Park and Recreation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
March 9th 2011
Meeting called to order: 7:35pm.
Commissioners in Attendance: George Caye, Al Larson, Rob O’Connor, Dan Rezende, Dave Romejko, Sharon Parlapiano, John Caldwell, Andy Paterna, Craig Zimmerman, Jason Race, Ray Favreau
Also in Attendance: Mayor John Pelkey, Mark Duclos, and Kory Louks
Approval of Minutes: Minutes for February meeting approved.
Public Input: None
Special Report: Members gave their input on the “Elected Officials Under Fire Training” meeting held on 2/28/11. Meeting was videotaped. Craig suggested that we watch this as a group and also suggested that all our meeting room needs to be evaluated.
OSTF: Nelson Property: A barn on the property has collapsed and will be removed by the town. Solemni Property is being mentioned for a CREC Magnet School. OSTF did not have any information on the proposal. Ray mentioned that there are ten acres of wetlands on the property and the builders may be looking to donate this to the town. The area may not be suitable for the town to purchase or take control of after the building is completed.
Report of Council Liaison: None
Report of Parks & Rec. Director:
- Current Capital Projects Fund Balance: $467,493
- VMP: Planned opening is scheduled for Memorial Day Weekend. The electrical is being completed now at the concession building. Cell Tower Project is on hold and may begin this fall. Ray is trying to get a wi-fi feature for the park for the 2012 season.
- Ellsworth Gym: Ray spoke with Pat Hankard and the BOE doesn’t want to open Ellsworth for bathroom use because disarming the alarms would open up the whole building during the games. He will try and have the existing bathroom spruced up.
- Town Spending Freeze: Due to the spending freeze all projects not already started (VMP Playground for example) are on hold. The Bobcat that PARC gave money for the Parks & Rec. Dept. to purchase temporarily on hold has been approved by town manager for purchase this year.
- Craig Pepin Memorial: The unveiling of the plaque at the Little League Complex is scheduled for Saturday April 30th. Parks is working on the design and creation of a memorial garden outside centerfield fence of Major A (plaques, stones, plantings) that will be renamed the “Craig Pepin Memorial Field”.
- BOE: Ray and John met with the new Athletic Director, Chris Wanner, about field preparations for the spring season.
- Eli Terry will have the gym floor replaced this summer – hopefully with a more appropriate alternative to vinyl tile. Ray is working with Patrick Hankard from BOE and Phys. Ed. teacher Sue McCabe in selecting a suitable product.
- Field Preparations: Parks will begin to prep the fields for the spring season on March 21st. Portable toilets may be needed in some parks early in the season until the buildings are opened. Portable toilets in the parks will now be the responsibility of the Parks & Rec. Dept.
SWW&WW:
1) Bicycle Friendly Community Application was submitted in February.
2) The group plans to have a bike ride before all the concerts at Evergreen Walk
this summer.
3) May 15th: Scheduling a 12 mile bike ride and a ribbon cutting for the bike
lanes on Sand Hill Road.
4) In conjunction with CT Trails Day the SWW&WW and OSTF will sponsor a
walk at Major Donnelly Park on Sunday June 5th from 1-4 pm.
5) Evergreen Walk is purchasing 4 bike racks for their site with SWW&WW
paying half the costs.
6) Scantic River Greenway Designation: Working on getting supportive Town
Council resolution and submitted to DEP by May 1st, 2011.
Disc Golf: PARC members picked five sites from the list to be considered:
- Wapping Park
- Country View Estates Open Space
- Priest Property
- Rye Street Park
- Pero Property
These sites need to be reviewed and maybe have some of the disc golfers walk the area and see if a 9 or 18 hole course would be able to be built on them.
Skate/Wheel Park: Mrs. Hecht would like the park built near TE Middle School (Pero Property).
Ray handed out a draft of the Athletic Field Policy. He would like PARC members to review the policy and give him some feedback. In the future, he would also like to see all town fields including BOE fields (after school hours) under control for use and maintenance by the Parks and Recreation Department.
New Parks & Rec. Magazine should be in our mail boxes mid-March.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 pm
Next Meeting: 7:30pm April 13th 2011
Respectfully Submitted
George S. Caye
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