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01-10-12
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF
THE NEWTOWN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
TOWN HALL SOUTH
JANUARY 10, 2012

These minutes are subject to approval by the Newtown Parks and Recreation Commission.


1.  CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Marks called the meeting to order at 6:07 pm.
        
Commission Members present:  Marks, Brookes, Crick Owen, Yanni Jr., and DiNicola
Commission Members absent: Barczak,
Staff present: Mangold, Samuelson and Reggiano
Staff absent: None
Public:  Kendra Bobowick from the Newtown Bee

ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES

(m/s/c: DiNicola/Crick Owen) “Motion to accept the minutes from the meeting of November  9, 2011.”
(m/s/c: Brookes/DiNicola) “Motion to accept the minutes from the November 16, 2011 meeting.”
(m/s/c: Crick Owen/Brookes) “Motion to accept the minutes from the December 13, 2011 meeting.” With Yanni Jr. and DiNicola abstaining.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

  • None
CORRESPONDENCE

  • See Capital Budget Discussion
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT

  • Chairman Marks, Director Mangold, Assistant Director’s Samuelson and Reggiano met with the First Selectman to review the department’s budget request. First Selectman Llodra was disappointed that pocket parks were not a priority for the department. Chairman Marks suggest a master plan for the town which would include a master plan for Parks and Recreation.  Garry Sorge, from Stantec, would be able to identify what type of parks would work in a particular area of the town and the study should cover all types of facilities.
  • First Selectman Llodra also had suggestions before the budget goes before the Board of Selectman.  Her main focus was on a Capital request item to replace a 2002 Chevrolet liftgate pickup with a heavier duty truck for $72,000.00. As of now the dog park request was left in the budget. This request is matching funds raised by Friends of Park and Bark.  Parks and Recreation will be before the Board of Selectman at the January 23rd meeting.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT

  • See Capital Budget Discussion
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PARKS – PARKS AND FIELD REPORT

  • See report.
  • Staff is back since road clean up has been completed.
  • Although the program has ended, Christmas trees are still being dumped at Dickinson Park for disposal.
  • The crew has been working on installing conduit for fiber optics from the Municipal Center to the Maintenance building at Fairfield Hills.  They have also been striping the surface off of Oakview field.  Work can continue to proceed also long as Mother Nature cooperates.
  • Assistant Director Samuelson commented that he was informed by email by First Selectman Llodra that Parks and Recreation will now be responsible for plowing Dodgingtown Firehouse.
  • Assistant Director Samuelson reported that Scott Sharlow from the tech department is in touch with the security company that will be installing the cameras at Eichler’s Cove as to what the status is on this project.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF RECREATION REPORT

  • Applications have been mailed to previous summer employees and all applications are on line.
We are already preparing for the spring and summer programs.
There has been a request from the Wardens from Eichler’s Cove to have some type of recycling receptacle in place for this coming boating season. Our present policy is if you bring it in you bring it out with you, at Eichler’s there are trash receptacles, but no recycle receptacles.  Director Mangold and Assistant Director Reggiano will contact Big Belly a solar compactor company to get further information on their product and bring it back to the Commission.  It was also suggested that the high school be contacted to see if their band/color guard students would be interested in picking up recycling on a regular basis as part of their fundraising project. This would be a pilot program just at Eichler’s Cove.
  • Assistant Director Reggiano and Director Mangold attended a conference in November where they were made aware of new ADA regulations requiring a pool lift or slope into the pool by March 12, 2012.  Assistant Director Samuelson stated that at a Connecticut Park Association meeting where Pam Scully from the state spoke on this issue and said they would not be enforcing these regulations on existing pool only on newly built ones. We presently have an old hoya lift at Treadwell now that is in need of replacement.  Chairman Marks asked Assistant Director Reggiano and Director Mangold to price out what is needed and to come back to the Commission. The Commission would then decide how to proceed to fund this purchase.
OLD BUSINESS

1.  DOG PARK UPDATE

  • In December a fundraising mailing took place.  The mailing was requesting donations; there were a few choices on level of giving available.  To date $4910.00 has been received.  Total funds raised so far - $24,453.85.
  • No date has been set yet for the Strutt Your Mutt event held in May.
2.  VOTE ON 2012 MEETING DATES

(m/s/c: Yanni Jr., /Brookes) “Motion to approve meeting schedule for 2012.”

