Old Lyme Parks and Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Present: Don Bugbee (Director), Bob Dunn (Chairman), Mary Ellen Garbarino,
Tim Gavin, Nigel Logan, Glynn McAraw
Absent: John Flower (Vice-Chairman), Missy Garvin
Guests: Candace Fuchs
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Bob Dunn called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – January 7, 2016 and February 4, 2016
Glynn McAraw moved and Tim Gavin seconded to accept the minutes of Regular Meeting January 7, 2016. SO VOTED. Nigel Logan moved and Tim Gavin seconded to accept the minutes of February 4, 2016. Mr. Logan will add the text “Respectfully submitted by Nigel Logan” at the bottom of the February 4, 2016 minutes before submitting them to the Town. SO VOTED.
3. DIRECTOR’S REPORT – Don Bugbee
Basketball
The Youth Basketball season is wrapping up its eight week season this coming Saturday and it was very successful.
Adult Basketball is ongoing and held on Wednesday evenings which will continue through the school year and Sunday mornings which will continue for one more month.
Yoga
Session two, which began in January, has just finished. Instructor availability is being confirmed at this time, which will make sessions available through the end of the school year.
Summer Programs
95% of the Summer Staff has been hired. The Day Camp is tentatively scheduled to begin on June 20 and go through July 29. Two tennis camps are scheduled in the weeks of (July 25 – 29 and August 1 – 5). Youth League Soccer Camp is scheduled August 8 – 12. The details are still being worked out for the following camps: basketball, baseball, softball and lacrosse. Don anticipates getting all camp plans completed by March 30 because he will be participating in the LYSB Camp Fair at the High School from 5 – 7 PM.
Facilities
All facilities are still closed up and opening dates are weather dependent. Stay tuned.
Don met with representatives of the Lacrosse Club and Little League to discuss the upcoming season. Don will be meeting with the vendors who will be doing the work (repairs and resurfacing) on the tennis and basketball courts at Cross Lane which will be completed before the summer season. The Town Woods Park Contract was put out to bid and two contractors have submitted proposals. Ron Tyler, who is the existing contractor and Dan Jones were the two bidders. A decision will be made by Bonnie Reemsnyder and Ralph Eno in the very near future.
4. OLD BUSINESS
a. Boathouse Update
Bob Dunn gave an update. Plans have been done by Nina Peck and the Fire Marshall had some questions for the Boathouse Committee. These are being addressed. If the documents need to be changed, Nina Peck will not charge for the changes. At the January meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Commission agreed that they would not make a decision on the plan until the total and complete plan was submitted. The Boathouse Committee is still working on this. In order to cut back on more architectural costs, the Committee is considering a Design Build Team.
b. Basketball Court
Bob Dunn reported that this is still in the process of being settled as far as placement goes. He had made a clarification in writing to the Boathouse Committee that if the court could not be put over by the boathouse, then is was okay with the Parks and Rec Commission for it to be placed between the bathhouse and the boathouse, although that is not the preferred location.
The Boathouse Committee is working out the details as they look for Zoning approvals.
5. NEW BUSINESS
Parks and Rec Director / District 18 Athletic Director Meeting
Don reported on his meeting with Hildie Heck, who is the new District 18 Athletic Director. They will be meeting again next week to discuss Hain’s Park and the school team’s use of the park. Don looks forward to working with her.
Bob Dunn stated that at the November meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission, it was decided to request funds from the Board of Finance for any legal fees we might have in the near future. This request was made, and at that time the BOF asked that the Parks and Recreation Commission meet with the Boathouse Committee representatives to review the plans. This was done at the January Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. Nicole Stajduhar, Director of Finance, recently suggested that for Fiscal Year 2016 – 2017 the Parks and Recreation Commission have a budget of $3,020 which includes line
items for Legal Fees $3,000, Miscellaneous $10 and Contracted Services $10.00. Other Commissions have this in their budgets.
Glynn McAraw moved and Tim Gavin seconded that the Parks and Recreation Commission request approval from the Board of Finance a budget for Fiscal Year 2016 – 2017 in the amount of $3,020 which includes $3,000 for Legal Fees, $10 for Miscellaneous Expenses and $10 for Contracted Services. There was a discussion. SO VOTED.
