The city should apologize!

[hockeygoddess53]

I don't even know where to begin here. This has been one long, frustrating softball season! Park and Rec and MASA need to learn how to communicate. Last week's cancellation on a day of no rain is rediculous. If the city does not have employees that are going to make our fields nice they should allow us to do it! Its absolutely rediclous that we pay all this money to play in this league and we can't even get our fields groomed properly. The women's fields get the hardest hit too. The men's field take priority daily. Tell me how it is that every field is playable the day after a rainout sometimes EXCEPT for the women's fields??? Half the lights are blown on the women's columbus field, there is an enormous amount of poison ivy growing on the fence in the outfield, and the field is a big dirt pile. (people wonder why there aren't as many girls teams as there used to be...we are sick of getting the short end of the stick and dealing with the BS) The other night we had a game up at Thorpe and we didn't even have lights...they had to have someone go into the club house and turn them on and then they didn't even stay lit our whole game!!!! Same thing happened at BN!!! You best believe the wallingford league doesn't have to put up with this crap. This is rediclous...if you are going to lay off your workers make sure SOMEONE is there to take responsibilty for what thier job was!!! Just because you aren't working that day doesn't mean things don't need to be done! The city, park and rec, and MASA should all be in communication with each other on a daily basis during the softball season to make sure things are taken care of! How long could it take for that communication to be made....15 minutes maybe!!!??? As far as I'm concerned the city owes this intire league an apology for it's lack of organization and funds for our league. I called during the season and complained numerous times about the field and was told they were out of funds for the fields because they spent it all on the high school fields and what have you during the rest of the year. Well here's an idea...put some money aside for the people that actually PAY the TAXES to this town and also PAY to play RECREATION softball!!!!!!

[mboard]

Quite to the contrary, MASA is in constant communication with the City. Not just communication about daily games, but also about many of the complaints mentioned...lights out, fencing issues, field issues, the list goes on and on. For the most part the City does respond and work with MASA.
But let me point something out, why was $100,000.00 recently allocated to Thorpe Ave. for two t-ball fields when an irrigation system should have been put in place on the main field? The sod/grass is barren along the baselines in foul territory, the outfield is getting over run with weeds, and the infield, when dry is a dust bowl. To spend 4 million dollars on a complex and not put in the proper tools to maintain the field(s) is very poor.
Remember one thing about MASA.....they work with the City to administer the softball program. However, control of any funding towards the fields is not within the purview of MASA...only recommendations can be made.
I am under the belief MASA is ready to turn the league back to the City. If this would happen, expect your games to be cut in half, your schedule scattered, your hotline gone, and any efforts for improvements to cease.

[hockeygoddess53]

I'm not sure how you can say to the contrary when last week we couldn't even have lights on our field stay on while we played a whole game....if the CITY communicated properly with MASA things like that would NOT be happening. Games would also not be cancelled on days where its not even raining! I never said MASA wasn't doing a good job. I belive I came across pretty clearly that I think the city is shorting this whole league. Not having the proper funds for our season, not listening to a word anyone says when they call and complain, and not having enough employees to take care of the jobs that need to be done! The CITY has done a very poor job of maintaining the fields all year long. Especially the women's fields! Yes, maybe t-ball fields are going to be added to the Thorpe Field , but why hasn't the irrigation system been put in the main field like you said? The people that are paying the taxes for these fields (and everything else Meriden does with our money) are not getting what the deserve out of the city. We pay some of the highest taxes around! It's BS that they can't even get a few guys out to the fields to clean them up so we can have fun!!! It's not like they'd be doing it for free! MASA can only complain to the city, just as much as half the players have, if not more, and if the city doesn't listen, what more can we do, besides go play in a different town's league!!! I'm sorry but I'm close to calling the city like every day and screaming at them about their lack of interest or care for the people that play softball here in town and PAY to do so! The city must not get a big enough cut to care!!! I feel like writing a big article and having The Record Journal stick it on the front page so this whole city can see how poorly this city is cared for! As if no one knows this already...I mean seriously...just take a look around!!!

[NLC_LF]

I'm not sure how you can say to the contrary when last week we couldn't even have lights on our field stay on while we played a whole game....if the CITY communicated properly with MASA things like that would NOT be happening. Games would also not be cancelled on days where its not even raining! I never said MASA wasn't doing a good job. I belive I came across pretty clearly that I think the city is shorting this whole league. Not having the proper funds for our season, not listening to a word anyone says when they call and complain, and not having enough employees to take care of the jobs that need to be done! The CITY has done a very poor job of maintaining the fields all year long. Especially the women's fields! Yes, maybe t-ball fields are going to be added to the Thorpe Field , but why hasn't the irrigation system been put in the main field like you said? The people that are paying the taxes for these fields (and everything else Meriden does with our money) are not getting what the deserve out of the city. We pay some of the highest taxes around! It's BS that they can't even get a few guys out to the fields to clean them up so we can have fun!!! It's not like they'd be doing it for free! MASA can only complain to the city, just as much as half the players have, if not more, and if the city doesn't listen, what more can we do, besides go play in a different town's league!!! I'm sorry but I'm close to calling the city like every day and screaming at them about their lack of interest or care for the people that play softball here in town and PAY to do so! The city must not get a big enough cut to care!!! I feel like writing a big article and having The Record Journal stick it on the front page so this whole city can see how poorly this city is cared for! As if no one knows this already...I mean seriously...just take a look around!!!

I've been saying this all year. I feel extremely sorry for the women's teams because you're right, they never get done and always flood. Teams pay a lot of money through fee's and taxes to get things done right. Our team has talked about not even playing next year and just play for the Branford league in the summer like we do in the fall. If Meriden doesn't see that so many people are really upset and fed up with the way things are run then they will eventually lose the league. A league that used to be one of the biggest in country and has been reduced to flooded unkept fields and lack of interest from the city.

