Newton Recreation Commission
2 Town Hall Road, Newton, NH 03858
Tel: 382-4405 ext. 13 * Fax 382-9140
NEWTON RECREATION COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes for Monday, November 3, 2014 at 7 PM
Chairperson Annie Collyer called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM
In Attendance: Selectman Ex-Officio Matt Burrill, John Neveux, Sue Milner and Chairperson Annie Collyer
Introduction of Guests: Town Administrator Nancy Wrigley and Soon-To-Be-Member Stephen St. Cyr
Approval of Minutes October 20, 2014: Selectman Burrill made a motion, seconded by Milner, that the minutes be accepted as written. There was no discussion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Senior Activities: December North Shore Music Theatre Trip: Milner reported that the tickets are in and selling.
Vacation Activity: Thanksgiving, Holiday Roller Skating; February and April 2015: Neveux reported that the billing for the Thanksgiving and Holiday Roller Skating should be in. Chairperson Collyer said that invoices for a deposit for each night has come in, and that she will contact them about getting an invoice for payment in full for Thanksgiving and will bring that and the deposit invoice to Administrator Wrigley for payment, since the Commission has already approved payment for both these events.
Milner has been investigating options for the February and April vacations in 2015. She suggested Ice Skating in either Exeter or in Newburyport for February. Both rinks are in the middle of hockey season, so she has not been able to get a commitment and invoice for either. Discussion of the merits of each site followed, with Town Administrator Wrigley saying that Exeter is easier access for most of our residents.
Milner suggested Leo's Bowl on a morning during the April vacation as a possibility. Neveux pointed out that prior Commission member Morin said that bowling was well-liked but a logistical nightmare when tried in the past. Milner will talk with Morin to get more information. The cost would be $27 per hour per lane. With young children, it was thought that an hour per game was most likely, and that arrivals could rotate as lanes became freed up. The Commission thought that a total of six to eight lanes for two hours each would probably make the most sense. Further discussion of both these ideas was tabled pending more information.
Discounted Tickets for Amesbury Sportspark: Chairperson Collyer will get in touch with Amesbury Sportspark regarding tickets. She stated that online tickets were available for a lower cost than paper tickets for Water Country this year, and it worked well. She suggested that we do the same for Amesbury Sportspark, if available, and for Canobie next summer. Milner suggested that making the Sportspark tickets available soon would be good as an option for stocking stuffers.
Beach:
Landscaping Quotes: Neveux has obtained a quote of $1200 from LaBrie Property Maintenance and Landscaping for fluffing the existing sand at the town beach, so that it provides better coverage. The Commission sought counsel from Town Administrator Wrigley as to whether the sand is a maintenance and repair budget item, and she agreed.
The other quote Neveux obtained, also from LaBrie, is for an ADA-compliant pathway from the parking lot to the beach, for $2580. Chairperson Collyer pointed out that adding materials would require a state permit. Selectman Burrill said that being ADA compliant is not a requirement unless we make substantial changes to the beach area. The Commission is not applying for a once-every-six-years state permit for the beach as this time, so adding an ADA-compliant pathway is not on the table for 2015.
Ropes and Volleyball removal: Neveux had gotten in contact with Town Road Agent Pivera, who told him he needed to go through Town Administrator Wrigley. Wrigley said that Mike Pivera agreed to remove the ropes, but did not know whether it was yet done. She will check and let the Commission know via email. She said that the Town Maintenance Man Tony did remove the volleyball net. Further, Pivera has agreed to install and remove the buoys annually per the Recreation requested schedule, and Tony can put up and take down the volley ball net.
Milner inquired whether we will reinstitute swim lessons. Chairperson Collyer said that is not likely, since not only would we be required to spend $3500 for safety equipment, but the cost of staffing the beach was in excess of $20,000 and the benefit was mixed, with only 0-50 swimmers at a time, and only 30 swim lessons. She also reminded the Commission that attempts were made to outsource the swim lessons to the Regional Y, without success. Selectman Burrill pointed out that the Y wanted the town to assume all liability for their giving lessons, which worked for the Y but not for the town.
