Town of Prospect - Boards & Commission

Board of Recreation

Approved Minutes
January 10, 2007

The Board of Recreation meeting was called to order by Mike Palmerie, Jr. at 7:00 p.m.

Board Members Present: Mike Palmerie Jr., Mary Welch, Mary Witham, and Bill Sereduck

Board Members Absent: Larry Fitzgerald and Karen Southard

Also Present: Christopher Moffo, Program Director, Jessie Minoski and Ryan Dempsy Woodland High School students; Glenn DeCarolis and Sue Sherman, Prospect Softball and Football; Gail Yacavone and Marybeth Knoble, Canfield Park Playground Committee.

Guests/Public Participation:

1. Jessie Minoski and Ryan Dempsey presented the Board of Recreation with a proposal to begin a Prospect Recreaiton Lacrosse Team.

  • A. Mr. Minoski and Mr. Dempsey presented the Board with background information about the sport of lacrosse, the benefits of the sport to youth, cost, and equipment nneded to play.
  • B. Mr. Minoski and Mr. Dempsey discussed ideas for fundraising to raise money to pay for creating a team.
  • C. Mr. Minoski and Mr. Dempsey informed the Board of the following logistics of the proposal:

    i. Tryouts would be held during the last week of March. Tryouts would be promoted around town.
    ii. Practice would be three days per week and games would be scheduled with other teams in towns such as Avon, Bethany, and Cheshire.
    iii. The team would be focused for 14 to 18 year olds and the team roster would be approximately 20 players.

  • D. Mr. Minoski shared with the Board that he currently played for the Watertown lacrosse team. Chris Moffo will contact the Watertown lacrosse team to discuss how they started up the team. Chris will report back to the board about the information he gets from Watertown.

    • 2. Glenn DeCarolis, President, and Sue Sherman from the Prospect Softball and Football (Tri-Valley Football) spoke to the Board about a proposal to construct a storage shed that would be attached to the concession stand at Canfield Park.

  • A. Mr. DeCarolis shared with the board a measured drawing on the proposed storage shed. Mr. DeCarolis informed the Board that Prospect Softball and Football is proposing to add a 10 foot x 20 foot structure to the concession stand. The storage shed would be split for storage use by the softball and football teams.
  • B. Mr. DeCarolis and Mrs. Sherman informed the Board that the cost for construction (materials, site preparation, and installation) of the storage shed will be covered by donations and that the cost to the Board would be zero. All costs will be covered.
  • C. Mr. DeCarolis and Mrs. Sherman informed the Board that they are aiming to construct the storage shed by spring 2007. They also informed the Board that no changes would be made to the existing structure.
  • D. The outside of the storage addition would look similar and made to blend in with the concession stand.
  • E. Mr. DeCarolis and Mrs. Sherman and the Board discussed and agreed that only select people would have access to the storage unit.
  • F. The Board informed Mr. DeCarolis and Mrs. Sherman that the Board would need a statement in writing indicating that the funding for the proposed storage unit would be paid in full by Prospect Softball and Football and the no cost would be incurred by the Board of Recreation.
  • G. The Board will discuss this item further at the next meeting.

    • 3. Gail Yacavone and Marybeth Knobel from the Canfield Playground Committee spoke to the Board about issues regarding the Canfield playground.

  • A. The Canfield Playground Committee thanked the Board for the funds used to construct the playground and informed the Board that children have already begun to use the equipment.
  • B. The Playground Committee informed the Board that corporate donations continue to be received that will help to reimburse the Board of Recreation.
  • C. The Committee also informed the Board of an issue regarding standing water that is surrounding the playground.

    • i.The Board suggested that orange cones be placed around the standing water. The Playground Committee informed the Board that students in Region 16 cannot be around standing water. The Board and the Playground Committee with further discuss solutions to this issue.

  • D. The Committee discussed a safety issue with the inverted stading climber. The Board and the Committee agreed that the climber should be switched to a slide to avoid safety issues.
  • E. The Committee also spoke to the Board about a concern regarding installing a fence in fron t of Route 69. The Board will sidcuss this matter further at the next meeting.

    • Approval of Minutes
    Minutes cannot be approved do to lack of attendance of Board of Recreation members.

    Program Director's Report
    1. Chris Moffo suggested the Board look in to a coaching clinic for the girls and boys travel teams. Matter will be discussed further.
    2. Chris Moffo received a proposal from Kathy Consoli for a community theater group.
    3. Chris Moffo received a proposal from Tony Mountinho for an indoor soccer program to be held on Friday's for eight to ten year olds at Community School.
    4. Chris Moffo is working on starting up a Summer 2007 Camp. Chris informed the Board of the various steps that would be required to start the camp. Matter will be discussed further.

    Correspondence / Payment of Bills:

  • The Board reviewed and discussed the bills received.
  • William Sereduck motioned to pay the unpaid bills. Mike Palmerie, Jr. seconded the motion. Unanimous.

    • Old Business:
    1. Cleaning services were contacted for Hotchkiss Field. Chris Moffo is waiting to receive the contract from the cleaning company.

    New Business
    1. Board discussed the proposal from Kathy Consoli for the Community Theater Program. The Board will review the proposal and further discuss this item at the next meeting.
    2. The Board also discussed the proposal from Michael Lamb for a Performing Arts Program. Board will look into public interest and further discuss it at the next meeting.
    3. The board discussed the option of adding an additional fee for the use of Board of Recreation buildings and equipment.
    4. The board discussedthe possibility of future advertising of Board of Recreation programs in the Prospect Pages. Board will look into cost and funding and will further discuss the item.
    5. The Board discussed the proposal for developing a Prospect Lacrosse team. The Board will look further into the proposal and discuss it later.
    6. The board discussed the proposal from the Canfield Playground COmmittee to construct fencing around the Canfield Playground. This issue will be discussed further.
    7. The Board of Recreation also discussed the issue of standing water at the playground. The board will look into this matter further and will be discussed at the next meeting.
    8. The board discussed the proposal from the Prospect Softball and Football Leagues to construct an addition, for storage, onto the concession stand at Canfield Park. The Board agreed to move forward with this proposal. The Board will look into this matter further and discuss the issue at the next meeting.

    Adjournment:
    Motion made by Marty Witham, seconded by Mary Welch, to adjourn. Unanimous.

    The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

    Larry Fitzgerald, Chairman