Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Present: Steve O’Shea (Chairman) Michael Arbour and Steve Slozak
Also Present: Timothy Pascale, Director; Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
The use of the Parks and Rec Department’s vehicles was discussed. An e-mail from Selectmen John Goodrich was sent to Tim regarding the use of one of the trucks by an employee. The e-mail stated that John saw our blue truck parked at a Parks and Rec employee’s home with a load of wood in it. John questioned that the deteriorating condition of our blue truck could be due to the overload of wood, and also questioned the criminal consequences of using tax payers’ money towards personal use of the town’s equipment.
Wood is being cleared at Flynt Park by Parks and Rec staff, and as a result there was wood in the gray truck. Tim gave Steve Gordon permission to bring the wood to Steve’s home after he got out of work and use the gray truck to transport the wood since it was already in there. The blue truck has not been operating for the past few weeks, and therefore, has not been in use. Before Tim received the e-mail from John Goodrich, John had told Gretchen Neggers about Steve using the truck. Gretchen spoke with Tim about this, and Tim discussed this with Steve, explaining that equipment belonging to the town cannot be used for personal use. Personal vehicles should be used to transport any wood cut by the town to people’s residences.
Steve O’Shea wasn’t aware of a reprimanding policy the town may have, so wanted to make the statement to Tim that Tim is made aware of the policy of not using town equipment for personal use. Steve was primarily concerned about liability if something were to happen while the town vehicle was being used for personal use.
Steve asked Jeannie to inquire about having the Commission appear at a Selectmen meeting to discuss the repair or the replacement of the blue truck.
The meeting on September 29 which Tim attended regarding the Quarry Hill pool proposal went well. Under the proposal the Parks and Rec Department was given permission to use the OT room for a party room instead of the teachers’ lounge. The OT room has yet to be cleaned out, so it hasn’t been able to be used yet.
Tim has been looking into prices of storage trailers or containers for equipment that has been stored outside since June 1. It would be just as cost effective to buy the containers as to rent them. Prices our very high because of the rising cost of steel. He will meet with the school to see where the storage units would be able to be located.
The Commission agreed to discuss baseball Tri Town evaluations at a later date.
The Monson Lacrosse Association (MLA) will come back to the Commission at their next meeting to officially propose that the Parks and Rec Department take over the lacrosse program. MLA met with the Parks and Rec Commission at the September meeting to discuss this possibility. MLA is preparing a list outlining responsibilities for both the Association and the Parks and Rec Department, which they will present to the Commission at the November meeting.
One of the Exmark mowers is not running, and has had many repairs for the same types of problems. Mowers that are operating are one Dixie Chopper, one Exmark, and one Ransomes. The Commission would like to purchase another mower. The gray truck just had brakes repaired for $800.
Rocky Mountain Wood has offered to clear Flynt Park at no cost. Each abutter’s property has been looked into to see if there were any options for access. They cannot enter via Park Road, and the cemetery won’t allow access through their property. Tim is still waiting to hear back from the owners on North Lane. If they say no, he may have to meet with the Keep Museum about using access through that property. Rocky Mountain would follow a forestry plan for the clearing of the trees. The summit is definitely being done by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Leslie Duthie has approved this.
All stumps are gone from Upper Rogers field and it is ready to be seeded.
Trees have been planted at Veterans Park by the Tree Planting Committee and volunteers, but they weren’t put far enough away from the fence. They were supposed to be planted 80” away from the fence for maintenance and mowing purposes, but since this wasn’t done mowing will be a challenge.
The amount of rain we’ve had is damaging the fields, and Flynt Park had to be closed again. Lower Rogers is the driest field we have. The Monson High School field can’t be used at all.
Steve Slozak made a motion to accept the minutes of the September 28 meeting. Steve O’Shea seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting will be held Wednesday, November 9, at 6:30 p.m.
Steve Slozak made a motion to adjourn at 7:15 p.m., and Steve O’Shea seconded. All in favor; meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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