6. PUBLIC COMMENT
Candace Fuchs voiced her concerns over the focus and commitment of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Her concerns were addressed, processes were explained, and members of the Commission suggested that she present her specific concerns in writing to Bob Dunn for inclusion in a future meeting agenda where they could be addressed further. Ms. Fuchs stated that she would do so and looks forward to the April meeting.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Tim Gavin moved and Glynn McAraw seconded to adjourn the meeting at 8:11 PM. SO VOTED.
The next meeting of this Commission will be on April 7, 2016 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Ellen Garbarino
Secretary
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Mon, Feb 22, 2016 12:48 pm
Subject: Location of the Basketball Court in Hains Park
Dear Joanne DiCamillo, Chair, Tree Commission
As I did not see the emails below before Thursday’s Tree Commission meeting, I am following-up with an email summarizing the Parks & Recreation Commission’s considerations regarding the location of the Bball court in Hains Park.
In its master plan for Hains Park, the Parks and Recreation Commission proposed that the Bball court continue to be located next to the expanded Boathouse, similar to its current location, for the following reasons:
1. It would provide greater separation of basketball and rowing activities (the rowers also use the Bball court) involving adults and teenagers from the more leisurely park activities involving families and young children: enjoyment of the beach, picnic area, playground, and future pavilion.
Separation of activities is an important consideration for effective and safe park design. In this instance one must also consider that those using the beach or new pavilion will most likely be facing the lake, so if the Bball court were located behind them (next to the bathhouse), they would not be able to see, or avoid, a basketball coming at them from behind.
2. It would maintain the beautiful open space in the center of the park (between the boathouse and bathhouse) - providing greater park aesthetics by maintaining an unobstructed view of lake.
3. It would not infringe on any legal set-backs - either zoning or wetlands (set-backs from the street or 100 ft wetland review area) – unlike the proposal to locate the Bball court in the center of the park next to the public bathhouse, which would infringe on one or both.
4. It would avoid any safety issues from having the basketball court located adjacent to the well head, which at a minimum would be a tripping hazard, and at worst could cause damage to the well.
Please note that if the BBall court is located next to the expanded Boathouse, as proposed in the Park and Rec Commission Master Plan, only 1 of the two maple trees being discussed would likely be impacted. The BHPIC has agreed to replace this tree with 2-3 new trees, with the type of trees and placement to be discussed with the Tree Commission.
I hope that the Tree Commission will reconsider its initial objection to removing the one maple tree based on the additional information provided on how this would be in the best interest for the overall enjoyment of Hains Park.
Bob Dunn
Chair, Old Lyme Parks and Recreation Commission
-----Original Message-----
Cc: Biega, Ken <kenbiega@ogind.com>; brianschuch <brianschuch@gmail.com>; Bugbee, Don <parkrec@oldlyme-ct.gov>; Carney, Phil <pcarney@wesleyan.edu>; Dunn, Bob <rwdunn1@aol.com>; Flower, John <building@oldlyme-ct.gov>; Fuchs, Paul <paul@pfna.com>; Hack, Greg <gahdds@aol.com>; Parker, John <parkerju@aol.com>; Reemsnyder, Bonnie <breemsnyder@oldlyme-ct.gov>; Rhodes, John <rhodesj@region18.org>; Russell, Andy <arussell@hallradio.net>; Sibley, Skip <skip.sibley@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, Feb 18, 2016 9:01 am
Subject: RE: Property adjacent to the boathouse in Hains Park
Joanne,
1. The Town definitely does not own the land adjacent to and north of the boathouse. The Town records show 1 Town Wood Road as being owned by:
Paula Jo Carbone, MD
Richard J. Carbone
Frank S. Carbone
2. We have absolutely no work planned for the parking lot and will not disturb any trees in that area.
3. The new proposed location of the basketball court is shown on the attachment. The P&R Commission and the BHPIC would prefer to have it adjacent to the boathouse (shown in red), but your Commission would not approve removal of the maple trees. The location next to the Toilet Building has been approved by Planning and IWWC, but we still need to get a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals, since the proposed location conflicts with the required 60-foot front yard setback in the C-30 section of the park.
Please let me know if you need any other information.
Regards,
Paul
Paul A. Gianquinto
Gilbane Program Management
New Haven Public Schools
School Construction Program
Cell 860-867-6666
Sent: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 4:20 PM
To: Gianquinto, Paul A.
Subject: Property adjacent to the boathouse in Hains Park
Dear Paul,
When the Old Lyme Tree Commission met at Hains Park in November, to review the plan for the basketball court, we noted several trees in the park that need work.
