Minutes of Park Commission Meeting
Held on Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Selectmen’s Hearing Room, Town Hall at 8:00am
1. Call Meeting to Order:
Mr. Scafidi called the meeting to order at 8:01am. Members present were Mr. Scafidi and Mr. Wood. Also present, Mr. Santos and Mr. Hannon.
2. Minutes to Approve:
A. Public Session – November 15, 2016
Mr. Wood motioned to accept the minutes as written, seconded by Mr. Scafidi and carried…
Vote: 2 – 0, in favor
3. Citizens Issues / Special Interest Groups:
A. None
4. Personnel:
A. None
5. Director’s Report:
A. Mr. Santos informed the park Commission that he had received a letter of thanks and acknowledgement from the Hudson Food Pantry for the recent contribution as part of the Annual Pumpkin Fest event.
B. Mr. Santos informed the Park Commission that he had met with representatives from Hudson Public Schools and the Quinn Middle School teachers to discuss a recent engineering project that the 5th grade students are currently completing. As part of an engineering class, students are able to use basic hand tools to design and create bird houses. While over 240 are expected to me built during the school year, they had requested that approximately 40 bird houses be installed in various parks as well as on school properties. Ms. Santos informed the Park Commission that he was in favor of supporting this project and would work with the teachers to ensure that bird houses are installed in safe and appropriate areas, and that they not be painted or decorated but rather remain as bare wood to
blend into the natural surroundings. Discussion followed.
6. Communications and/or Correspondence to be noted by Commissioners:
A. Annual Conflict of Interest Summary and Online Training Status
Park Commissioners signed the Acknowledgement Receipt of the Conflict of Interest Law that had been emailed to them on December 6, 2016. Mr. Santos will deliver signed copies to the Town Clerk’s Office within coming week.
7. Old Business:
A. FY18 Budget Update
Mr. Santos informed the Park Commission that after meeting with Executive Assistant and Finance Director, the FY18 budget was slated to move forward to the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee, as originally prepared.
8. New Business:
A. Park Commission to consider re-appointing commissioner Jeff Wood to the Community Preservation Committee to a new term, effective January 1, 2017.
Passed over until next Park Commission meeting
B. Park Commission to consider proposal of a sculpture to be placed on the Assabet River Rail Trail, commemorating OARS, 30th Anniversary.
The Park Commission reviewed the proposal from Paul Goldman, on behalf of OARS Board of Directors, to have an interactive xylophone fish sculpture, placed on the ARRT in commemoration of OARS upcoming 30th Anniversary. Mr. Santos reviewed the prior communications he had with Mr. Goldman and explained to the commissioners that the xylophone fish sculpture was going to be made from recycled bicycle parts that had been previously pulled from the Assabet River, primarily in Hudson. Mr. Santos stated also that, Mr. Goldman would personally be working with Assabet Valley Metal Fabrication staff and students to create the sculpture; Mr. Goldman’s hope was to place it on the ARRT somewhere between the Caboose and the Main Street parking lot, along with basic signage describing the origins of the sculpture
and OARS 30th anniversary; and finally that OARS was determined to move forward with the project, hoping the ARRT in Hudson would be the approved site for this sculpture.
Both Mr. Scafidi and Mr. Wood stated that they were not opposed to this project. However, Mr. Scafidi stated that Wood Park (nearest the bridge/river) might be a better suited location for this item. He also stated that the sculpture should be fabricated in a way so that there were no protrusions or sharp edges, where someone could become injured. Mr. Wood also stated that entrapment and entanglement hazards should be considered regardless of its placement, as children would most likely play with it and potentially climb on it once installed. The Park Commission did not vote to accept or deny this proposal. However, Mr. Scafidi motioned to have this proposal move forward to the Board of Selectmen for further review and discussion. Seconded by Mr. Wood and carried…
Vote: 2 – 0, in favor
C. Park Commission to consider requests for bench donations to be placed on the Assabet River Rail Trail.
Mr. Santos informed the Park Commission that three separate requests for bench donations for the Assabet River Rail Trail had been presented to the Recreation Office within the last few months. Mr. Santos asked the Park Commission to consider engaging the public in a bench donation program to generate help funds for future maintenance of ARRT specific items, while fulfilling these requests, as well as similar future requests. Mr. Scafidi suggested that the Park Commission/Hudson Recreation consider installing a designated Memorial Bench on the ARRT (where multiple people may be listed on one bench) rather than adding multiple benches to the ARRT where many already exist today. Mr. Wood expressed his support for this option as presented by Mr. Scafidi. Discussion followed.
Mr. Santos told the Park Commission that he and his staff would discuss various options and present alternative plans to the Park Commission at an upcoming meeting.
D. Mr. Scafidi announced to those present, that he would not be running for re-election during the spring of 2017, as his term will be expiring.
9. Adjournment:
Mr. Scafidi motioned to adjourn the meeting at 8:37 am seconded by Mr. Wood and carried...
Vote: 2 – 0, in favor
Motion to Adopt: Mr. Wood
Second: Mr. Scafidi
Vote: 2 – 0, in favor
Date: January 24, 2017
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