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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-02-07 - 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 February 7, 2007 CONVENE MEETING: Chairman Steve Schoen called the meeting to order at 8:03pm. The following members of the Council were present: Advisory Council Members: Chairman Steve Schoen, Cliff Shaw, Richard Gutner, Debra Tempesta and Jeffrey Kornblum Absent Members: Steven Epstein and Kenneth Finder Recreation Department Members Present: Robert Bertolacci, Parks and Recreation Superintendent Carmella Swick, Sr. Office Assistant Village of Rye Brook Trustee: Paul Rosenberg Chairman Schoen welcomed Jeffrey Kornblum as the new member of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. I. Minutes A motion was made to accept the January 9, 2007 Minutes by Committee Member Richard Gutner and seconded by Committee Member Debra Tempesta. The Minutes were accepted and all approved. II. Public View Points There were no Public View Points III. Recreation Chairman Schoen stated that the issues would be addressed regarding the e-mail sent about potentially having a team enter a tournament. Superintendent stated that Committee Member Tempesta would give a report on the notes taken at the Little League Committee meeting. Committee Member Tempesta's notes: ❖ It was discussed at the Little League meeting about Port Chester not allowing Rye Brook residents to participate in any of their programs. ❖ In the past the Recreation Department ran the T-Ball program for 2nd grade and a Jr. Sports program for Kindergarten and 1 st Grade. ❖ It was discussed that the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade program in Rye Brook would run the way the Port Chester program was run. It would be held at the Rye Brook Soccer Athletic Fields. For Kindergarten it would be T-Ball at Crawford Park and 1St and 21'd grade would be Rookie Ball. In the past T-Ball was for 2nd graders and was run by the 1 Recreation Staff on Wednesday afternoon and Friday evenings. There was a suggestion that only Rye Brook residents be allowed to play in the program. ❖ Kindergarten through 2nd grade has to play with its own grade. The fee is $100.00 per child. ❖ The Parental Code of Ethics would be introduced starting with the T-Ball program so by the time the players are in the upper grades and participating in the programs they would know how to conduct themselves on and off the field. ❖ Committees were formed for sponsorship, concession stands, and rules committee. At each Little League meeting these committees will give a report on any issues etc. ❖ Gregg Picker suggested a review of the travel program rules. Janice suggested travel rules for the 5th and 6th grade girls because they are playing a little more aggressively. ❖ It was suggested by Committee Member Shaw that 3r graders start with a machine pitch for 3 innings, and then 2 innings and after that, no machine and that would make them less dependent on the pitching machine. ❖ April 14th is Little League Opening Day. ❖ Committee Member Shaw brought up the safety issue of metal bats vs. wooden bats. There was no conclusive agreement and the issue would go back to the rules travel team rating committee to come up with a conclusion that can be agreed upon. The wooden bats are approximately $20.00 each and we would need 2 bats per team for 15 teams. The approximate cost would be $600.00. ❖ The Committee felt that the travel uniforms need to be improved. Everyone needs to be consistent especially since we have such beautiful fields to play on. The next Little League meeting is Thursday, February 15th at 7:30pm, Village Hall. Chairman Schoen stated that the rules for Little League would be discussed at the Little League meeting. Committee Member Kornblum stated that in the Port Chester program if the 6-year-old participant is a good player, he would play with the 1St graders and get coach pitched. If the participant were just learning the fundamentals, he would play with the kindergarten program and do T-Ball. Superintendent stated that with this being our 1St year changing the program around, we would go with the 1St and 2nd grade together no matter what their ability is and kindergarten would be a separate program and would continue to be run by the Recreation staff. Superintendent stated that with the 3rd and 4th grade, the pitching machine would be used for 3 innings to move the game along and when it starts getting darker later, we would let them pitch the 6 innings. The games would be held at Garibaldi Park. Committee Member Gutner stated that the fall 9U team got hammered by kids from other towns. They had 6 to 8 kids who can pitch and we had 2 or 3 strong pitchers. The other towns' start the kids pitching at a younger age so when they get up to the 9U travel teams they are much stronger. Committee Member Gutner asked if there is something in the league rules that say when we can start our season. With the basketball season coming to an end, some towns are doing indoor practices and tryouts now. Superintendent stated that there isn't much you can do in a gym for baseball. As a Recreation Department we run the entire basketball program and baseball. You can't run two programs at once. Chairman Schoen stated that an e-mail was received from a resident who was approached by a league member to enter a team into a travel tournament on the Memorial Day weekend. This league member stated to the resident that if he didn't want to go through the Village, he could enter the team privately. The insurance cost would be $130 for the policy through the ECTV. Chairman Schoen asked if the Village should sanction a team to be entered into a tournament where there are no tryouts. There were some e-mails sent out stating it was not a good idea to be implemented at all as a municipality. Committee Member Gutner said that we would be going 2 against teams that have played together for some time and are the best of the best. We would be doing a disservice to walk out on a field with kids who don't know what they are doing. Chairman Schoen said if you as a parent privately get a team together that has nothing to do with the Village, they would have to pay for their own insurance, buy the uniforms, pay for the fields to practice on and comply with the rules of the tournament. Committee Member Tempesta stated that allowing the resident to do this is not right but you really can't stop them. Committee Member Gutner stated that if the resident really wants to do this, he should make an appointment