Park and Recreation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
May 9th, 2012
Meeting called to order: 7:35pm.
Commissioners in Attendance: Al Larson, Dave Romejko, Rob O’Connor, Dan Rezende, Craig Zimmerman, Andy Paterna, George Caye, John Caldwell, and Ray Favreau
Also in Attendance: Gary Bazzano, Cindy Beaulieu, Andrew Hinchliffe, Luke Beland, Kerill O’Neil
Approval of Minutes: April Minutes Approved.
Public Input: Andrew, Luke and Kerill spoke to thank the commission for getting the Skate Park in motion. Ray expressed our thanks for their persistence in going in front of the Town Council and asking for a Skate Park. This has been years in the making and it is finally moving forward. They also said they would like to help in the design. Ray will be setting a date for a Public Meeting on the park and at that time would ask the skaters to think of one or two main features they would like for the Skate Park. Ray asked PARC to help in choosing a site for the Skate Park. Ray, John, Craig and Al will meet and look over a few choices and get back to the commission. A motion was made to allow this subcommittee to choose a site and email this to members to vote on approval
through the email and not wait until our June meeting. Motion was seconded, voted on and approved unanimously. Gary informed the members that the object of the Town Council approving the $95,000 for the Skate Park get the Park started with the intention of adding features in the future. (See later in meeting Phase Two)
Report of Council Liaison: Gary Bazzano said that the field committee received their first email in opposition of lighting the Stadium Field at the SWHS. The residents behind the field all signed the email asking that the town not light the field. Ray said that the Stadium Field is being reopened to teams because the All Purpose Field is being shut down. The originally installer is going to strip all the sod off the field, aerate the soil and reseed the whole field to try and eliminate the drainage problems. The field will be closed for approx. 10 weeks.
The field committee is coming up with a proposal for the Capitol Projects Committee for building new fields in town that will go to referendum in November.
Healthy Food System Project: The group is meeting every other Wednesday. Andy has gotten many of the farmers and restaurants on board. The SW Food Alliance consists of PARC SWALPAC and the SW Historical Society. He has also has Michele Lipe, Jeff Folger, Sherry McGann, Health Director and Mary Ann Lopez from the School Food Service involved. They would like to get the schools involved in eating healthier and also start a composting program at the schools to reuse the food waste from lunch. The group wants to start a Winter Farmers Market in 2012. There is Grant Money available to farmers to continue their growing season using greenhouses on their property. Andy is in the process of developing a publicity piece to distribute to tell everyone who they are. He would also
like the town to make the Nelson Property another Community Garden. He has a list of books for further reading and a list of the next meetings for May and June are.
Books/Resources:
1. The Town That Food Saved, by Ben Hewitt
2. Bringing It To The Table, by Wendell Berry
3. In Defense Of Food, by Michael Pollan
4. Folks, This Ain't Normal, by Joel Salatin
Meeting dates/times for SW FOOD ALLIANCE in Rm. 206 SW Community Center at 6PM:
MAY-- 5/16, 5/30
JUNE-- 6/13, 6/27
A motion was made to suspend the PARC Agenda and come up with a list of items/projects that PARC would like to place on the referendum in November. Motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
After a discussion the following items were given to Ray to present to Capital Projects Committee for review.
- Phase Two of the Skate Park
- VMP improvements
- Trail: developing new trails in town in conjunction with the SWWWW Master Plan.
- Field Improvements (All Fields in Town)
- Park Improvements (All Parks in Town)
Al asked that the remaining Agenda items be tabled until the June Meeting.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 pm
Next Meeting: 7:30pm June 13th, 2012
Respectfully Submitted
George S. Caye
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