The regular meeting of the Parks & Recreation Commission (“WPRC”) was held on Monday, April 9, 2007.  Present were:  Chairman Dave Juneau, Nancy Babyak, Carlos Mello and Carl Bernstein.  Absent:  Marc Butlein, Pat Kane and Bob Uzenoff.  Public present:  Philip Shaner, Charles Ameer, Cory Attra, Melanie Mendelson and Louis Parks.  Staff present:  Dave Ungar.

 

     1)   Call to order:  Chairman Juneau called the meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. and bypassed 

            reading the traditional reading of the Weston Code section 2-62.

     2)   Approval of minutes of March 12, 2007:  Minutes of the March 12^th meeting were

           approved with minor amendments. 

     3)   Public Forum:  see below

     4)   Unfinished Business:

                 a)  Review of action items: 

                      07-05.   Dave J. spoke with Town Historian, Kathy Failla regarding the text for the

   natural and human history sign at MFP.  Dave will contact Ernie Albin.  Carl will interview Ernie and Ms. Failla has offered to coordinate it for display. 

 

                      07-06.   Dave U. distributed pictures of national park exhibit bases for the history sign at MFP.  Dave reported the estimated cost would be $1300.00 and within the budget allocated for the sign. 

 

                      07-07.   See below for Weston Park Project.

 

                      07-09.   Carl spoke with the First Selectman regarding WPRC request of the

                                    under developed field between the High School and the Middle School as

                                    reserved for recreation use.  Selectman Bliss is in favor of this resolution.

 

                      07-10.   Dave J. spoke with Ellen Uzenoff who agrees the area should be

maintained as a recreation area and that the M.S. field area is heavily utilized by M.S. students.

b)      Weston Park Project update:  Melanie Mendelson of the Weston Park Project reported the Town has received a grant for $75,000 from the Connecticut Small Town Economic Assistance Program (STEAP) and $25,000 from the town.  WPP has budgeted $200,000 for the project.  Project manager, Cory Attra stated they will begin to remove playground equipment on Monday.  He reported they are looking at mid May to be completed.  Playground will be closed until project is done.  Dave U. he will need access to get into area with a dump truck for sand delivery around pond.  Lifeguard shack will be moved to a new location with utilities hook up.  Cory stated he will be on the worksite on a regular basis.  Dave U. stated the Town Administrator has released monies back to WPP.  Cory stated site control and safety is the primary concern while construction is underway.  Dave U. stated a chain can be set up to keep vehicles out of the construction area beyond the gate of parking lot down access road.  Daily construction will end at 3:30 prior to Little League practices.  Dave along with Cory and Scott Walker of Walker Construction will meet at BSP and invited all Commissioners to attend.  Ms. Mendelson stated there is money budgeted for landscaping.  Cory discussed grass watering may be an ongoing process until it reaches adequate growth.  A donor wall may be constructed.  Walls would need to be tied in with what is at the park.  Ms. Mendelson stated they have roughly $200,000 to date.  Cory will email the WPP budget to Dave U. for the Commission to review. 

c)      MFP Plaque discussion:  see above.

d)      Other unfinished business:  none

            a)   Administrative Committee:  Town budget and WPRC budget have both passed.       

                        Citizen of the Year award recipient was also honored.

b)       Aquatics Committee:  Dave J. reported the pool is in good condition.

c)       Fields Committee:  Dave U. met with the rep from Waterwick Co., Athletic Director, Mark Berkowitz and the First Selectman regarding the drainage issue on Revson Field.  The field was built with inadequate drainage.  Waterwick Co. rep stated the slit drainage solution would only work on the outfield.  The water needs to be steered away from the infields.  Dave U. is working with Town Engineer John Conte, John DiScala and BOE facilities foreman John Venus with hopes of finding a solution to the drainage problem.  Dave J. spoke with BOE Chairman Ellen Uzenoff and Joe Fitzpatrick regarding the slit drainage.  BOE is willing to work with the WPRC on this and the issue of who will pay for it.  MFP and BSP are now open and available for use.  Dave U. remarked the irrigation will be hooked up shortly.

d)       Programs Committee:  Spring program registrations are underway and going well.  Summer camp flyers are out and registrations will begin next month.  The High School gyms are out this summer because of the construction.

e)       Parks Committee:  Carl stated there is no news on the vandalism at Keene Park.  Parts have been ordered for the playground equipment.  Dave J. stated there is graffiti throughout the campus facilities and at Revson fields. 

