The Board of Recreation meeting was called to order by William Sereduck, Acting Chair at 7:28 p.m.
Board Members Present: Mary Witham, William Sereduck, Mike Palmerie, Jr., Karen Southard, and Larry Fitzgerald (arrived at 7:47 p.m.)
Board Members Absent: Mary Welch, Mark Mikulski
Also Present: Christopher Moffo, Program Director
Approval of Minutes:
Motion made by M. Witham, seconded by M. Palmerie, to approve the June 28, 2006 minutes. Unanimous.
Motion made by M. Witham, seconded by M. Palmerie, to approve the July 18, 2006 minutes. Unanimous.
Program Director's Report:
C. Moffo reviewed his report with the Board, (see attached report)
C. Moffo informed the Board that the Board's regular clerk, Janice Cranney, will no longer be available for the position. The Board will have to find a new clerk before next month's meeting.
The Board suggested that C. Moffo try to find a swim instructor to fill in for Lynne Mohlanbrok during the fall swim session, as Lynne will be temporarily unavailable. C. Moffo plans to ask Lynne to recommend another instructor to teach the fall swim lessons, until Lynne is able to return to the position.
The Board inquired as to whether the electrical building at Hotchkiss Park has been fully paid for. C. Moffo informed the Board that it still needs to pay for the panels that are already installed in the building. Connecticut Light & Power has not yet been to the building, and it will probably not be open in time for soccer season.
The Board asked if there have been any new developments hi the legal matter involving the Board. C. Moffo said that there have been none, so there is no need for the Board to adjourn to executive session.
The Board discussed C. Moffo's Multi-Sports Camp. C. Moffo said that it went extremely well, with the exception of the extreme heat during the week hi which it took place. The Board suggested moving the date of the camp for next summer to either the first week after school ends or the last week before school begins, to avoid such a problem. The Board also suggested that C. Moffo either make a separate brochure or take out an article in The Prospect Pages for next summer's camp, so that parents can plan early for it.
C. Moffo informed the Board that he has not heard back from Mark Renick, the man who was interested in holding K-9 classes with the Board. The Board still thinks that this program is a good idea, and suggested that C. Moffo call The Humane Society or Petsmart to find a different instructor.
C. Moffo informed the Board that the bus trips will be held in conjunction with the bus company that the Board regularly works with, and that due to the timing of the tickets, the Radio City Music Hall bus trip will cost approximately $125 per person.
Teams regularly gathering to use town fields without permits continues to be an issue. It is extremely difficult to distinguish whether teams are gathering regularly, and to distinguish between Prospect residents and non- residents. The Board does not wish to kick Prospect resident off the fields. C. Moffo receives many calls reporting teams playing on the fields without permits, and is getting frustrated with the task of sorting the matter out. C. Moffo plans to re-read the town ordinance that pertains to this issue, as there is still some debate over the exact wording therein. The Board's current understanding of the ordinance is that any team that is part of an organization needs their own insurance, non-residents of Prospect need to pay a fee, and that permits are only necessary if the games are a recurring event. The Board agrees that C. Moffo should not be expected to decide who should be kicked off of the fields and enforce the ordinance. However, the Board does agree that these teams are causing a great deal of wear on the fields and equipment, and that if a group is seen damaging the fields in any way, they should be told to leave. C. Moffo has a new permit form that will be reviewed by the Mayor, and should be viewed by the Board at next month's meeting.
Correspondence and Payment of Bills:
All bills reviewed and discussed. Motion made by M. Witham, seconded by W. Sereduck, to pay the bills. Unanimous.
Old Business:
The Board is overwhelmed by the cost of the electrical building, especially considering that no conduits have been installed yet.
The Board inquired as to whether or not C. Moffo has had any success in researching surveillance equipment for Hotchkiss Park to both deter and catch vandals. C. Moffo got a mailing for a digital camera that takes pictures randomly. C. Moffo and the Board decided it would be best if C. Moffo contacted a security company, so that a professional can handle the matter.
The PTO group that is working to install a new playscape at Algonquin School has raised about $1500 to date. Tomorrow, at their outdoor concert, the group plans to sell paved sections for a path that will lead to the playground. The sections that people purchase will be inscribed with the purchasers' names. The PTO group plans on purchasing one part of the playground equipment relatively soon. The Board pointed out that the site preparation will have to be done for the entire area of the playground before any one piece is installed. Region 16 will have to have its own insurance for the kids at Algonquin to use the equipment during recess and physical education. The Board wishes to make sure that Maggie Shook, Superintendent, has approved the use of the proposed Canfield equipment for these purposes, and will not hold the Town of Prospect liable for any injury that may occur there.
New Business:
The Board discussed the issue of the bathroom being inaccessible to handicapped persons. The rocks that surround the bathroom facility not only inhibit accessibility, but also provide an easy weapon for vandals. Many rocks have already been thrown onto the roof of the building. The Board feels that the area around the bathroom should be paved instead, and wishes to pursue doing away with the rocks in favor of pavement. C. Moffo will discuss this suggestion with the Mayor.
C. Mofifo informed the Board that it is possible to turn the lights at Hotchkiss that used to light up the old tennis court, so they would illuminate the bathroom facility. The Board agreed that this should be done, both to ensure safety and to deter vandals.
Concerning Canfield Park, especially in light of the proposed new playground, the Board agrees that fences need to be installed so that people cannot drive their cars up onto the field. People have been frequently doing so, and the Board feels that it is an extremely dangerous practice. The Board discussed the installment of two fences for this purpose. The Board will pay for these fences, and plans to get an estimate of the cost from Perfection Fence soon. The Board restated that it will not be funding any of the Canfield playground project, excluding these two fences and the funds it has already contributed for the PTO group's fundraisers.
Motion made by W. Sereduck, seconded by L. Fitzgerald, to adjourn. Unanimous. This meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,