MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE NEWTOWN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
TOWN HALL SOUTH
JANUARY 11, 2011
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Marks called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.
Commission Members present: Marks, Yanni, Jr., Crick Owen, Yochum, and Brookes
Commission Members absent: DiNicola and Barczak
Staff present: Mangold, and Samuelson
Staff absent: Reggiano
Public: Richard Dieckman, Scott Coleman and Kendra Bobowick from the Newtown Bee.
2. ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES
Amendment to section 7, 6th item should read “The vacate date is December 31st, 2010”.
(m/s/c: Yanni Jr. /Yochum) “Motion to accept the minutes from the December 14, 2010 meeting as amended.”
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
4. CORRESPONDENCE
5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
- Discussions are ongoing in reference to the Newtown Youth Academy project. Claris is working on the projected cost to renovate the space. The next meeting is January 21st at 3:00pm.
- Chairman Marks and Director Mangold went before the Legislative Council’s Finance Sub-Committee to review the Capital Improvement Plan (C.I.P.). The presentation went well. The following items were shared with the Sub-Committee: the schematics of Eichler’s Cove, the master plan for Dickinson Park, schematic designs for the community center as well as the Claris design for Newtown Youth Academy. The Splash Pad at Dickinson was discussed, but the sewers were not discussed. The Legislative Council still needs to vote on the CIP.
- Director Mangold told the Commission that she receives a quarterly form which she completes on the progress of any CIP items, which includes department approvals as needed. Chairman Marks suggested that he go before Public Building and Site Committee about the Newtown Youth Academy project.
- Bob Mitchell received a bill from O & G about 2 schematic designs of the Community Center. Chairman Marks will discuss this item with Mr. Mitchell. Only one schematic was approved.
6. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
- Director Mangold handed out to all members a copy of the present Capital Improvement Plan with highlighted changes. See handout. She also reported that Selectman Llodra is looking into the possibilities available to reuse one of the portable classrooms at the high school at Dickinson Park for bathhouses for the Splash Pad and bath and concession at Eichler’s Cove.
- Director Mangold and Assistant Director Samuelson have met with landscape designer Billie Cohen to review her preliminary design ideas for Dickinson Park. They were both very pleased with her ideas for a natural splash pad. The Commission agreed. They also agreed that they would like to use her as a consultant to work on specific components at Dickinson Park.
- Director Mangold received a $5,500.00 trails and open space grant. She will meet with Assistant Director Samuelson and Rob Sibley to discuss the best use of the money. She also received a small grant ($282.00) from Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism to use to hire a larger professional band for the Concert in the Park series that runs during the summer.
- Director Mangold handed out a document that is titled “Plan Elements for the Plan of Conservation”. She would like the members to review it and be ready to discuss next month. Chairman Marks would like to see the Town hire a planner and have one large master plan instead of all of these individual master plans. He does not feel the Commission is equipped to complete a master plan.
7. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS REPORT
- Parks report was reviewed.
- Snow removal has been keeping the crew very busy.
- First Selectman Llodra would like the Parks crew to take over all of the shoveling at Fairfield Hills. There is a storm contract in place this year. Parks and Recreation would need more people and equipment in order for the crew to take over the shoveling.
- The lightning detection equipment installation at the Fairfield Hills Maintenance Garage has begun.
8. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION REPORT
OLD BUSINESS
9. DOG PARK UPDATE
- Members of the Dog Park Committee and Assistant Director Reggiano spoke at a men’s club last Sunday. They would like to do more of these visits to other groups in town.
- The Dog Park fund received a $1,000.00 donation from Mount Pleasant Animal Hospital bringing the total of funds raised to $13,000.00.
- Assistant Director Samuelson would like Assistant Director Reggiano to revisit the price of fencing since materials used have gone way up. A suggestion was made to sell 8 foot sections of fencing to raise money.
10. 2011/2012 BUDGET UPDATE
- Next meeting is January 20th, at 7:00 pm at the Municipal Center.
- Director Mangold handed out an updated Budget Summary to all members. Account 1005 Summer Program has been reduced from $103,377.00 to $94,217.00.
- First Selectman Llodra asked Director Mangold and Assistant Director Samuelson to prepare an impact report on what an additional maintainer would do for the department as well as their responsibilities. She would also like a history of the hiring of maintainers and previous requests for additional maintainers.
11. TRAIL COMMITTEE – REAPPOINTMENTS AND NOMINATIONS
(m/s/c: Yanni Jr./Brookes) “ Motion to reappoint the existing members( Scott Coleman, Paula Burton and Mark Lurie) and to appoint the new members (Robert Mormando, Dennis Lawler, and Andrea Brosnan) as recommended by Director Mangold and Scott Coleman."
12. EICHLER’S COVE UPDATE
- Director Mangold reported that 5 slips have been rented so far by returning customers.
- Director Mangold asked the Commission to review a few of the questions that have come up in regard to swim passes and resident car permits for boat slip renters.
- 4 swim passes per boat per family - If there are more than 4 members of the immediate family then it is alright to issue additional passes, but one family per boat and all members must live in the same household.
- Non-residents wanting more than one car permit - One permit per slip. If they need to get into the facility with an additional vehicle to pull the boat out or put the boat in the non-resident should give Parks and Recreation a copy of the additional registration and the plate number will be listed on the list that the Warden will have. They will be allowed access to the marina with the proper id.
- Co-Owners – unless they are married their can only be one owner of a boat on a boat registration. Permit will be given to the owner of the boat for their vehicle.
- The Commission asked Director Mangold to keep a log of issues that come up this year at Eichler’s Cover so that they can be addressed accordingly next year.
13. OTHER
- Director Mangold received a draft report from Deborra Zukowski of the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee. Director Mangold will share the draft with the Commission. Chairman Marks would like to see all allocations pictured on the Master Plan not just mentioned in the report.
NEW BUSINESS
14. BABE RUTH BASEBALL
- Richard Dieckman, Fields Operation Director for Babe Ruth Baseball came before the Commission with questions from his board and parents. Assistant Director Samuelson suggested that he come to a board meeting to answer all their questions. Chairman Marks said he would also attend the meeting. Mr. Dieckman suggested either their February or March meeting. Assistant Director Samuelson also asked Mr. Dieckman to send him any questions ahead of time so that he can be prepared for the meeting. He also suggested doing a field day meeting on how best to maintain the fields; he has found this meeting very helpful to the coaches in the past. This meeting could take place in May or June.
- Glander Field – weather permitting could be ready for the spring. But sodding is totally weather related and snow cover could be a problem. The fencing will also be done.
15. OTHER
(m/s/c: Yanni Jr. /Crick Owen) “Motion to adjourn”. The meeting ended at 7:30 pm.
Respectfully submitted by,
Donna Benson
Clerk
MOTIONS OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE NEWTOWN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
TOWN HALL SOUTH
JANUARY 11, 2011
Amendment to section 7, 6th item should read “The vacate date is December 31st, 2010”..
(m/s/c: Yanni Jr./Yochum) “Motion to accept the minutes from the December 14, 2010 meeting as amended.”
(m/s/c: Yanni Jr/Brookes) “ Motion to reappoint the existing members( Scott Coleman, Paula Burton and Mark Lurie) and to appoint the new members (Robert Mormando, Dennis Lawler, and Andrea Brosnan) as recommended by Director Mangold and Scott Coleman."
(m/s/c: Yanni Jr.,/Crick Owen) “Motion to adjourn”.
Respectfully submitted by,
Donna M. Benson
Clerk
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