We asked Tom Degnan to evaluate all of the trees. He finished the evaluations last weekend and posted a few of the trees for removal.
We would like to schedule and finish the work before the crew team begins to practice on the lake but we have a few questions before moving forward. I hope you can provide the answers.
We have included the wooded area, adjacent to the building on the north side, beyond the chain link fence in our plan. Several trees are dead and several, that are hanging over the fence, should be pruned away from the building. We're not certain the town owns this land. The maps that you sent to us do not indicate an abutting property owner. Can you provide info?
I hear that the parking lot may be moved. Will this affect any of the trees?
Was the new location of the basketball court approved by all of the land use commissions and by Parks and Recreation?
We will discuss the project at our meeting tomorrow.
Thank you for your responses.
Joanne DiCamillo, Chair
February 28, 2016
~Dear Robert Dunn and to all copied recipients of this email,
~
The tree warden and the tree commission members ask you to consider these facts.
~
Trees are a valuable natural resource within our community and the Tree Commission and Tree Warden are charged with preserving and protecting them as stated in the Old Lyme Tree Ordinance and the CT State Statutes.~
~
The maple tree that is growing adjacent to the driveway in Hains Park is a valuable asset to the park and arguably its most beautiful tree, the only large shade tree growing between the boathouse and Route 1. When passing by I have observed cars parked under it and teenagers gathered on the lawn beneath it, enjoying the coolness of its shade. I myself have appreciated watching the crew activities from its shady spot when my daughter was a member of the high school team and the Blood Street Sculls.
~
Many times trees are considered obstacles to construction projects. The easy solution is to remove and replace with new trees as opposed to finding alternatives. This is not a desirable alternative for the Hains Park trees. It will be 20-30 years before the young trees reach maturity and provide the benefits that are described above. With that in mind, we asked for an alternative location for the basketball court that would not impact town trees.
~
The Tree Commission and the Tree Warden agree that the new design, with the basketball court near the rest rooms, seems to be a very good compromise. Saving the trees will be more pleasing aesthetically and the basketball court will become more user friendly with the improved access to all who use the park. Parents will welcome a new recreational area within close proximity to the beach. They can watch their small children play safely, without the worry of crossing the driveway. Furthermore, if the pavilion is eventually approved, handicapped visitors will be able to view all of the court activities from a nearby location.
~The safety concerns you raise regarding flying basketballs seem to be a moot point at this time. To my knowledge, the pavilion has not been approved. The location and dimensions of the pavilion have been discussed but not yet confirmed. As for the well head, a barrier can be created easily by planting layers of shrubs around it.
~
The new location is proposed for an open space that is frequently used for parking trucks and trailers which is frankly unattractive. It seems more practical and orderly to utilize the area next to the boathouse for parking and loading/unloading the equipment as shown in the revised site plan.~It seems that a hard surface court and two hoops will not obstruct views of the lake.
~
The BHPIC representatives mentioned at the Annual Town Meeting that the revised plan for the basketball court was received favorably by the Board of Finance, Planning Commission and the Rogers Lake Authority. Although you were not present for the Parks and Recreation meeting, the representatives commented that the members asked lots of questions and all of their questions were answered. The meeting went smoothly, however, there was no decision. The Zoning Commission has approved it. The Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Commission approved it at their January 26 meeting. ~
~So it appears, with this new request to remove the trees, you are overlooking the judgment of many other people who have reviewed the revised plan and found it to be a good one.~
~
Let me be clear, it is not our intention to undermine your commission’s authority in Hains Park or to stop the boathouse project and the improvements proposed for the park. Yet, we have a responsibility to the members of this community to uphold the articles of the Old Lyme Tree Ordinance, “to promote the public good as it is benefited by the healthful effects, the aesthetic contributions, and the environmental~qualities provided by our trees and shrubs".
~
Our goal is not to choose between the basketball court and the trees but rather to find a compromise that works for everyone. I have extended invitations to you in emails and through the BHPIC representatives, to discuss this issue at a joint meeting of our commissions or to attend one of our meetings. An invitation to join us for a site walk was extended by the Tree Warden.
~
We understand that ZBA has approved one variance for maximum height, and a second variance for set-back. We are hopeful that they will review the new court location with all of these facts in mind and approve a third variance.~~
~
Thank you for considering our views.
~
Joanne DiCamillo, Chair~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Old Lyme Tree Commission
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