Raft and possible remedies for breakage: Chairperson Collyer has spoken with Dyer Docking. Dyer has many similar rafts in use, with no breakage problems. Dyer saw the raft when he repaired one broken panel earlier this year, and noticed many curious dents in the commercial plastic surface. Users at the Town Beach reported to Collyer that some people pick up mussels from the lake and break them on the raft with rocks. That is the likely source of the dents and the breakage. With such mistreatment happening, the Commission feels it is a potential liability issue for the town to have the raft. One child suffered a
scraped leg because of a subsequent broken panel. Collyer said Dyer suggested that we resurface with aluminum or wood, since town residents are causing damage to the premium plastic surface. Two other alternatives are to ask Dyer if he wants to repurchase the raft, or to ask the town to put it up for auction. Selectman Burrill pointed out that the liability issues are too extreme to put the raft back in the water, unfortunately. Neveux expressed sorrow that the raft has been so abused that it cannot be used by town residents, who have very much enjoyed it. No decision as to disposition was taken at this time. Collyer will check with Dyer on his interest in purchasing the raft.
Greenie Park Priorities : Security Cameras, Skate Board Park, Fall Zone Information: Chairperson Collyer met with Morin on the security cameras, and will meet with the Axis-recommended installer tomorrow at 11 AM at the Police Station, where the donated security cameras are being stored. They will inventory the donation, review the needed steps for installation, and Collyer will work with Office Manager Winglass to put out a request for sealed bids on Wednesday, for opening at the Commission meeting on December 1 at 7 PM. Collyer will check into product warrantees that come with the cameras, and learn about what other equipment, such as poles and switching mechanisms, and what other work, such as trenching, need to be done to install and maintain the equipment. It is the goal of the
Commission to be able to recommend to the Board of Selectmen an encumbrance of some of the 2014 budget monies to get the cameras installed and monitored at the Town Beach and at Greenie Park. Signage will be needed as well, to advise residents that the premises are under video surveillance. Selectman Burrill recommended that we seek to have the installer oversee all aspects of the installation rather than trying to manage it ourselves, since the installer is an expert in security systems. It is probable that the security cameras will lead to a monthly internet charge similar to that at the Transfer Station. Chairperson Collyer will check further with Town Administrator Wrigley on options for internet access for the Town Beach and for Greenie Park, for monitoring of the cameras in the event of any vandalism or other illegal activities, and will report back by December 1.
Town Administrator Wrigley reported that the Town Engineer has had no luck so far in helping to find a skate board park consultant, regarding possible repairs to equipment in our park. He did tell us that the rail is broken, and that he has concerns about some homemade half tubes and other objects in the skate park. Town Administrator Wrigley said that in past years, the Town removed some of the homemade structures, and someone replaced them almost immediately. Selectman Burrill suggested that the first step is to install security cameras, then to make the needed repairs to the skateboard park. Then if anyone changes them, we will be able to identify the source.
Discussion followed about Fall Zone information. Chairperson Collyer said that the Town Insurance Representative has seen both Greenie Park and the Town Beach, and while the playground areas are not safe according to national playground standards, neither are they condemnable and there will be insurance coverage should an incident occur. The Commission is not comfortable with having play areas that are not safe. There are only 3" of play sand fall zone material instead of 12" for an 8' height. Collyer said that her research shows that the most common playground accidents come from falling with possible head injuries and from running in front of swings. Neveux suggested that there is a great playground at Memorial School, and that perhaps we should consider removing both the playground and the skate
board park, due to liability. Because Neveux has heard reports of illness from rubber mulch, Collyer did some online research, learning that the studies on rubber mulch are all done by the selling agents and that there are some reports of illness, but no studies she could find. What she did find was that the best fall zone surface is engineered wood chips, which would cost about $5900 for our playground area. Selectman Burrill inquired whether there might be some interim way to provide more safety. Milner pointed out that adding 9" of material of any sort without excavation would lead to its ending up all over the place instead of in the intended fall zone. Collyer estimated that the cost to remove the existing equipment, excavate with permitting, replace equipment, and buy and spread the fall zone material would be in excess of $10,000. When asked, Town Administrator Wrigley said that she thinks an expense like that needs to be a warrant
article. The Commission will look into warrant articles to recommend to the Board of Selectmen and the Town at the December 1 meeting.
2015 Budget Planning: Chairperson Collyer read a letter from Town Resident Rick Milner about his concerns and suggestions for the Recreation budget for 2015. Milner believes no money should be allocated to Greenie Park in 2015. He thinks any repairs, improvements or maintenance should await a detailed plan for the future of Greenie Park, with the involvement of many other town agencies. He attached a budget suggestion in his role as Town Bookkeeper that totaled $17,416.00 which is $22,800 less than the 2014 budget.