with the Superintendent and the resident will be advised what he can and can't do. Chairman Schoen stated that at the last meeting we talked about using this meeting to gather ideas relating to Recreation programs. At the last meeting, Superintendent reviewed all the programs and the cost involved which provided the committee with a background of the programs. The Chairman categorized the topics and the Committee Members listed their ideas: Facilities/Fields/Buildings/Equipment: Elevate bleachers at Rye Brook Athletic Field Travel Uniforms to be consistent Teen Center(new land acquisition or renovate A.J.P. Center) King Street Field lights (Agreement with Arbors for no lights on field) Use of boys and girls club facility in Greenwich Use of the Rye YMCA Belle Fair Gym time Basketball space (what is the ideal set-up...PC Jr. H.S.)hours, nights, days and grades? Carver Center Greenwich Civic Center Refurbish Pine Ridge Park Playground Fitness Center at Village Hall Annual request for proposal for T-Shirts,jerseys,hats, socks,jackets. Scheduling/Programs/Rules Futsal (indoor soccer) Basketball— eliminate"Blue Line Rule"in 4th qtr. Extend basketball program to mid-March Can travel co-exist in spring (baseball/softball)? Keep stats/standings for 5th grade and up Sailing, maybe thru Greenwich/Rye/Larchmont Manners class/Public speaking (for children) Mad Science program(PTA?) Saturated PTA programs where as Rye Brook Recreation picks up extra sign-ups Fishing program at Keyhole property Scheduling/Programs/Rules Youth Lacrosse Field Hockey Frisbee Golf Pee Wee Flag Football Frozen Ropes Alternative Parent/child stickball tournaments Coach/kid or coach/coach end of season tennis, basketball or baseball game tourneys 3 Teen programs 5th/6th grade different activities i.e.; movies, bowling, dance, ice cream night, skating, Rye Brook 1st night Punt,pass and kick Seniors: Cards Golf programs at Blind Brook Club Parent/Child activity (play, games) Gymnastics Swimming program Usability/Accessibility/Marketing On-line registration for programs On-line brochure access Maintain access to brochures for 1 year (3 brochures) Contact links to travel programs, etc. Credit card payment availability in rec office Organization/Staffing/Administration Add another staff member (parks and or programs) Coach screening questionnaire and criteria Coaches Code of Conduct Chairman Schoen thought that at subsequent meetings we take on groups of topics above for discussion. Committee Member Shaw suggested rating some of the categories according to its importance. The rating follows with the highest number of importance: Scheduling/Programs/Rule No. of Votes Extend the basketball program to mid-March 7 Frozen Ropes alternative 5 Teen program (different activities) 5 Golf program at Blind Brook Club 4 Youth lacrosse 4 Stats/standings for 5th grade and up 3 Can travel co-exist in spring (baseball/softball) 3 Coach/kid or coach/coach end-of-season 3 tennis tourney, basketball or baseball games Parent/child activity (games etc.) 3 Parent/child stickball tournament 3 Swim program 2 Frisbee golf 2 Field hockey 1 Eliminate blue line rule 4th qtr. basketball 1 Sailing maybe thru Greenwich/Rye/Larchmont 1 Fishing program at Key Hole property—land being 1 donated to the Village Superintendent stated that the sponsorship letter was mailed out to vendors for the upcoming baseball/softball season. We have received sponsorship from eight vendors. Superintendent said that Rye Ridge Deli is interested in the $1,000.00 banner. Committee Member Shaw asked if we are still doing two sports for $600.00. Superintendent stated that it is tough to put a sponsor's name on a basketball jersey but we can try. 4 Committee member Kornblum asked what the outcome of the travel baseball and travel soccer for the kids who wanted to play both sports. Superintendent stated that the Village couldn't exclude anyone from our recreation program. If the Soccer club wanted to exclude anyone from their program they have a right to do so because they are a private organization. Superintendent stated that we weren't excluding anyone but made a recommendation that we didn't want to over burden our kids. Superintendent stated that a private company is renting Rye Brook Athletic Field to run a Lacrosse summer camp. Committee Member Tempesta stated that a letter was mailed out to high school and middle school parents to meet and introduce the program and discuss what it is all about. Superintendent stated that this spring there is going to be a girls' J.V. Lacrosse team and a modified girls' Lacrosse team. Superintendent stated that he was approached by one of the parents that was suspended for an altercation at one of the baseball games. He has requested a meeting with the Parks and Advisory Committee to discuss him coaching in our spring baseball league which was one of the stipulations given to him if he wanted to coach. Superintendent stated that a meeting would be set up with the members of that committee and the parent. Superintendent stated that the rules of conduct would be gone over to make sure the parent understands what it is expected from him as a coach. Committee Member Shaw reiterated about screening the coaches prior to the season. It has been on record that some parents that shouldn't be coaches because of lack of knowledge, temperament and demeanor. Superintendent suggested that we should have a criteria to pick the coaches for the travel teams; right now it's whoever steps forward. Superintendent stated that we need to come up with a mission statement for the rec department because we don't have one. The mission statement would go in the brochure and tells what we are trying to accomplish. Committee Member Gutner stated that a Coach's Code of Conduct should also be discussed. Superintendent stated that he would like that issue discussed at the next Little League meeting. Chairman Schoen asked Superintendent to consider how he envisions the Council working together with the Rec Department and how best to optimize the Council? Superintendent said he would take a look prior to the next meeting and brainstorm how he sees the rec department and the council working together. IV. Adjournment Chairman Schoen asked for a motion to adjourn the meeting. A motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Committee Member Shaw and seconded by Committee Member Tempesta and all approved. The meeting adjourned at 10:20pm. The next meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at 8:00pm. Minutes prepared by Carmella Swick 5