The following members of the Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Marc Zimmerman, Jeffrey Kornblum, Debra Tempesta Ken Frankel, Glenn Brettschneider, Steve Schoen, Kevin O'Neil Absent Council Members: Richard Gutner, Sari Jablon Parks & Recreation Advisory Council Liaison: Michael Brown, Village of Rye Brook Trustee Recreation Department Members Present: Robert Bertolacci, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant Rye Brook Resident: Dr. R. Buzin I. Minutes: Chairman Marc Zimmerman asked for a motion to approve the Minutes for March 31, 2009. Committee Member Steve Schoen made a motion to approve the March 31s' Minutes and Committee Member Jeffrey Kornblum seconded the motion and all approved. lI. Recognition/Welcome a. Chairman Zimmerman recognized Steve Schoen for his service as Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. His ideas and judgement have been sound and he was a centering influence at the meetings. b. The Council thanks Paul Rosenberg, Village Trustee, for his services as the liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. We welcome Michael Brown, Village of Rye Brook Trustee, as the new liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. c. We also welcome Kevin O'Neil as a new member to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. Chairman Zimmerman stated that the job of the Council is to help Superintendent Bertolacci do his job and serve the community. The Council will advise and make recommendations to the Superintendent who will take the recommendations to the Village Board. I Committee Member Kevin O'Neil stated that he has lived in Rye Brook for 6 years. He has children in the 7th 5th and 1St grade. They are relatively active in the recreation programs and I am looking forward to serving on the Advisory Council. Michael Brown, Village Trustee stated that he is looking forward to serving as liaison to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. He will occasionally attend the meetings and if you need to have a meeting let me know and I will meet with you. If you want my advice on something or the way the Board may be leaning in a certain way or if there is something being promoted to the Board, that is where I will be helpful if there is an issue with a parent and you need to go to the next level that is what I am here for. Chairman Zimmerman said that when the Agenda goes out, if there is something on the Agenda that you think may be helpful in bringing some view points, we can ask you to come to the meeting or discuss it before we meet. III. Public View Points: a. Chairman Zimmerman commented that he has gone to the T-Ball program and stated that Kyle does a great job. There is a concern from some parents whose children don't know how to play baseball. There was instruction on hitting the ball but not running to 1St or 2nd base etc. Chairman Zimmerman's opinion of the program is that it's an instructional program and the kids are having fun. Superintendent stated that he also received some comments from parents about the T-Ball program. This is Kyle's first time running the program and it is an instructional program. They work on some skills in the beginning of the program and incorporate that skill in a game at the end of the program. If he hasn't gone over the base running he will get to it within the next week or so. Committee Member Brettschneider stated that we are here to coach but it is also up to the parents to teach them some of the basics of the game. b. Committee Member Frankel asked about the cuts in the budget for the men's over 30 basketball program. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that the program was cut from 28 weeks with a cost of$250.00 to 20 weeks at a cost of$200 because of the cost of opening and closing the gym by a janitor. Dr. Buzin of 4 Mark Drive, asked to speak about the men's over 30 basketball program. Dr. Buzin has attended this program for 7 years. He said that most of the men would be willing to pay the fee, whatever it may be, to play the full 28 weeks. It is one of the few adult programs that Rec offers. Superintendent Bertolacci reiterated the reason for reducing the number of weeks is because of the bill received from the school district for the use of the gym for our programs. The bill was for $22,000. Chairman Zimmerman asked if it was possible if the participants were willing to pay the extra money to keep the 28 weeks of the program. Superintendent said it would have to go before the Village Board before the fee can be modified. Rather than affect the youth program, there had to be a cut somewhere. Superintendent suggested that Committee Member Frankel have the men sign a petition saying that they are willing to pay x amount of money for the men's basketball program and Superintendent will submit the petition to the Village Board to see if this program 2 can still be offered. Superintendent suggested that he can offer 2/20 week sessions or 2/15 week sessions. Committee Member Frankel would pass along the suggestions to the basketball players and then he will meet with Superintendent to discuss