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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-12-01 - 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 December 1, 2009 CONVENE MEETING: Chairman Marc Zimmerman called the meeting to order at 8:30 p.m. The following members of the Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Marc Zimmerman, Jeffrey Kornblum, Ken Frankel, Richard Gutner Glenn Brettschneider, Steve Schoen, Kevin O'Neil, Sari Jablon Absent Council Members: Debra Tempesta Parks & Recreation Advisory Council Liaison: Michael Brown, Village of Rye Brook Trustee Parks and Recreation Liaison Recreation Department Members Present: Robert Bertolacci, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant Village of Rye Brook Resident: Cliff Shaw I. Minutes: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to accept the November 3, 2009 Minutes as amended. Committee Member Gutner made a motion to accept the November 3, 2009 Minutes as amended and Committee Member Jablon seconded the motion. All approved and the November Minutes were accepted. II. Public View Points: Cliff Shaw, I I Birch Lane offered his viewpoint concerning the issue of use of metal bats vs. wood bats in Recreation Department programs. Discussion: Mr. Shaw stated that this topic was discussed about five years ago when he was on the Recreation Council and that he considered the safety factor most important in any discussion of using wood or metal bats. He offered that there are pros and cons on either side, but no decisive answer that would require going back to metal bats or staying with wood bats. He believes the overriding factor is the safety of the children, and particularly that the younger kids are not yet skilled enough to protect themselves from a ball being hit off a metal bat, and most experts would tell you that a ball comes off a metal bat a lot quicker than off a wood bat. For those reasons, the Recreation Council voted five years ago to use wood bats. Chairman Zimmerman pointed out that his research has shown that there has not been an exhaustive independent study that confirms there is any safety issue in using a metal bat. It is likely that there is better opportunity to hit the ball more consistently and more consistently on the "sweet spot" with a metal bat, but there has been no conclusive finding as to whether the ball comes off a metal bat quicker 1 1102224.1 than off a wood bat. Chairman Zimmerman believes that at this level it is easier to teach kids to swing with a metal bat than with a wood bat. Committee Member O'Neil stated he personally has no issues with either metal or wood bats. However, in the absence of new information or community concerns raised regarding the existing policy since the original decision, was in favor of maintaining the status quo Superintendent Bertolacci stated that the Minor League, grades 3 and 4 uses 26 and 27 inch wood bats and the Rookie League uses 24 and 25 inch wood bats. He also stated there have not been many issues concerning broken wood bats. Chairman Zimmerman said that based upon his research of available information, he is not convinced that an infielder risks any greater injury from the speed a ball hit off a metal bat than off a wood bat, although it is likely that balls will be hit squarely more consistently off a metal bat than a wood bat. He believes the danger to a child only would be that well hit balls will occur more frequently -- not impermissibly harder -- with metal bats than wood bats. Committee Member Brettschneider said that the chance of something happening is so remote that while it can happen the frequency is so remote that it is not a big concern one way or the other. Chairman Zimmerman pointed out that, to Committee Member Brettschneider's point, according to some available data, over a period of 17 baseball seasons with 82 million participants, there totaled were 39 deaths, 25 disabling injuries and 29 significant injuries with complete recovery. Committee Member Schoen stated that at the Advisory Council's meeting 5 years ago it was discussed having the younger kids use metal bats and as they got older, they would switch to wood bats. Ultimately, the group felt it was better to start with wood because the switch to wood would be harder as the kids get older. Committee Member Gutner stated that the Advisory Council previously determined the reason for using wood bats was for the safety of our children. He questioned whether there would be ramifications if we now changed our position to permit the use of metal bats and someone were to get severely hurt (e.g., who would be the responsible party). Trustee Brown stated that, whatever the decision, the Recreation Department was not changing its position to permit the children to use something that is not otherwise permissible to use (e.g., a metal bat). Chairman Zimmerman reiterated that by looking at the available information, there balls are hit well more consistently with a metal bat than a wood bat, which means there is increased risk for a kid to get hurt based solely on the number of well hit balls. However, there is no definitive conclusion that aluminum bats result in balls being hit impermissibly harder than