Discussion of the proposed 2015 budget followed, with an initial budget outline from Chairperson Collyer as a starting point. Copies of Milner's proposed budget were distributed for consideration as well.
Several line items are now going to be a part of the Town General Administration Budget, such as Dumpsters, Utilities, and Grounds Maintenance, that totaled $12,500 in 2014. Taking out the $12,500 that will no longer be a part of the Recreation budget, the 2014 total budget remaining was $27,716.00.
The biggest items in the budget are Special Programs, that include Vacation Activities, Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween, Memorial Day Parade, Town Day, and a restored Movie Night. The Commission plans to spend $7,500 on Special Programs in 2015, versus $10,000 budgeted and $5150 spent in 2014. Two big items budgeted for in 2014 that did not garner town support were a proposed dinner-dance at the Haverhill Country Club, and a Golf Fundraiser for Greenie Park, which were both canceled. The Commission will not be holding an adult event in 2015, but will reinstate Movie Night and possibly a town picnic barbeque, currently being proposed to be held at the Town Beach as a natural amphitheatre. The Commission spent $2500 on Town Day in 2014 and plans to expand that to $3,000 in 2015.
Another bigger budget item proposed in the 2015 budget is for Repairs to both the Town Beach and to Greenie Park. The sifting and redistribution of sand at the beach, to cover exposed roots, will cost about $1200. An additional $500 will be allocated to roots and cleanup at the Town Beach. Proposed repairs at Greenie Park include: repainting lines on the basketball court for $250; rebuilding the popular and falling apart hand ball wall for $2200; repairing the asphalt cracks on the tennis court for $1200; lift, lube and paint the merry-go-round for $650; replace swing set hooks for $150; and make some needed repairs to the skate board park for $1500. Milner expressed some concern about possibly investing repair money in areas where we do not know whether they will be
retained as comprehensive future plans for Greenie Park are developed. Selectman Burrill said that budgeting repairs allows for them to occur, but does not obligate the expenditure until quotes and bids come in, the Commission agrees to recommend the expenditure and the Board of Selectmen concur. Chairperson Collyer noted that repairs at Greenie have been deferred for several years, and are needed for maintenance of our recreational facility. Neveux questioned whether we should keep a public playground and skate board park in Newton, when there are so many safety issues to be addressed.
Also in the budget are adding two picnic benches and two covered trash receptacles at the Town Beach, and adding one picnic table and three covered trash receptacles at Greenie Park. Town Administrator Wrigley will see if Town Road Agent Pivero is willing to remove the two tables now at the Town Beach, since Neveux is afraid someone will get injured on one in particular.
Collyer made a motion to accept the proposed 2015 budget just developed, for a total of $19,630.00. She pointed out that the budget, after removing the line items of $12,500 that will now be in the General Administrative Budget, is about $8,000 lower than in 2014. It is also $2,300 higher than that proposed by the Town Bookkeeper Milner. Seconded by Neveux, the motion passed with Collyer, Burrill and Neveux in favor and Milner opposed, due to her concerns about spending repair money on Greenie Park without a comprehensive plan already in place.
2015 Encumbrance Request: Tabled until December 1 meeting
2015 Warrant Article : Tabled until December 1 meeting
Announcements: None
Other Business: Collyer made a motion, seconded by Neveux, that we purchase Certificates of Appreciation for an amount not to exceed $40.00 from the Supplies line item. She noted that the Certificates in supply at Town Hall are depleted. The motion passed unanimously.
Selectman Burrill asked where the plaques are that were purchased to honor former Selectman Thayer and State Representative Allen. Chairperson Collyer said she thought they were in the care of former member Theirrien and will check. Burrill suggested that we present the plaques at the deliberative session in January.
Chairperson Collyer will send an email to Town Administrator Wrigley regarding the best manner to handle to proposed rule change on the usage of the Town Beach. Once the rule has been changed, the Commission will order appropriate signage.
Chairperson Collyer said that she had met this past week with a Senior, John Henry, and his advisor at the Sanborn Regional High School. John Henry plans to make a Greenie Park Trail Map, working in coordination with the Girl Scouts, and also trail blazes for the trail system at Greenie Park, for his Senior project.
Collyer suggested that we set the calendar for 2015 at our next meeting, and recommended that it be held on December 1. By acclimation, the idea was endorsed.
Adjournment Selectman Burrill made a motion, seconded by Milner, that we adjourn at 9:00 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Annie Collyer,
Secretary
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