what the outcome is from the men. IV. Superintendent's Report a. Rookie League Superintendent stated that he had an issue with a parent coach. The parent waisted to coach with a specific pair of coaches. We didn't place him with those coaches because there were too many coaches with that pair already. This coach called the office and berated my staff, talked down to us, and brought up issues that can't even be brought to this forum for discussion. Superintendent then told the parent that once the teams are made up and are made public, we don't make any changes. This is the policy we are taking with all youth spots. With Rookie League, the Rec staff makes the team and the coaches are not involved. Superintendent stated, moving forward it will be emphasized that coaches are volunteers and are not volunteering to coach a specific team. Chairman Zimmerman stated that he agreed with Superintendent 100% regarding coaching. Committee Member Tempesta asked what the process is when someone is interested in coaching a team. Superintendent said they can call the office and let the staff know they are interested or send an e-mail to the Rec Department through Community Pass. They can also come to the pre- season coach's meeting. Committee Member Schoen suggested as in the past, that we have a once a year refresher course for the coaches to talk about coaching, sportsmanship etc. In the past we have had Joe Archino and Manny Martinez run a program for the coaches. Committee Member O'Neil said it was a good idea to have a refresher course but where are our bigger issues in terms of coaching philosophy and working with children vs. the process and communication of how we are assigning coaches. Chairman Zimmerman said there is no question in the younger grades that parents ask to coach with other parents that their kids are friends with. Committee Member Frankel asked Superintendent Bertolacci if there was any feedback from splitting the 1st and 2nd grades in Rookie Ball. Superintendent said he explained why the grades were split and the parents were okay with it. Every Saturday the players in Rookie Ball are taught a new skill. This past week it was base running and next Saturday will be batting. B. Little League: i. Rules Superintendent said the rule for pitching in Little League softball is 2 innings and they don't have to be consecutive. Superintendent said the first 4 innings go fast and after that it seems that fifth inning is going on forever. Superintendent said he has two good pitchers on his team. There are a lot of girls that are working on pitching and getting better and they will be able to fill in as pitchers. Rye Brook Recreation held a softball clinic 2 weeks ago. The clinic was attended by 30 girls. The Blind Brook Varsity coach and players ran the clinic free of charge and worked on pitching, hitting and fielding. Committee Member Schoen asked about the rule where everyone sits out once before someone sits out twice. Some coaches aren't doing that because they may have a different rotation. Superintendent Bertolacci said that he has observed mostly the girls games and they seem to be following the rule. 3 Committee Member Schoen said the boys teams sit out more frequently each game. Superintendent said that no one has brought this to his attention. Superintendent said every player has to play one inning in the infield prior to the 4th inning. If the rules aren't followed, the first offense is a warning to the coach, the second offense is a one game suspension and the third offense, the coach is removed from the team. Chairman Zimmerman said the important issue is to play by the rules and get all the kids involved in the game. The coaches should be ethical, be there for the kids and not be there just for the win. Committee Member Schoen said he would pay more attention to the rule and if the rule is not followed, he would speak to the coach himself. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that he would send an e-mail out to the coaches that every player sits once before a kid sits twice and every kid plays the infield and outfield before the 4t11 inning. V. Old Business: a. Birthday Celebration Superintendent Bertolacci said he met with P & M Amusements last week. P & M Amusements provides the rides, food booths, bingo etc. for the Village's Birthday celebration. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that Mr. Damiano is putting together a presentation for his review. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that last year we spent $11,000 and this year we are looking to keep our expense to about $8,000. The Celebration is on June 20th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm. Superintendent Bertolacci said he has commitments from Central Tree and Greenwich Hospital. We will probably get commitments from United Water and RPW who donated last year. We didn't hear from any of the businesses that donated food last year so we will probably be purchasing most of the food. Last year, Arrowwood donated hamburgers and condiments. This year they already told us they weren't donating. We have not heard from the Hilton as of yet. b. Little League Participation: Superintendent Bertolacci stated that next year the Rookie League players will be able to march in the Little League Parade on Opening Day. A lot of parents complained that their kids couldn't march in the parade. We will have to make the teams a little sooner and give out the shirts so they can walk in the parade with their uniform. We will also put the coaches on notice that these kids walking in the parade have to be supervised. Chairman Zimmerman said it was a good idea to have the little kids in the parade and we would probably get more public support for the program. c. Wood Bats vs. Metal Bats: Chairman Zimmerman said that his team has a couple of girls and a couple of smaller kids on his team. The bats in the bag are not satisfactory to teach these kids how to swing level. There isn't anything wrong with a wooden bat if it sized right for the player. Chairman Zimmerman said they would discuss the issue of metal bats vs. wooden bats at another time. 4 d. County Center Selection: Committee Member Schoen stated that at our last meeting we talked about the recreation staff making the County Center team selection. Superintendent Bertolacci didn't think that the recreation staff should have the sole responsibility of making the teams. Committee Member Schoen suggested that we have the basketball committee discuss an approved process of selecting the teams and reviewing some of the rules. Then the committee can bring their recommendations to the Council. Committee Member Schoen said last year's basketball committee was comprised of Brian Grodin, Billy Golden, Jeff Kornblum, Superintendent and myself. The committee was formed with the goal of focusing on basketball rules and gym space. Committee Member Schoen made a recommendation that we reconstitute the basketball committee to discuss County Center process selection, changes or updates to the rules for different divisions, ratings process and any feedback that may have been received or recommended to Superintendent. Superintendent said we should have six members for the committee and suggested some members of the Council and perhaps a few basketball coaches to be on the basketball committee. Committee Member Kornblum seconded the recommendation and all approved. Committee Member Schoen agreed to be in charge of the basketball committee. e. Scope of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council: Committee Member Schoen asked what the scope of the Advisory Council is. Superintendent suggested we set up a meeting with a sub-committee to discuss what role this council should take. As stated in the Village Code, what are all matters pertaining to recreation mean? Mayor Feinstein suggested setting up a meeting with her, Chris Bradbury, Superintendent Bertolacci and Michael Brown to come up with suggestions or a format of what should be the scope of the Council. Superintendent Bertolacci said we should discuss at next month's meeting what we think the role of the council should be. Chairman Zimmerman said that it his belief that because we have a Public View Point section in every Agenda where someone can come to the meeting and voice opinions on, or even complain about whatever is on their mind, it is counter intuitive to say we can't talk about or give our independent opinions — to the Superintendent or to the Village Board — on issues members of thepublic see fit to bring to our attention as a function of the Village Recreation program. VI. New Business: Committee Member Schoen said that during the basketball season Janice and Kyle do a great job scheduling between recreation basketball, CYP and KTI with very little conflicts. There were comments made that it would be helpful if the scheduling could be applied to the Little League with regard to the soccer practice and the travel baseball. It would especially be helpful if we can get the soccer schedule. Committee Member Schoen stated that modified sports in the high school for 7th grade basketball and modified baseball are being eliminated due to budget cuts. A suggestion was made that Recreation looks into having programs in place for these 7th graders. 5 Chairman Zimmerman said that there are 2 or 3 practices for travel baseball and then you have a practice and a game for recreation and it's really havoc for the kid's schedule. Because there is no field space available, travel baseball is practicing on the side of the Ridge Street School field. In some cases you are getting less of a turn out for the recreation program which is what we were trying to avoid. Chairman Zimmerman said the Committee sends its best to Committee Member Jablon for a quick recovery and to Committee Member Gutner, Mahzeltov on the Bar Mitzvahs. VII. Adjournment: A motion was made by Committee Member Gutner to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 9:45pm. The motion was made by Committee Member O'Neil and seconded by Committee Member Kornblum and all approved. The next Parks and Recreation Advisory Council meeting is on June 2, 2009 at 8:OOpm. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick 6