those from a wood bat. He also believed that kids are more comfortable swinging an aluminum bat at a young age, and that safety concerns are further addressed (and likely reduced) by our use of a spongy ball. Superintendent Bertolacci said our 3rd and 4d' grade Little League is using a 95 baseball which is spongier. Also, we have seen a reduced number of home runs in our Little League using wood bats. 2 1102224.1 Committee Member Schoen asked Superintendent if a call can be made to Modell's to see if we can get a lighter wood bat for the younger groups. Superintendent Bertolacci stated that he deals directly with the bamboo bat company for the wood bats. Chairman Zimmerman said there is a bat that is made up of wedges which prevents the wood bat from splitting but it is a little expensive. Superintendent Bertolacci emphasized that the biggest concern is the safety of the children and he personally does not want to go back to using an aluminum bat and see someone get hurt. Chairman Zimmerman stated that USA baseball acknowledges that it is a fact that catastrophic injuries will occur using wood or metal bats. Chairman Zimmerman noted that Superintendent Bertolacci has not heard from the community that there is any issue with the Recreation Department's use of wood and not metal bats. Committee Member Schoen recommended that we continue to research the wood bats and to provide the 3rd graders with lighter bats in the practice bags. The Committee resolved not to put the issue to a vote, and continue the present practice of using wood bats. III. Superintendent's Report: a. Priority Usage of Grass Fields: Superintendent Bertolacci created a proposed priority schedule for the usage of the Village's grass fields. Superintendent Bertolacci said that based upon our discussion during last month's Public View Points, we should clarify the Recreation Department policy so that there is no uncertainty when two or more groups want to reserve the same field at the same time. The usage policy concerning use of Village grass fields is based upon the following proposed priority order: 1. Recreation Programs (first priority) 2. School Programs 3. Resident Group 4. Non-Resident Group (last priority) Right now, the policy for usage of the grass fields are first come, first served. Superintendent stated that if a non-resident were to rent the grass field, they would pay more to use the field. Committee Member Schoen asked for clarification whether a non-resident group has the right to rent our grass fields. Superintendent Bertolacci said that they did and pointed out there is a fee for non- residents to use our turf and grass fields on our Facility Field Permit form. Chairman Zimmerman suggested 94 priority category be changed to "Other Group" instead of Non- Resident Group. It was also suggested that Chairman Bertolacci would seek to have Village Attorney to compose a concluding paragraph stating that the decision for use of the Village fields is at the sole discretion of the Superintendent of the Recreation Department. b. Recreation Booklet: i. On Line Registration Superintendent Bertolacci said the winter brochure will be on line tomorrow. Registration will take place on December 14th at 9:30pm. All residents who are signed on Community Pass will be notified by e-mail. An ad also will appear in the Westmore News. 3 1102224.1 ii. Registration Deadline Committee Member Jablon stated that she had been advised that although the Village Board approved a late fee policy for Basketball, two residents signed up late for the 8th and 9th grade boys' program and had such late fee waived. Superintendent Bertolacci said the date for late sign up in the fall brochure was listed as December 5th, so we had to waive the fee for 8th and 9th grade boys' basketball sign ups up to December 5th. He noted that most of the better players signed up early to avoid the late fee penalty. c. Miscellaneous: Committee Member O'Neil said at the last meeting Superintendent discussed getting less expensive labor for the drainage at Rye Hills Park. Superintendent Bertolacci said that he still is working on the issue and that no decision has been made. IV. Little League: a. Metal vs. Wood Bats Discussion is under Public View Points. b. Sponsorship: i. $600.00 New Sponsor, $400.00 Returning Sponsor New sponsors would pay the fee of $600.00. Returning sponsors would pay $400.00 because the banner is already made up and doesn't have to be reprinted. Superintendent Bertolacci suggested that letters soliciting sponsors would go out soon. Committee Member Frankel said he would contact Woodrow Jewelers and Committee Member Jablon would contact Last Licks to see if they want to sponsor a Little League team. Superintendent Bertolacci will mail out the forms for sponsorship to the committee members. Committee Member Jablon suggested that we get a bid for shirts from Terry Vallone. Superintendent said that a t-shirt bid will be done for the spring and we can get a bid from Mr. Vallone. Committee Member Frankel said the shirts for basketball are 100% cotton and will probably shrink when washed. He suggested getting tank tops for next year's basketball program. V. Old Business: a. Recreation Council Scope Chairman Zimmerman