Park and Recreation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
January 11th, 2012
Meeting called to order: 7:35pm.
Commissioners in Attendance: Al Larson, Dave Romejko, Rob O’Connor, Dan Rezende, Andy Paterna, George Caye, John Caldwell, Katie Graham, and Ray Favreau
Also in Attendance: Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano, Skip Bourke (SWW&WW)
Approval of Minutes: December Minutes Approved.
Public Input: None
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Report of Council Liaison: Gary Bazzano informed us that the Town Council has formed an Athletic Field sub-committee. This will be made up of 2 Councilors, Parks and Rec. Staff, PARC members, BOE Athletic Director, Student Athletes and members of the public. They will be looking at field use in town and try and get a synthetic field with lights for all sports. Funding of projects will be looked at and the possibility of referendum for the field if necessary. The group would look for support from all town sports and would like to get all meetings done by this summer.
Gary also thanked Ray Favreau and John Caldwell for their presentation to the Town Council on the Parks Division’s responsibilities including, but not limited to, field maintenance and mowing of all areas in town.
OSTF: The new firehouse parcel has been divided to create an open space lot to connect to Major Donnelly preserve and the remaining piece will be put up for sale. The old firehouse on Sullivan Ave. will be turned into a Regional Dog Pound. OSTF will work with SWW&WW on this year’s CT Trail Day on June 3rd, 2012. Still working on the site for the 3rd (Major Donnelly or Wapping Park or both).
Report of Parks & Rec. Director:
- Community Center: Handicap Ramp 90% complete. Portico will be place over the landing & new stairs for water control.
- Lawrence Road Park: Mechanical clearing started on January 9th. They will continue to clear trails as the weather permits. Parks is looking to rent a type of grinder to clear trails. Pending Town Council approval a motion was made and seconded to spend up to $10,000 of PARC funds to rent or purchase equipment to aid in the removal of trees and invasive brush in Lawrence Road Park as part of the Master Plan. The motion passed unanimously.
- Nevers Park: Portable toilets were placed by the parking lot for the sledding hill and the Rotary Pavilion. One was also placed at Rye Street Park. They are chemically treated to prevent freezing and will remain there year round as a new accommodation for park users.
- Town Council: Spending Freeze in Place.
- High School All-Purpose Field: Parks has put an item in the budget to purchase a Verti Drain Aerator and a new overseeder to help with the drainage problems. The cost will be around $35,000. This would be less expensive option to a $200,000 vertical drainage system.
- Web Site: Ray was able to get a video onto the website for SWW&WW. This is a seven minute video on Bike Safety.
- Marketing: They Parks & Rec. Dept. will have stickers placed on the front of the Reminder Press in May and June similar to SWLL to promote summer programs.
SWW&WW: Skip Bourke from the SWW&WW talked about the Chapel Road Bike Route and some of the improvements needed on the road. Windsor is paving their bike route from the Bissell Bridge to Hartford. The Chapel Road would be a connector from there to the Charter Oak and East Coast Greenways. The Road needs to be restriped with Sharrow signs placed and the town would need to work with the state to improve the state road intersections of Chapel Road with Ellington Road and Route 5.
The group is still trying to get the BOE to put the 4th Grade Bike Safety Class in the Phys. Ed. curriculum. This summer they will have a Bike Safety Program in the Park & Rec Magazine for kids and adults possibly around Mother’s Day. They are also putting a two page flyer in the Rec. Magazine on Safe Riding for Bicyclists and Motorists.
Purchase 4 Three Hoop Bike Racks from Dero to be placed according to the list on the Master Plan.
The Town Council has set up temporary committee for Sidewalks and Bikeways with one member from the SWW&WW (Rob) on the committee along with three council members and someone from the public.
PARC MEMBERS: Councilor Gary Bazzano advised that the commission could go before the Town Council as the Patriotic Commission did recently to ask the council to become a ten member commission to avoid the “balance of power” situation. This is tentatively targeted for the 7pm work session on Tuesday, January 17th. Al and Dave will go before the Council with this request. Thanks to Gary for counseling us on this as it will allow Andy Paterna to remain on the Commission if approved by the Town Council.
Healthy Food System Project: Andy brought up on idea for the members to consider; a South Windsor Healthy Food System Project. This will be trying to get all the growers and produces of food and products together (all farmers and places like Carla’s Pasta and Atlanta Bread etc.). This is from a book by Ben Hewitt called “The Town That Food Saved” about Hardwick Vermont. He would like to be in charge for PARC and try and get other groups and commissions involved. Andy will report back to the group at the March meeting.
PARC By-Laws/Master Plan: New By-laws are done along with the changes to the PARC Ten Year Master Plan.
Meeting adjourned at 10:00 pm
Next Meeting: 7:30pm February 8th, 2012
Respectfully Submitted
George S. Caye
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