Greenfield Recreation Commission Elects Dan Piyasecki Chair, Sets Halloween for October 30

Other Committee · Meeting of July 16, 2026

Greenfield Recreation Commission installs new chair and sets Halloween date as fireworks debate heats up. The commission unanimously elected Dan Piyasecki as its new chair at the July 16 meeting, replacing the outgoing chair Donna, who moved to alternate status, and re-elected Barbara Zappio as clerk. The commission also voted unanimously to hold its community Halloween event on Friday, October 30, after the holiday falls on a Saturday.

In its most spirited exchange, commissioners questioned whether the annual July 4th fireworks fundraising effort — which raised a combined $36,000 this year across the Recreation Department and the Friends group — is worth the effort given rising costs and a display that multiple commissioners described as too short for what was paid. "I'm tired of raising thousands of dollars for fireworks," said one commissioner, while Piyasecki called the show's length "embarrassing" relative to its $12,500-plus contract price. The director reported she has sought quotes from a drone-show vendor, noting prices that once ran into the hundreds of thousands of dollars now start at roughly $20,000, and the commission will revisit the question at its August 13 meeting.

The City Council separately approved $25,000 the night before for an engineering study of the Poesy Tower, a city landmark not currently on any historic register.

In the full story:

• Election of Officers
• Approval of Minutes
• Director's Report — Programs, Events, and the Poesy Tower
• Old Business — July 4th Fireworks Finances and the Drone Question
• Old Business — Triathlon Volunteer Coordination
• New Business — Halloween Event Date
• The complete report — 2,088 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of July 16, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.