NEWTON RECREATION COMMISSION
MINUTES OF MEETING
AUGUST 11, 2010
- Call to Order: Chairman Deb Holden called the meeting to order at 7:20 pm with the following members in attendance: Deb Holden, Pauline Dupuis, Matt Muskrat, and Lisa Babcock. Minutes were transcribed by Lisa Babcock.
- Acceptance of Minutes:
Holden said at the previous meeting it had been discussed that the posts of the pavilion should be stained but that discussion had not been recorded in the minutes.
Motion by Holden to accept the minutes of July 28, 2010 with the following amendment: Kyle Kozec will be asked to stain all exposed wood surfaces of the pavilion. Second by Muskrat. Motion carried unanimously.
Babcock will ask Rick Bailey to contact Kyle Kozec and inform him of the request.
- Credit Card Name / Limit: Babcock informed the Commission that a request had been submitted to the Selectmen requesting that the name on the Recreation credit card be changed to Deb Holden and the limit be increased. The selectmen have not met since the request was made.
- Town Beach Update: The bulletin board has been installed. Dave Marden Landscaping will remove the piles of brush and the large pile of rocks and also cut down some small dead trees.
Holden and Mr. Marden discussed clearing the brush from the right side of the parking lot to add more parking spaces. Mr. Marden will provide an estimate.
The Commission discussed putting a chain across the beach entrance to restrict cars from driving down onto the beach. Mr. Marden had suggested putting up a gate. Muskrat did not think a gate would look good. Holden said that people snowmobile in the area in the winter and felt that a chain could be a hazard.
The secretary will contact the Fire Department and Police Department for their input as to the best method of controlling access to the beach.
There was some discussion about the liability of having lifeguards at the beach vs not having lifeguards. The secretary will contact the town administrator to see what the town's insurance company recommends.
There was some discussion about how to staff the beach next summer. Muskrat suggested hiring someone to manage the beach and greenie park. Dupuis suggested having a checklist of duties for the lifeguards. She also suggested getting a second trash barrel to put up near the picnic tables.
Holden said there are lots of weeds in the sandy areas of the beach. She suggested asking Family Mediation Services if they have anyone in need of community service hours to do the work.
There was some discussion about whether or not there is a pond association in Newton for Country Pond. The secretary will contact one of the residents of the area and ask him.
The picnic tables have been delivered. Muskrat said he would help install them if he is available.
The Commission will discuss replacing the sign at the beach at the next meeting.
Golf Lessons – Muskrat will contact the instructor to see how the program went.
Tennis Lessons – The first sessions are wrapping up. Bailey will be adding a second session. He will also be running a free clinic on August 21.
Motion by Holden for Newton Recreation to sponsor the free tennis clinic on August 21st to be run by Rick Bailey. Second by Muskrat. Motion carried unanimously.
Beach Party – the beach party has been canceled for this summer because not enough members are available to run it.
- Community Day – Newton Learning Center / Empower Martial Arts: Community Day is set for August 21. The Commission will do a craft, give away cookies and have a candy guessing game.
Motion by Muskrat to authorize the secretary to spend up to $150 for cookies, candy and craft supplies for Community Day. Second by Holden. Motion carried unanimously.
The secretary will contact Dean Mace of Empower Martial Arts to let him know what the Commission will be doing.
- Senior Trip: The secretary reported that only 13 people had signed up for the Spirit of Boston bus trip for August 18th. The commission decided to cancel the trip due to the low response.
Dupuis will contact Spirit Cruises and the Coach Company. The secretary will contact the seniors that signed up and the middle school to cancel the request to use the parking lot.
A deposit of $280 had been paid to Spirit Cruises. The Commission briefly discussed a possible trip to Salem Willows. Dupuis said this would be a more affordable trip.
- Greenie Park Update: Holden said she had worked on cleaning out the Recreation area of the shed at Greenie Park and gotten rid of some old or broken items. She said there was a box of wooden paddles. Muskrat said they were used for baseball drills.
The secretary had requested a site walk with the Conservation Commission and Road Agent to discuss clearing brush and trees around the park entrance. No response had been received as of the time of the meeting.
- Fall Fair: Holden said she would contact the DJ and a petting zoo.
- Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lisa Babcock, Secretary
Newton Recreation Commission
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