[mboard]

The women have gotten the short end of the stick, so to speak, when it comes to the conditions of the fields, no doubt. CP3 is in horrible condition and without serious care, Thorpe may wind up the same way. However, over the past few weeks MASA has stressed to the City to put extra work into the women's fields due to the conditions and because the women's playoffs were going off first. One can make their own determination if said requested work was done.
As far as going to other leagues to play, such as Branford, there is not much MASA can do to prevent such departures. But there are pros and cons to any league - Branford may have their fields ready most of the time, so rainouts are minimal. However, the Plex is in the softball business, it is a private business - it's sole product is softball / baseball. Now not getting rained out is a plus. But does Branford offer a hotline, does Branford let teams select dates not to play, does Branford work with teams if a team is having difficulties making a game date -- the answer would be no. MASA would urge teams to work to make the league better, not run to a new league.

[NLC_LF]

As far as going to other leagues to play, such as Branford, there is not much MASA can do to prevent such departures. But there are pros and cons to any league - Branford may have their fields ready most of the time, so rainouts are minimal. However, the Plex is in the softball business, it is a private business - it's sole product is softball / baseball. Now not getting rained out is a plus. But does Branford offer a hotline, does Branford let teams select dates not to play, does Branford work with teams if a team is having difficulties making a game date -- the answer would be no. MASA would urge teams to work to make the league better, not run to a new league.
Yes they actually do offer all of the above, a hotline, a schedule of dates to choose and times. If MASA wants to urge teams to work to make the league better then they should offer up meetings throughout the year, both the beginning and end of the season and allow teams to come and not just one rep. and voice their opinions and concerns.

[mboard]

MASA has done that in the past -- with two meetings per season. However, participation and attendance in the second meeting was very, very poor. At one point MASA made the second meeting mandatory for team reps., if they did not show, it was a 25.00 fine -- MASA took in over 800.00 that night.
Quite a few team reps. no longer bother to stay for the registration meeting in March. They turn in their rosters, pay the fee, get paperwork, and head out the door. Two years ago, team reps. got up and left during the middle of the meeting.
I have heard in 2008, once all teams have signed in and the meeting starts, a roll call will be taken. If a team rep. does not answer for the team, the roster will be pulled and the team will be removed from the registration sheet, the fee will be given back, and the team will not be playing in 2008.
Apparently the feeling is that if a team rep. or designated person can't respect the MASA board and stay in a meeting for a hour or so, the team is not really serious about "getting it right" when they play.

[hockeygoddess53]

I really wanna know where you get all of your sources...does mboard mean MASA board?? There have been numerous posts of yours where at least one thing you say MASA does or will do or has said or is better than isn't actually true!

[hockeygoddess53]

and just for the record this post started off talkin about the city and its lack of effort towards our fields...MASA was not. So I'm not sure why you are so in defense of everything MASA unless mboard stands for what I think it stands for. I never said MASA is doing a poor job, all and all I think the job MASA does is sufficent. However, please do not act like MASA thinks they are better than everyone.

[mboard]

Tell me, what do you think mboard stands for?
For the record, MASA does not think it is above anyone else in the league.
Why do you not throw your name into the ring and join the MASA board?

[mboard]

You kind of lost me on that one -- which things were not true that were stated?




I really wanna know where you get all of your sources...does mboard mean MASA board?? There have been numerous posts of yours where at least one thing you say MASA does or will do or has said or is better than isn't actually true!

[NLC_LF]

MASA has done that in the past -- with two meetings per season. However, participation and attendance in the second meeting was very, very poor. At one point MASA made the second meeting mandatory for team reps., if they did not show, it was a 25.00 fine -- MASA took in over 800.00 that night.
That $800.00 went to what by the way? A fund to help with the fields? A collection to lower the prices of play the following year? Maybe thoughts towards hiring a 2nd umpire? I'm curious to know what that money was used for. (no animosity I'm really inquiring)


Quite a few team reps. no longer bother to stay for the registration meeting in March. They turn in their rosters, pay the fee, get paperwork, and head out the door. Two years ago, team reps. got up and left during the middle of the meeting.

So long as they hand in the fees and the rosters what is the big deal with that? Those that choose to leave do not have the right to complain about certain rules throughout the season because they failed to stay. Those are the consequences.

This discussion, like hockeygoddess53 said, is about the city and not MASA. You seem to be defending MASA and it's actions as though they are the ones responsible for clearing the fields. All the information you have given us does not relate to one thing with getting the fields ready. This is a gripe with the city, the people who run the departments, and the workers. If MASA wants to keep the teams coming back I think they should be more involved with the city in the completion of the fields on days when we should be playing. If Wallingford can play on days when it rains the least Meriden can do is let us play on days when it has rained the day before. That's not asking for much.

[mboard]

The $800.00 went for a few things -- one new bases for all of the fields - so they were bought by MASA and it looks like some new doublebases are now needed. Secondly, although not much money was left after that, but the remaining money was put toward playoff balls.

The ones that never stay at the meeting are the ones always complain.

You are correct - my responses have gotten off the track about the fields, I apologize for that. The MASA board will be meeting with Parks & Rec, City Counilors, the City Manager, and the Mayor in the next few weeks. The board is going to lay it on the line with the officials ..... the fields are in terrible shape, need to be fixed and maintained.
About 10 years ago, MASA made an offer to the City - to take on the maintenance of the fields. We were denied because they were City fields and also union issues.

[NLC_LF]

We were denied because they were City fields and also union issues.
That doesn't surprise me very much.