Park and Recreation Commission
Minutes of the Meeting
January 8th, 2014
Meeting called to order: 7:35 pm.
Commissioners in Attendance: Rob O’Connor, George Caye, Al Larson, Andy Paterna, Ray Favreau, Dan VanHorn, Dan Rezende, Dave Romejko
Also in Attendance: Stephen Wagner, Council Liaison
Approval of Minutes: December Minutes Approved after some changes.
Public Input: None
Board of Education Liaison: Al has sent a letter to David Joy requesting that a member of the Board of Education be a Liaison to PARC. Craig Zimmerman, who is currently on the Board of Ed. has resigned from PARC and would like to become our Liaison.
Proposed Ordinance: Ray had the Town attorney review the draft. He asked for some changes and the group also amended some wording and Ray will ask them to review again.
Al informed the group that Sharon Parlapiano has resigned from PARC.
Report of Council Liaison: The Town Council voted to apply for a STEAP Grant for the emergency operation center in town. This will compete with the STEAP Grant for the new Fields in Nevers Park. The Council did not bring about PARC weighing in on the use of Wapping School by the Parks and Recreation Dept. if the school referendum passes this spring. There is a PAC group formed in town to promote the school referendum. There big focus is to get more people in town registered to vote especially young couples in South Windsor. If asked PARC will support the repurposing of Wapping School for the Parks and Recreation Dept. along with other groups to become the new South Windsor Community Center.
Report of OSTF: Jeff Folger is drafting flow chart for the Town Attorney to review that will give the Town Council a process in which to involve OSTF in decisions on Open Space in town. The group was asked to give the town ideas for a new location for the Wapping Fair. The current lease expires at Evergreen Walk in five years. The Nelson Property is being developed into a Community Garden. Two neighbors are opposed to the idea and will be invited to a discussion on the garden in the future before it goes to the public for discussion. The Town Attorney informed Jeff Folger that OSTF bonded funds can’t be used for maintenance of any open space properties (Removal of the barn on the Nelson Property).
King Street Property still not owned by the town. There was a clause in the final document giving the owners naming rights to the park. Ray asked that it be changed to a mutual name with the owners and the town. This is being added to the final contract.
SWWWW: Full Moon Walk is February 15th at Rotary Pavilion
Report of Parks and Rec. Director: Ray has sent a copy of PARC’s old Master Plan to all the Town Council Members with an attached memo stating that it is outdated and will be revamped by PARC over the next 12-16 months. Stephen Wagner stated that the Town Council is going to be working on a strategic plan for the town.
Effective January 1st: The main entrance to the Community Center will be the only available entrance. All the other doors will be exit only. Parks has put a sign by the handicap ramp stating that the entrance is closed. He is also working on getting the inner door to the main entrance to be an automatic opening.
Music equipment has been purchased for the Sensory Garden in My Friend’s Place in memory of Bradon Cushman.
Ray has responded to a request from a town resident to the Town Council about the need for a Disc Golf Course in South Windsor. He has invited him to attend one of our meetings and discuss his request.
SW Food Alliance: Summer Farmers Market will begin on June 21st in Nevers Park.
PARC Master Plan: We need to begin designing two questionnaires for the new Master Plan; a short ten to fifteen one for outdoor events in town and a longer more detailed one for the website and workshops. The shorter one will have info for people to participate in the longer questionnaire online and invite people to the workshops once we have the times established. The websites we discussed last month on the minutes for people to go back and watch will be included in all future minutes to allow all members to review.
What we need to do now as a group for the February meeting
1: Come up with 10 to 15 good questions for the field or event surveys. These can be brought to the next meeting or email to Al Larson.
2: Review the old town surveys and try and get more detailed questions for the longer workshop/online survey.
3: Need to look at upcoming Spring Events where we can be present and sign up to attend and hand out surveys.
Meeting Adjourned at 10:15
Next Meeting: 7:30pm February 12th, 2014
Respectfully Submitted
George S. Caye
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