NEWTON RECREATION COMMISSION
Meeting Monday December 8, 2014 at 7:00PM
Call to Order: Chairperson Annie Collyer called the meeting to order at 7 PM.
In Attendance: Sue Milner, Steve St. Cyr, Selectman ex-Officio Matt Burrill, and Chairperson Annie Collyer
Introduction of Guests: Newton Road Agent Mike Pivero and George Tavares of Tavares Technologies Services
Selectman Burrill made a motion to accept the minutes of November 17, 2014 as written, seconded by Milner. The motion passed unanimously.
Treasurer's Report: tabled
Discussions:
Security Cameras : George Tavares described some of the considerations and issues that go into a security system. One of the needs Chief Streeter has stated that is important is the ability to zoom in on people and license plates. Tavares said that to do this , with the Axis Digital cameras that have been donated to the town, we need an NVR with H.264 for 5 megapixel camera recording capability. He recommends 4 TB, so that viewing can be done at 15 frames per second, as fast as the eye can see, but recording at 30 frames per second for clarity in zooming in without fuzziness.
The original proposal from Tavares was for $3425 for the Town Beach and for $7112 for Greenie Park. He proposes putting a one camera in the Town Beach parking lot with an overview of the lot and of the portapotties, and one at the storage shed with a view of the beach and water. They would be tied with an ethernet cable running from the pole to the storage shed through heavy duty PVC pipe attached to the fence. At the shed will be a 4 TB NVR and heat box, which could be downloaded from a car by a police officer with a computer in the car, via a download program he will donate.
The Tavares proposal for Greenie Park would have 3 cameras on one new telephone pole and three on another, across the parking lot from the concession stand, with views covering the entire park. He would work with Axis to get any substitute lenses or cameras donated. In his proposal he would install a hot box and NVR on each pole.
When the Commission members and Pivero asked Tavares what other options there would be , Tavares suggested trenching to the poles, laying ethernet cable and and still using 2 4 channel NVR's so that there would be sufficient recording capacity, with one heater/blower unit. Download would still take place from the patrol car. The cost would be $5012 instead of $7112, a $2100 savings. Collyer asked what we would lose by using the lower cost solution, and he said nothing, that it would work very well.
Pivero ascertained that the work needed for infrastructure is to dig the trench, lay sand and cover it over. Also needed is an electrician for both sites to add three outlets, and possibly a circuit breaker.
Pivero has volunteered to locate and install 4 telephone poles, two at each site, for the installation. Tavares left the meeting.
Discussion followed about the other three quotes the Commission has received, working with Office Manager Mary Winglass, whose contributions are much appreciated.
One is from Security Team LLC, with a camera installation at Greenie Park of 6 cameras on 2 poles with an 8 channel NVR for $3420. This quote does not include a heater/blower. Their quote for the installation at the Town Beach is for $1925, also not inclusive of the heater/blower. It also provides for both cameras from the Storage Shed, and the location of one camera in the parking lot is preferable the Commission believes. Security Team LLC is a vendor now working with the Town on security cameras at the Transfer Station and at the Police Station, and was originally recommended by Chief Streeter. There are some questions about the proposed NVR, what capacity it has and what is needed. Collyer has volunteered to contact Derek from the Security Team and
check to make sure their proposal would give the storage, clarity and zooming capabilities wanted for the Chief's and the town's needs.
Two other quotes were from Protection One and from Northeast Security. The
Protection One quote for $1500 for Greenie Park and $750 for the Town Beach does not include cables, electric, heat boxes or NVR's. The quote from Northeast Security was for $$7826 for both locations, with a DVR included, not the correct equipment for the digital cameras. Both these quotes were eliminated by the Commission.
Selectman Burrill made a motion, seconded by St. Cyr, that the Commission recommend to the Board of Selectmen that they accept the bid of $3420 from Security Team LLC for the eight camera installation at Greenie Park, and encumber the funds from the 2014 budget. Discussion followed. Selectman Burrill noted that the Town already has a good working relationship with Derek from Security Team, and the Chief recommends him. St. Cyr agreed that the pre-existing relationship is of great importance, rather than someone unknown. Chairperson Collyer stated that while there are many strong arguments in favor of Security Team, there are also a lot of unknowns about the system they propose and its capabilities. She
volunteered to contact Derek on the following day to learn more, and to make sure his quote matches the town needs. A vote was taken, with Burrill and St. Cyr in favor and Collyer and Milner opposed. The motion failed.
Selectman Burrill made a motion, seconded by St. Cyr, that the Commission recommend acceptance of the proposal by Security Team for the installation of two security cameras at the Town Beach for $1925. Chairperson Collyer stated that the same questions of capability exist and need to be clarified, as well as any additional costs for the parking lot location for one of the cameras. A vote was taken, with Burrill and St. Cyr in favor and Collyer and Milner opposed. The motion failed.