3.  VOTE ON SUMMER SURCHARGE FEES
        
  • Assistant Director Reggiano handed out a surcharge fee schedule for the summer programs and camps.  The schedule was reviewed and discussed by the Commission.  The Commission agreed to have Assistant Director Reggiano and Director Mangold allocate the breakdown of the fees at this point.  Chairman Marks would like to further discuss the allocations at a future date.
(m/s/c: Brookes/Crick Owen) “Motion to accept the 2012 surcharge allocations for the summer programs and camps.”

  • Chairman Marks asked Director Mangold to speak with the Finance Director about whether to charge a flat rate or a percentage for credit cards.
4.  ADOPT THE NEWTOWN PLAN OF CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT

  • Changes that were submitted to Director Mangold have been made.  If anyone has any more changes or comments please have them to Director Mangold by Friday, January 20. New maps will be coming from Scott Sharlow.  Director Mangold thanked Commissioner Brookes for all her help with this project.
5.  CAPITAL BUDGET DISCUSSION

  • Director Mangold, Chairman Marks and Assistant Director Samuelson have received emails from First Selectman Llodra requesting further justification on the request to purchase a new truck. Assistant Director Samuelson noted that the inventory of vehicles that Mrs. Llodra was working from was incorrect and not up to date.  It showed the right amount of vehicles but not the correct type of vehicles.
   Assistant Director Samuelson has been researching the vehicle repairs for each of the trucks that are part of the present inventory and these repairs are only what are on record with Public Works, it does not take into account the times the trucks have been to the dealer for repairs. The 2002 Chevrolet liftgate pickup is costing the town $0.47 cents per mile to run as opposed to the newer heavier duty trucks that cost $0.17 or $0.18 cents per mile to run.  This truck replacement in question has been in the shop for repairs and average of 7.3 over the last three years. The data shows it was in for preventative maintenance twice annually which means this vehicle broke down 5 times in 2009, 5 times in 2010 and 6 times in 2011.  The records do not indicate the length of time the vehicle has been out of service, at the present time this vehicle has been at Public Works for 3 weeks.
  • A lighter duty truck was discussed that would cost approximately $20,000.00 less.  Our trucks need to last 12 years not the 7 they used to last with the lighter duty trucks. We need a heavy duty truck for the current demands and 12 year duration.
  • Fred Hurley from Public Works has mentioned that they have a truck at the highway department that is not being used full time. First Selectman Llodra wants to know why we would buy one when they have one just sitting. Chairman Marks asked Director Mangold to email Director Hurley to see if he would be willing to give the truck to Parks and Recreation.
  • Assistant Director Samuelson will justify the need to the Selectman for the truck that will include photos/powerpoint presentation.
  • If the truck is cut from the budget and we are left with $30,000.00 in the budget the Commission agreed that they would use the money to purchase one utility vehicle and the lighting project for the Dickinson Park Pavilion.
6.  EICHLER’S COVE REPORT

  • Commission reviewed a new Policy and Procedures pamphlet for the slip holders.
  • Slip rates for the last 6 years was handed out to the members, this was in response to a couple of phone calls that Director Mangold received.  Two slip holders complained that the rate has gone up every year.  Which they have not, as shown in the report. The rate for out of town renters has increased $123.00 over the last 6 years.
  • All slip renter letters for this coming season have been mailed out.  Some renters are taking advantage of the $50.00 discount.
  • Director Mangold reviewed the financial report for Eichler’s Cove for this past season with the Commission. She did report that the cost of having the security company and the wardens at Eichler’s was comparable to our past contracted cost.
  • Director Mangold will double check the balance left in this account – it seemed to be too low and might not have included the previous year’s balance.
7.  OTHER

None


NEW BUSINESS

1.  OTHER

None


(m/s/c: Brookes/DiNicola)  “Motion to adjourn.”  The meeting ended at 8:03pm.

Respectfully submitted by,
Donna Benson
Clerk


MOTIONS OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF
THE NEWTOWN PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
TOWN HALL SOUTH
JANUARY 10, 2012


(m/s/c: DiNicola/Crick Owen) “Motion to accept the minutes from the meeting of November 9, 2011.”
(m/s/c/: Brookes/DiNicola) “Motion to accept the minutes from the November 16, 2011 meeting.”
(m/s/c: Crick Owen/Brookes) “Motion to accept the minutes from the December 13, 2011 meeting.” With Yanni Jr. and DiNicola abstaining.

(m/s/c: Yanni Jr./Brookes) “Motion to accept meeting schedule for 2012.”

(m/s/c: Brookes/Crick Owen) “Motion to accept 2012 surcharge allocations for the summer programs and day camps.”

(m/s/c: Brookes/DiNicola)  “Motion to adjourn.”

Respectfully submitted by,
Donna M. Benson
Clerk