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MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE NEWTOWN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
TOWN HALL SOUTH
MARCH 8, 2011
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Marks called the meeting to order at 6:08pm.
Commission Members present: Marks, Crick Owen, Yochum, Brookes, DiNicola, Yanni, Jr. and Barczak
Commission Members absent: None
Staff present: Mangold and Reggiano
Staff absent: Samuelson
Public: Kendra Bobowick from the Newtown Bee.
2. ACCEPTANCE OF THE MINUTES
Amendment to section 6, 2nd item should read “slip holders”, 3rd item should read “Marchetti” and replace eviction with “legal”. In section 14 replace maintenance with “responsibilities”.
(m/s/c: Barczak /Yochum) “Motion to accept the minutes from the February 8, 2011 meeting as amended.”
3. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
4. CORRESPONDENCE
- Email from David Hamula, treasurer for Newtown Youth Basketball Association. Mr. Hamula was requesting that they pay their surcharge fee in two installments. Director Mangold will contact Mr. Hamula to discuss.
5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
- Chairman Marks and Director Mangold attended the Board of Finance meeting for the review of the budget. No changes to our budget. The Board did discuss the bulldozer purchase. The purchase of the pre-owned bulldozer would pay for itself in a short time.
6. DIRECTOR’S REPORT
- Director Mangold handed out the list of items that First Selectman Llodra requested of department’s needs that are not being met.
- Newtown Savings Bank will be sponsoring our summer concert series. They will donate $1,500.00.
- Assistant Director Samuelson will not be participating in the planning of Relay for Life. John Moore will be the liaison for Parks and Recreation.
7. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS REPORT
8. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION REPORT
- Ice skating party was held in February. There were about 75 people in attendance. Kevin Koschel was the dj.
- The numbers for the winter classes were very low, many canceled programs.
- Spring and Summer Preview is on line. It will be in the Newtown Bee this week.
- Information/applications for canoe/kayak drystall rental at Eichler’s Cove Marina are now on line. The Commission discussed the possibility of another drystall rack at Lake Lillinonah in the future. Security would be an issue.
- Summer job application deadline is Friday, March 11. We may have a few openings at Treadwell Day Camp.
- Newtown Youth Basketball would like Parks and Recreation to donate 20 hours of time at Newtown Youth Academy since they were canceled out of the schools so many times. The Commission agreed to this request.
- Parks and Recreation will have no access to the Middle School this summer to run its programs because the entire roof is being replaced. All programs have been moved to the high school.
OLD BUSINESS
9. DOG PARK UPDATE
- Dog Park meetings have been canceled due to the weather.
- May 21st is the second annual Strut Your Mutt event. This is the same day as the Rooster Run.
- Jim Palmer has been working on the site plan for the park. When that is complete Assistant Director Reggiano will give it to Kim Jaeckel at which time she will turn it into a color rendering so that residents that attend the Strut Your Mutt event can get a better picture of the park.
- Sal and Pepe’s and My Place will host fundraisers where 20% of a particular night’s proceeds goes to the dog park.
10. PLAN OF CONSERVATION
- Chairman Marks asked each Commission member to come to the April meeting with 3 sample mission statements for Parks and Recreation. He would like Director Mangold to work on this project with possibly a couple of Commission members. The Commission did discuss some suggestions to the Plan.
- Director Mangold is working with Chris Kelsey, tax assessor, to come up with the amount of tax dollars spent per household on Parks and Recreation and what they receive in benefits for that amount.
11. 2011/2012 BUDGET UPDATE
12. EICHLER’S COVE UPDATE
- Mr. Marchetti vacated the house last Saturday, March 5th. Sliding glass doors were taken from the house. This is being investigated. The police and fire departments are waiting to use the house for training.
- 49 slips have been rented to date.
- The security budget is right on target. Commissioner Yanni, Jr. will review the proposal.
- Director Mangold, Assistant Director Samuelson met with Gary Sorge from Stantec and Rob Sibley from Land Use to review the 1st phase of improvements for Eichler’s Cove – the parking lot. Stantec shall prepare plans and specifications to facilitate bidding and construction of parking area improvements including but not limited to the following; Site survey plan (boundary excluded), removals plan, grading and drainage plan, layout, materials, lighting and landscape plan, site details, general conditions and project specifications inclusive of bid form, identification of alternate/add items for bid process. The Commission agreed to continue to use Stantec for the improvements to Eichler’s Cove.
(m/s/c: Brookes/Barczak) “Motion to authorize Parks and Recreation to spend up to $18,000.00 for the Eichler’s Cove Phase 1 Implementation based on Scope and Fee Proposal dated February 22, 2011.
13. DICKINSON REVITALIZATION UPDATE
- The discussion was tabled.
- Billie Cohen has met with John Hollerback from Miracle Playgrounds. They are very excited to work together on this project and to put together a bid proposal.
- Dickinson Park was closed on March 7 due to flooding and some trees down.
14. YALE OPEN SPACE – UPDATE
- Commissioner Brookes attended a very informative meeting done by master students from Yale who did a study on open space. Three of the open space properties discussed were Stone Bridge, Pole Bridge and Pond Brook. Results from the study; Pond Brook – once a year mowing in April or August because of turkey nesting issues; Stone Bridge – girdling some trees for habit for animals and to development access to the lower property of forest; Pole Bridge – brush hog and herbicide invasive barberry. Deer culling not recommended as a form of tick control - a 4 posted device was suggested.
15. OTHER
- Chairman Marks asked the Commission to share their opinions once the report from the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee is complete. March 16th and 23rd there will be a review of the report for the public at Edmond Town Hall at 6:30 pm.
NEW BUSINESS
16. OTHER
(m/s/c: Yochum/Yanni Jr.) “Motion to adjourn”. The meeting ended at 7:56 pm.
Respectfully submitted by,
Donna Benson
Clerk
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