suggested that the discussion of the scope of authority of the Recreation Council be removed from upcoming Agendas under Old Business, unless there is a consensus that there is some specific authority that has not been granted to us for which we need to recommend to the Village Board that we are afforded such authority. In the absence of such a consensus or view from any individual member, Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to remove the scope of authority of the Recreation Council from future Agendas. Committee Member Gutner made a motion to remove the scope of authority of the Recreation Council from future Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Agendas until and unless there is a specific reason to put it back on. Committee Member Jablon seconded the motion and all approved. b. Dog Policy in Parks Chairman Zimmerman stated that Trustee Brown previously had suggested that this Council specifically weigh in for use by the Village Board as to what issues exist concerning dogs in the parks. 4 1102224.1 Committee Member Schoen read into the record applicable provisions of the Village Code as follows: Section 78-2 talks about restrictions on dogs, and their licensing rules. You can't permit a dog to be at large in the Village of Rye Brook other then on the premises of the owner. If the neighbor knows the dog is there and it is ok, it's ok. If you have a dog it has to be on a leash no longer then 5ft. in length. No person owning, harboring or having the care, custody or control of any dog shall permit such dog to defecate or dig on any common thoroughfare, sidewalk, passageway, public street, play area or park or any place where people congregate or walk or upon any school or public property whatsoever or upon any private property without the permission of the owner of said property. There is another section about removal of feces left by dogs. It is the duty of the owner to remove feces left by such dog. It should be disposed by depositing same in a container used for the disposal of refuse. In no event shall any feces be deposited in storm or sanitary sewers or drains. People can be fined but there is no specific fee indicated. Committee Member Gutner said you are not going to keep the dogs out of the park. On any given day there are 15 to 20 dogs that walk through the park. Superintendent Bertolacci said there are signs in the park now but they are quite worn. If we were to put new signs, he suggested that one would go around the fence by the baseball field and one on the wall where it is now. Superintendent Bertolacci restated his belief that dogs should not be congregating amongst people in an"active"park. Committee Member Schoen said according to the Village Code if your dog is on a 5' leash or less in the park not digging up or defecating, the dog can be in the park. Chairman Zimmerman said that such a policy necessarily results in sporadic enforcement, but that if someone gets a $150.00 ticket for having a dog on a long leash or defecating in an active park (or knows someone that did), it may prevent them from doing it again. If the requirement is no defecating in the park, is likely they will not have a dog in the park again. Superintendent said there is a dog policy the Village Board will be discussing at the December 15th meeting. Committee Member O'Neil said our recommendation should be to update the signage to reflect the Village Code. Committee Member Gutner noted that whether the Village Board changes the code or leaves it as is, the signage will be subject to whatever the Village Code is, which they can look up and see there is a fine. He made a motion for a recommendation to the Village Board to update the signage in the park to identify prohibited activities in the park regarding dogs and include a reference to the Village Code either generally or specifically and subject to fines or penalties in accordance with the Village Code. Committee Member O'Neil seconded the motion. The motion passed with only one member opposing. d. Men's Basketball Committee Member Frankel stated that there were only 16 men signed up for Men's 30 and Over Basketball. We were hoping for 20 registrations but it didn't happen. The program will end with the date that is in the Fall Brochure. It will be determined if the program will run another 8 weeks by the registration. 5 1102224.1 Chairman Zimmerman made a motion to clear most of our Old Business away because, with the exception of Sponsorship and the Dog Policy in Parks, we have completed 2009 having no old business still on the table. Accordingly, the only topics that will be retained as Old Business in January 2010 are Sponsorship and Dog Policy in Parks. Committee Member Gutner seconded the motions and all approved. VI. New Business: There is no New Business. VII. Adjournment: Chairman Zimmerman asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:50pm. Committee Member Gutner made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Committee Member O'Neil seconded the motion and all approved. The next Parks and Recreation Advisory Council meeting will be held on January 12, 2010 at 8:30pm, Village Hall. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick. 6 1102224.1