Chairperson Collyer made a motion, seconded by St. Cyr, that the Commission recommend to the Board of Selectman that they accept one of the two vendors, Security Team LLC and Tavares Technology, not to exceed $5012, for the installation of 6 cameras at Greenie Park, and encumber the monies from the 2014 budget, waiving the need for a sealed bid if necessary. In discussion, Collyer said she will contact Derek and obtain clarification on his proposed system capabilities the following day, ask for any needed modifications if any, and prepare an 'apples to apples' comparison for the Board's consideration, and will email the information to Commission
members as well. She also noted that many vendors were contacted and the four from whom we have quotes are the only responders. Burrill pointed out that it is Town policy to use a sealed bid process when the project to be undertaken will cost $3500 or more, and that in this case, it is likely that all likely bidders have already submitted their bids. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson Collyer made a motion, seconded by Selectman Burrill, that the Commission recommend to the Board of Selectmen that they accept one of two vendors, Security Team LLC and Tavares Technology, not to exceed $3425, for the installation of 2 cameras at the Town Beach, and encumber the monies from the 2014 budget. The motion passed unanimously.
Selectman Burrill made a motion, seconded by St. Cyr, that the Commission recommend to the Board of Selectmen that they approve Eastern Seaboard to do trenching at Greenie Park and encumber $2700 from the 2014 budget for this purpose. The motion passed unanimously.
Senior Warrant Article and NSMT Trip: Collyer chaperoned the trip, said that 35 were present, and all reported that they enjoyed the musical "Christmas Carol" at the North Shore Music Theatre. One of the attendees had difficulty walking from the parking space for the bus to the entrance and she was able to obtain a wheelchair to help her. It is good to know the facility has this option available.
Discussion followed about the difficulty of scheduling senior trips until fall and winter, due to the need to have the warrant article passed in March each year prior to making firm plans and publicizing them, a process that takes two months just to get the publicity in place. By then it is June with Father's Day, sports and other obligations, and difficult to fill a trip and have a chaperone.
Collyer made a motion, seconded by St. Cyr, that the Commission request that the Board of Selectmen amend the proposed Recreation budget to include $4,000 for Senior Activities instead of writing a warrant article. Burrill pointed out that since the warrant article has traditionally passed, he thinks the Board of Selectmen would be unlikely to shift to making it an operating budget item., even though the proposed 2015 budget would still be less than 2014. Collyer and St. Cyr voted in favor and Milner and Burrill voted against, and the motion failed.
Collyer made a motion, seconded by Milner, that the Commission put forth a warrant article for $4,000 for Senior Activities. The motion passed unanimously.
Trail Update from Girl Scouts, High School: Tabled
Greenie Park Plans Update St. Cyr has researched information in the Commission's quest to make 2015 the Year of Safety. Key points to be considered are safe fall and separation zones, and safe fall zone material. He sought safety regulations from New Hampshire, and found none. He was able to find under the Department of Education for the state, recommended sites for school playground safety standards. The Consumer Products Safety Commission and National Public Playground Safety (CPSC and NPPS) have some information and CPSC has a handbook for public playground safety. Pivero stated that the town of Amesbury is renovating a small playground and has equipment to donate to us, that he will pick up and store at his own expense. He will advise
the Commission what there is so that we can recommend the Board of Selectmen accept it, and then plan for installation. The Commission that this is a windfall for which we are grateful. Once we know what equipment is available, we can plan on how best to place both the newly donated and the old play structures for safety during the coming year.
Vacation Plans - Chaperone. Chairperson Collyer said that the planned roller skating set up by former member John Neveux for the Thanksgiving vacation weekend had to be canceled because of Neveux's resignation and there being no one else available to chaperone the event. Milner has volunteered to chaperone the December 28 event. She does not want to sell 50/50 raffle tickets right after Christmas and the Commission agreed. Collyer will post on Facebook, and in the Carriage Towne News. Milner said the announcement has already gone out through the schools. Selectman Burrill suggested giving all publicity briefs to
Mary as well as Facebook and local papers, so she can post on the Town Website and on Cable. Collyer will include this, as well as notices to Nancy to put announcements on the town billboard.
Other Business: Turkey Trot. Kelli Rich and family have put this on for the prior three years, but not this year because they are moving out of town. Selectman Burrill has participated in this event in prior years, and said it was very popular and wants it to be restarted. Collyer has contacted Kelli Rich, the Hen House and the other organizer. She has been told that the Hen House is going to work on continuing the tradition. St. Cyr and his wife both want to help this event continue. Burrill pointed out that as long as it is connected to the Hen House, the town cannot sponsor it due to the possibility of there being liability issues from the use of alcohol. It was agreed by acclimation that Newton Recreation cannot get involved at this time, although members certainly can
independently.
Correspondence : Secretary Collyer read a letter from the Board of Selectman to 125 Development, that they were returning a donation check since it could not be accepted at this time. She also told of email communication to and from Ravensberger, stating that they are sending in a donation check for improvements at Greenie Park for $500.
Collyer made a motion, seconded by Burrill, that we recommend that the Board of Selectmen accept a December 2014 planned donation from Ravensberger for $500, to be deposited in the Revolving Fund for future improvements to Greenie Park. The motion passed unanimously.
Announcements: The next meeting will be January 5, 2015, and we will meet once a month through March. February 2 is scheduled, and March and/or April will be determined in the future.
Collyer noted that elections for Chairperson and other offices are due in March.
Adjournment: Milner made a motion, seconded by Burrill, that we adjourn at 9:00 PM. The motion passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
Annie Collyer, Secretary
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