Park and Recreation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
January 9th, 2013
Meeting called to order: 7:35 pm.
Commissioners in Attendance: Rob O’Connor, Andy Paterna, George Caye, Katie Graham, Dan Rezende, Al Larson, John Caldwell and Ray Favreau
Also in Attendance: Cindy Beaulieu, Town Councilor
Approval of Minutes: Dec. Minutes Approved.
Public Input: None
OSTF: Town Attorney is working on the closing for the town to purchase the King St. Property.
Report of the Parks & Rec. Director: The Irrigation Project for the Soccer Fields at Nevers Road Park has started. Parks is waiting for the snow to melt to continue placing the pipes.
VMP: Parks has temporarily secured the damaged cover for use for the remainder of the
winter. They will likely have to buy a new cover for next season, delayed due to
spending freeze.
Wapping Park: Ray received a call from HGTV today. They will be in South Windsor
this Sunday January 13th to shoot an episode for their House Hunters Show. A
buying in South Windsor by the park was selected for the show. He has asked that
SWW&WW be aware and possibly go by Sunday between 8-10 am for the shooting. We
would like to promote the park with as many walkers/hikers as possible.
Capital Projects: Ray will be submitting the 2 year plan PARC voted on last month to
the committee at their January 16th, meeting.
BOE: Ray is still trying to work out a plan for all the early dismissal Wednesdays set for
the 2013/14 school year. Right now the 4th R program has 219 attendees. The max for
the program is around 300. This is creating a space problem if more families sign up
their kids to stay after school on Wednesdays.
POOL SAFETY: Due to the recent drowning in East Hartford and Manchester, state
legislators are working to change the pool safety rules. Ray will make sure someone
from town is involved, attends the meetings because new legislation may eventually
affect VMP and indoor town pool when it is finally built.
PARC 2013/14 Operating Budget: Ray presented all three proposed tax-based general
fund budgets for Parks and Recreation (which had a zero increase) along with the Rec.
Special Revenue Fund (which increased 14.5% but is non tax based). Our budget has
$1954 remaining this year. Ray asked that we increase the monies we gave to the SW
Food Alliance by $200 to cover their costs this year. A motion was made by Al and
seconded by Katie to give $200 to the Food Alliance. Voted on and passed unanimously.
SWW&WW: SWW&WW will have a Full Moon Walk on Saturday January 26th 2013 at the Rotary Pavilion in Nevers Park. The start time for the walk/snow shoe/skiing will be 7:30. Hot chocolate will be provided after the hike. The group is also looking at have this year’s CT Trail Day at the Neiderweifer Wildlife Sancuary. This will be either June 1st or June 2nd.
SW Food Alliance: Winter Farmers Market was a big success. The Unity church 919 Ellington Road has offered to hold it again next year but the group may need a bigger facility.
The Futtner Family delivered beets to the SWHS to be served for lunches. This is the first of hopefully many local farmers delivering food to the School System for lunches.
Andy presented a plan to P&Z on the use of the Nelson Property for a Community Garden. They liked the idea. The project would have parking along Deming St. There would be raised beds for handicap access gardens. Jeff Folger is looking for some grant money for the project.They will probably have a public meeting in the future to let the neighbors know about the project. This will eventually supplement the Avery Street Gardens and be run by Parks & Recreation. The program will have a small fee to rent the garden plots to cover water usage.
Andy has gotten the OK for people to use the SNAP cards to purchase goods at the Farmers Markets. He is also working with the SW Community Foundation so individuals, groups and businesses can donate to the Alliance.
Recreation Center Proposals: Ray handed out three options with some Building Amenities options and program potential for the center. These were discussed at length. Of the three a motion was made and seconded for PARC to support option 3 which was the 43,000 square foot model. This was voted on and approved unanimously. There was discussion on the site and the group was divided. Three areas were determined to be good location for a Community/Rec. Center.
- The corner of Nevers Road and Sandhill Road. The big question to this area was how big the old dump on this site was and what affect will placing a large structure on the area do to the ground
- The 11 acres proposed by the field committee. The question with this area was where to put the building and parking. The two areas were by Nevers Road or more interior to the property on the Eastern end of the lot.
- West Street. This would be next to the new Fire House Complex. Question was about the size of the land and being too far from the High School.
Ray will write up option 3 and the sites chosen to give to the Town Manager to present to the Town Council.
Motion made and seconded to adjourn.
Meeting adjourned at 10:35 pm
Next Meeting: 7:30pm Feb.13th, 2013
Respectfully Submitted
George S. Caye
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