Colchester Parks & Recreation Commission
September 8, 2008
Town Hall
7:00 p.m.
Members Present: J. Cohen, N. Kaplan, S. Ashe, E. Kundahl Clint Williams, L. Dimock
Members Absent: Chairman S. O’Leary, J. Barr, L. Stephenson, C. Ferrante, K. Wright
Others Present: P. McDowell, M. Gatesman, BOS Liaison G. Cordova, First Selectman L. Hodge,
P. Scheibelein, C. Woodside
1. Call to Order: Secretary L. Dimock called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. Citizen’s Comments: P. Scheibelein questioned what is going to be done with R4. J. Cohen said that the issues will be addressed the best they can. N. Kaplan said there is an issue with the closed fields still being used. Signs need to be put up stating that the field is not to be used.
3. Acceptance of Minutes: July 7, 2008 Meeting: N. Kaplan motioned to approve the minutes of the July 7, 2008 meeting, seconded by E. Kundahl. All members present voted in favor with C. Williams abstaining. MOTION CARRIED. (** note amendment to motion under item 5. Finance/Ad
4. Reading of Correspondence: None
5. Committee Reports
- Facilities: N. Kaplan reported the committee had met and discussed the following:
- Signage - Recommendation for signage location were given. The commission agreed that no decisions on locations need to be made until funding for the signs is secured.
- Smoking Policy- There should either be no smoking at the Rec Plex with the exception of a designated area towards the front of the complex or no smoking at all at any Park and Rec facilities or grounds. The facility committee recommends no smoking at all. There was discussion as to how this could be enforced with it not being an ordinance.
- Paying user issues – There are people paying to use the fields and not finding them usable. This could resort in a lost of income. Perhaps more of the fields maintenance needs to be put on the endorsed leagues.
- Alcohol consumption – There has been complaints of the men’s softball league consuming alcohol on the premises. The league administrators should be asked to handle this as the first method of dealing with it.
E. Kundahl motioned to recommend to the Board of Selectmen a no smoking policy at all Park and Rec facilities and grounds, seconded by C. Williams. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
E. Kundahl motioned to accept the Facilities report, seconded by S. Ashe. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
- Finance/Administration: S. Ashe reported that a variety of ways to handle an increase in the lighting fee was discussed. The multiplier will be 1.8 times the CL & P rate.
N. Kaplan motioned to accept the Finance report, seconded by C. Williams. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
**During discussion of the lighting fees it was realized that there was an error in the minutes from the
July 7, 2008 meeting. E. Kundahl motioned to amend his motion approving the minutes of the July 7, 2008 meeting changing Item 6a) to read that the lighting fee would be 1.8 times the CL&P rate, seconded by N. Kaplan. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
- Programs: L. Dimock reported that the football league would be doing the Punt, Pass, and Kick on September 10, 2008. For Halloween Park and Rec will be helping the Police do their annual event at the Troop K barracks. Next month a decision needs to be made on lighting of the tree on the green. The date of the holiday house decorating contest should be a week later than advertised. C. Woodside said he will take care of publicizing a change in date.
N. Kaplan motioned to accept the Programs report, seconded by E. Kundahl. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
- Skate Park: No one present to give report.
- BOS Liaison: G. Cordova reported that the BOS are talking about changing Library hours. A retired police car is being reused as a maintenance vehicle. A waste oil furnace has been approved. The parking lot for the football field is still being looked in to.
N. Kaplan motioned to accept the BOS Liaison report, seconded by S. Ashe. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
6. Discussion and Possible Action on Pavilion Rental Policies: Renters are arriving at the pavilion to find others using it, garbage cans overflowing, and bathrooms without toilet paper. The renters are then requesting refunds. There was discussion as to how a facility so widely used can not have someone to maintain it on weekends. The commission requested that the number of refunds given as well as the number of hours spent taking tending to issues that could have been prevented had there been a park ranger be kept track of.
7. Discussion and Possible Action on Concession Bidding: The Culinary Delights contract will be expiring and will need to go to bid. Baseball might possible be interested in bidding on the stand this year.
8. Discussion and Possible Action on No Smoking Policy: Previously discussed during Facilities Report
9. Discussion and Possible Action on Before/After School Program Presentation: C. Woodside gave a presentation giving an overview of the proposed program. The program would be offered before and after school as well as all day on snow day school cancellations. There was concern on the access to the building on snow days. The parking lots and sidewalks would have to be cleared in time for children to be dropped off. There was also questioning on what other groups currently use the gym and would interfere with the program being run in the gym.
10. Discussion and Possible Action on Light Fees: Previously discussed during Finance/Administration Report.
11. Discussion and Possible Action on 2009 Summer Concert Series Sponsorships: E. Kundahl motioned to recommend to the Board of Selectmen the 2009 Summer Concert Series Sponsorships, seconded by S. Ashe. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
12. Director’s Report: A written report was reviewed. N. Kaplan motioned to accept the Director’s Report as presented, seconded by E. Kundahl. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
13. Recreation Supervisor’s Report: E. Kundahl motioned to accept the Recreation Supervisor’s Report as distributed, seconded by C. Williams. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
14. General Comments: None
15. Adjournment: S. Ashe motioned to adjourn, seconded by C. Williams. All members present voted in favor. MOTION CARRIED.
Dawn LePage, Clerk
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