Minutes
Commission members: P. Degener, Chair; V. Alward, J. Dorenbosch, G. Miyashiro, S. Palmer
Staff present: Mary Jo Dix
Also present: John Board and Caroline Hunter (Mrs. Hunter is scheduled to be appointed as a commission member at the Board of Selectmen meeting tonight).
Mr. Degener called the regular meeting on October 21, 2013 to order at 8:08 pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move to approve the minutes of the August 9, 2013 meeting as submitted. Miyashiro, Dorenbosch. Approved. Unanimous.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mr. Blick was not present but submitted a written report.
- Trick or Treat Street: Mrs. Alward reported that a number of people were interested in participating in the event, but no one surfaced to take over leadership. A list of interested people has been generated and this group will be called on to assist with planning for the event next year. Planning will begin early, possibly in the spring. New ideas are also welcome.
- Summer Concert Series: Mr. Blick received requests from the public via First Selectman Ketcham, to conclude the summer concert series on Labor Day weekend rather than the last weekend in August. Commissioners were in agreement with this idea.
- Extended Day facility: The condition of the “demountable” unit is deteriorating and the Commission should begin to give consideration to future needs for program space.
- Day Camp: The summer camp program is being reviewed and plans for changes for next summer are being made. The plan will assume moderate enrollment, but contain a contingency should enrollment numbers improve.
- Lyrics coffeehouse: November 1 is the first concert of the season. Larry Stevens will perform.
- Upcoming events: the Haunted Graveyard trip is sold out. Two Fall Frenzy Parties are coming up and there is a trip to see Pippin in NYC on November 2.
- Next Meeting: the next meeting is scheduled for November 25. Mr. Blick requested the meeting be changed to November 18 due to a scheduling conflict.
- 2014 Schedule of meeting dates: Mr. Degener will have a list of 2014 meeting dates for approval at the November meeting.
Motion: move that the Park & Recreation Commission accept the Director’s Report as submitted. Palmer, Alward. Approved. Unanimous.
CORRESPONDENCE
- Boys’ & Girls’ Club: a copy of a letter from Joe Dolan to the Redding Board of Education requesting the John Read Middle School softball field modification to allow baseball play and allow the Boys’ & Girls’ Club to use the field was reviewed by the Commission. . The letter also requested that the STEAP Grant money be used to make the modifications to the field. Mr. Degener recommended holding off on making a decision or recommendation until after the local election is concluded. Currently P & R is responsible for the mowing of the JRMS softball field during the summer; the Board of Education does the work during the school year. This issue of maintenance of the field if it is converted to a baseball field was discussed. Mr. Dorenbosch and Mr. Palmer were asked to draft a letter from the Commission to the Boys’ & Girls’ Club asking who would pay the ongoing maintenance costs of the new baseball field.
REGION 9 Field, STEAP GRANT REQUEST
Mr. Degener noted that Joe Dolan (Board of Finance member) is making a presentation to the Board of Selectmen at their meeting this evening. Since the Region 9 Field Project has been approved for funding and is underway, Mr. Degener believes that Mr. Dolan is recommending that the STEAP Grant remain in the control of the Town of Redding.
DISCUSSION AND UPDATE ON DOG LEASH ORDINANCE
Mr. Degener reported proposed Dog Leash Ordinance will be presented for acceptance and approval at a Town Meeting on October 30, 2013. He asked members of the P & R commission to attend the meeting and, if they desired, speak in support of the Ordinance.
DISCUSSION AND UPDATE ON TOPSTONE PARK SURVEY
Mr. Miyashiro distributed copies of the Topstone Park survey for review. The survey will be available on line and residents will be encouraged to complete the survey. The survey will also be included in the next P & R brochure. Mr. Miyashiro proposed that the Survey actively pursue respondents versus being a passive response vehicle. The Commission members agreed that the PTA and other Town databases be contacted.
RCC STORAGE DISCUSSION & UPDATE
This is one of the funding items that will be voted on at the Town Meeting on October 30, 2013. Mr. Degener questioned one aspect of the storage building adjacent to the gym and asked Mr. Blick to check further on the issue.
DISCUSSION OF PROGRAMS’ ENROLLMENT AND BUDGET UPDATE
This item was tabled to the next meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the meeting. Dorenbosch, Palmer. Approved Unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Maday, Recording Secretary