Blackstone Parks & Rec approves volunteer placement, awards compost order, clears league use and other spring items

The Town of Blackstone Parks and Recreation board on March 10 approved several spring-season items including a volunteer placement, a compost/loam purchase contract and a field permit for an adult men’s basketball league.

The actions are meant to ready town fields and programs for the upcoming season: the board voted to offer a volunteer role to a student needing hours, accepted a vendor quote for compost and loam, approved Swissville Hoops’ request to use Goulet Basketball Court on Sunday mornings beginning May 18, and authorized multiple administrative purchases and permit language the board said will be distributed to league organizers.

Why this matters: the votes set chores, supplies and day-to-day management for parks and recreation as summer programming approaches. The compost and loam purchase affects playground and walkway repairs; the league approval sets official hours and a permit process that will be used by multiple adult and youth groups; and the volunteer hire expands seasonal maintenance capacity.

The board voted to offer a volunteer position to Andrew Carter, a student whose teacher sought placement for required hours. The motion, made by Kim and seconded by Sarah, passed by voice vote. The board instructed staff to contact the teacher with logistics so the volunteer slot can begin.

The board considered three written vendor quotes for compost and loam delivery for raised beds and walkway repairs. Meeting materials and discussion identified the bids as (1) Blackstone Landscape Supply (delivery quote $774, out of stock for several weeks), (2) Malelele Construction and Landscaping (18-yard 60/40 compost/loam mixed at a quoted delivered rate reported in the packet), and (3) BZ Leaf Lifters (50/50 mix, quoted at about $35 per yard). After discussion the board voted to take the offer from BZ Leaf Lifters. Celeste (board facilitator) reported the board’s decision and said she would contact the vendor to confirm whether the company can place the mix in the beds or deliver it stacked for volunteers or teams to move. The motion to award the work to BZ Leaf Lifters carried on a voice vote.

Dylan Lebrun, organizer for Swissville Hoops, presented the men’s league request to use Goulet Basketball Court on Sunday mornings. Lebrun told the board the league hopes to run a 14–16 week season (10-week regular season plus playoffs if needed) and would start the season the week of May 18 with games roughly between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Lebrun said the league will cap play at six teams this year and is working to meet a 50% Blackstone-resident participation target to avoid seasonal fees the town is considering. "We would ideally like to start May 18," Lebrun said. The board approved the field use request, with a motion from Bob and a second by Kim; the board also said it will issue a permit to the league and asked Lebrun to provide a final waiver and player count to staff before the first game.

The board also approved two volunteer and maintenance actions: a motion permitting Paul Michael Velasco to coordinate renovation work on an existing school board sign (moved by Sarah, seconded by Kim), and a motion to purchase packs of bags for the town’s April Easter event (motion carried; the board approved buying three 3-packs = 50 bags total per packet). The board reviewed multiple ongoing maintenance and safety items (defibrillators and Stop the Bleed kits to be installed in field boxes; shade installation at Tobeze Park scheduled for the coming Thursday; a final playground inspection with anticipated state reimbursement in May) and asked staff to coordinate needed contractors and volunteer crews for pole/ net installations and walkway repairs.

Administratively, the board approved a field-permit template and agreed to send an explanatory notice about signage and banners to leagues that already have approved field time. The board asked town council and staff to confirm required insurance, waiver wording and any limits on waivers before finalizing policies; staff said they will bring formal code-of-conduct language for council review.

The meeting also included planning items and scheduling (spring hires and hours to keep seasonal workers under 19 weekly hours to avoid benefits thresholds; possible community work days to do painting and small repairs; and a preliminary movie-night poll of family-friendly films). Several items remain in discussion, including whether a $1,500 donation earmarked for tree plantings can be reallocated to a sunshade purchase for Tabizi Park; staff said they will seek formal acceptance or reauthorization through the town’s gift-acceptance process.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes from Feb. 24: motion by Bob; second by Sarah; outcome: passed (voice vote). - Offer volunteer position to Andrew Carter: motion by Kim; second by Sarah; outcome: passed (voice vote). - Award compost/loam order to BZ Leaf Lifters (18 yards, 50/50 mix quoted at about $35/yard): motion to accept vendor offer; outcome: passed (voice vote). Board asked staff to confirm delivery method and any in‑field placement assistance. - Approve Swissville Hoops use of Goulet Basketball Court (Sundays, starting week of May 18, up to 16 weeks): motion by Bob; second by Kim; outcome: passed (voice vote). League to supply final waiver and participant counts to staff; permit to be emailed. - Authorize volunteer Paul Michael Velasco to renovate Cooley school board (materials provided by town): motion by Sarah; second by Kim; outcome: passed (voice vote). - Purchase three 3‑packs (50 bags total) for Easter-event distribution: motion to purchase; second by Bob; outcome: passed (voice vote). - Approve field-permit template for spring-season sports and distribute to approved leagues: motion by Bob; second by Sarah; outcome: passed (voice vote). Board requested additional code-of-conduct language and insurance guidance from town council before finalizing.

What’s next: staff will contact vendors and volunteer candidates, finalize permits and waivers, coordinate with town council on insurance and gift reallocation, and post the field-permit packet to the Parks & Recreation documents page for league distribution. The board set follow-up items for its next meeting, including final quantities for compost/loam deliveries, confirmation of the Tobeze shade installation schedule and a report on the status of the Tabizi vandalism restitution and grant paperwork.

(Quotes in this article are taken from meeting remarks recorded March 10 at the Town of Blackstone Parks & Recreation meeting.)