Minutes of the Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
Friday, March 15, 2013
Present: Steve O’Shea (Chairman), Steve Slozak, Michael Arbour
Also Present: Tim Pascale, Director/Program Coordinator, Jeannie Guertin, Secretary/Clerk; Eric Madison (Boy Scout Troop 776)
Steve O’Shea called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m.
Regarding the new pick up truck, the Town had to get a Ford fleet number, which Tim obtained. Marcotte Ford won the bid for the truck, which will be a Ford 250 and it will take 60 days to get the truck.
Regarding the mowers, they have been ordered from Kaz Equipment in South Windsor, CT. They didn’t have the bagger or dethatcher, which will be ordered from Preco. It should take 7-10 days for the mowers to be delivered
We still need someone to direct the Instructional Baseball program that starts May 4. Steve O’Shea will ask at the next Monson Youth Baseball Association meeting if anyone would be willing to run that program.
Eric Madison appeared before the Commission on behalf of the Boy Scout Troup 766. There are four boys who within the next six months will be pursuing their Eagle Scout status, and they have to acquire 22 hours of community service. The scouts would like to consider the following projects: lacrosse scoreboards, bleachers, dugouts, and/or storage shed at the high school field. The scouts will be responsible for securing funds by asking for solicitations from local businesses and having fundraisers. Eric wanted to have approval from the Commission for any of those projects. Having a scoreboard and storage shed would be helpful. Regarding the bleachers, it would depend on what kind they are. The scouts would have to contact Tim when they are ready to proceed with a
plan.
Regarding Account Receivable, there is currently a total balance of $1,100 for outstanding basketball registration fees.
On Wednesday (March 13) the School Committee discussed releasing the pool operation to the Parks & Rec Department. There was an agreement in place and that agreement would have to be enhanced. Gretchen Neggers commented that it can’t be done legally, but Jeff Lord (School Committee Chair) says it can be. The Superintendent wasn’t comfortable publicizing a calendar or programs through the school because programs are planned for dates that exceed the date of when the pool has been approved to be open.
The Finance Committee gave us funds to operate the pool through March and we have to go back in April. There won’t be as much money needed per month to request then, and Finance Committee may be approached at that time to request funding for the next two months. It would still require a vote from the Town if the operation of the pool were to be turned over to the Parks & Recreation Department. Still to be considered are hours of operation, maintenance, security, high school use, locker room supplies and locker room maintenance, etc. Peter Sauriol will discuss with the School Committee, and Tim is meeting with Deb Mahar on Monday (March 18). Liz Manley should have a fixed salary as Pool Director, as opposed to being paid on an hourly basis.
Also discussed was the option of switching the filter over to a salt water system. We may want to reach out to Bill Pegoraro, owner of Sun Splash Pools.
Plans for a replacement storage shed were discussed. There will be a Town Office Building Committee meeting on Monday night (March 18) that Tim is attending, and the Commission was also invited to attend. The storage shed plans will be discussed at this meeting. Tim has been meeting with Dan Laroche, Disaster Recovery Manager. It is costing $48,000 to design the skatepark and Veterans Field. There will need to be space to turn a trailer around and to park three trucks. Also, the garage should have one high garage door.
Jeannie is going to draft a letter explaining the Parks & Rec policy of field usage to those who may be violating the policy and will include a copy of the current permit.
Steve Slozak made a motion to accept the February 28 minutes. Mike Arbour seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
The next meeting date is Wednesday, April 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Steve Slozak made a motion to close the meeting at 8:26 p.m. Mike Arbour seconded; all in favor and the motion passed.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannie Guertin
Secretary/Clerk
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