Parks and Recreation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
January 13, 2010
Meeting called to order: 7:30 pm
Commissioners in Attendance: Andy Paterna, Steve Harz, Al Larson, Katie Graham, Dave Romejko, John Pelkey (Town Council Liaison)
Also in Attendance: representatives from the Friends of South Windsor Swimming – Matt Riley, Jodi Oliver, Greg Micolletti, Diana Branscombe, John Wentworth. Also Mike Gantick form Public Works.
Special Reports:
Friends of South Windsor Swimming – The group’s mission is to establish and support full-fledged, independent, varsity boys and girls swim teams at South Windsor High School. The demand for high school swimming is high according to the CIAC report on SWHS athletics issued last year. The BOE is expected to approve the establishment of the teams, but due to the difficult budget years ahead, the FSWS has been asked to “self fund” the teams for the first three years. The group presented to the Board of Education for the first time on January 12. Their near term objective is to raise $14,000 by March 31, 2010, and $28,000 by June 30, 2010 in order to fully fund the 2010-2011 year.
Mike Gantick, Director of Public Works – Lawrence Road Park development options. Maintaining parks and fields has been a challenge recently. The reduction in staff and increased infrastructure repairs have contributed to this situation. The town cannot use chemicals to clear the property. Funding for clearing is very limited. The Public works department is very supportive of developing Lawrence Road Park, however, resources and funding will be limited for the foreseeable future.
The Commission passed a motion approving sending a letter to the Board of Education before their next meeting in support of the Friends of South Windsor Swimming’s proposal to establish boys and girls varsity swim teams at the high school for the 2010-2011 school year.
Report of the Council Liaison – John Pelkey
The initiative to develop guidelines for naming town buildings and facilities after residents who have made significant contributions was discussed. The shell and roof of the new baseball batting facility at Rotary field are complete. The building is expected to be completed by the end of April.
Open Space Task Force Liaison – George Caye was nominated and approved to replace Jim Snow as the PARC’s representative on the Task Force.
Boston Pizza has offered to outfit the new concession at Rye Street Park. Significant damage occurred at Rotary Pavilion on the weekend of January 9-10, apparently by skateboarders.
The Steroid Chalk Talk will be held at TEMS auditorium on February 5, 2010.
The Recreation Department website is still under construction by PrestoSports.
Customer Service Survey – the PARC will potentially co-sponsor the survey. Commissioners are asked to submit questions they would like included.
The Parks and Recreation Master Plan Draft #4 dated January 15, 2010 was distributed and reviewed.
Presentation of the Lawrence Road Park Plans to the town council will be made in the form of a cover letter and a one-page site drawing at the February 1st Council meeting. The full Lawrence Road Park cost estimate was passed out. The total cost as of August, 2009, was $1,670,161.
A short presentation of concept drawings for the playground at VMP was made by Al Larson. The playground is in the PARC Master Plan for 2010-2011.
Meeting was adjourned at 9:55 pm
Next Meeting: 7:30 pm February 10, 2010
Respectfully submitted,
Al Larson
| 