6)   New Business:     

a)      Weston Little League Concession stands discussion:  Dave U. corresponded to Dan Hassett regarding the concession stands area and the concerns of the Commission.  Dave J. stated he would like Dave U. to speak with L.L. about cleaning up the concession shed at BSP. 

b)      Weston Soccer Club:  Weston soccer reps Philip Shaner and Louis Parks discussed the appearance of the shed built at MFP last year.  The Commission’s concern is the shed is not consistent with the structure of a shed in a photo that was approved.  Lewis stated the Soccer Club allocated funds and took on the project.  Lewis discussed they did not have any guidelines or specs given to them at the time.  Dave U. met with them and discussed the location but the reps had not received any input as to the aesthetics.  Due to recent vandalism at that time the shed was a necessity and needed to be built as quickly as possible.  Phil stated they moved forward and chose the barn style.  The shed was constructed and brought in from out of state.  They made revisions on the door because of security and customized the concession windows which were not on the original plan.  Nancy stated conversations with the Soccer Club were with keeping with the other structures that were already present.  Dave J. stated he believed it would be a hardship on WSC to remove it but possibly change the appearance of it.  The shed was to have access to a separate concession side then the storage shed.  Phil stated the shed is serving the Soccer Club’s purpose.  Dave J. stated he would like to resume the discussion when the remaining Commissioners are present.  Phil and Louis stated they would be happy to return if necessary.

c)       Mr. Charles Ameer, baseball field request:  Weston resident, Charles Ameer spoke about requesting field space for a baseball league for boys in transition from the Little League diamond to the Babe Ruth League diamond.  This league is for boys aged twelve and under.  Presently their team is participating in a league made up of Weston and Westport boys and would like field space in Weston.  Mr. Ameer requested field space at MFP using field #4 due to the fact that it has a skinned infield and could lay out a baseball diamond with dimensions to accommodate a 50 foot pitching mound and 70 foot base paths.  He informed the Commission he does have a certificate of insurance from the town for this program.  Dave U. reported the spring field scheduling meeting was held in December with reps from all user groups to co-ordinate the field usage.  A similar Weston baseball team is the A.A.U. league run by Weston resident Eric Tyson and will also have use of the MFP fields.  Practice times after 6:00 p.m. is off limits.  Dave informed there may be a possibility of some times prior to that time along with Saturday.  Mr. Ameer stated he has been a member on the Weston Little League Board for the past three years.  Dave J. reported the Commission would like to be consistent and give Mr. Ameer field space provided the Commission is comfortable with it.  There is a demand for this to provide opportunities for the children.  He suggested if all field times have been allocated at MFP then Mr. Ameer would need to return to the field schedule meeting in the fall or spring.  Dave U. remarked the competition for field availability would be with girl’s soccer.  Dave J. stated a past issue was when we were short of space and had to use Westport facilities.  A.A.U. league now has a team made up of only Weston boys.  He stated possibly they could have practices or scrimmages together.  Mr. Ameer stated he would like to present the team roster to the Commission for review.  He would like to help out by being available to help rake the field after each use.  The Commission stated they would like to see children using the open fields if any are available.  Dave U. stated there are requests from leagues that were at the field meeting for availability.  The adult women softball league use fields #2 and #4 which will begin in early May.  Dave U. will check with the Soccer Club if they are using fields while school is still in session.  Dave J. stated the Commission has to see if they want to move forward and be comfortable with this.  He would like to have the majority of the team be Weston children.  Dave U. will work with Mr. Ameer regarding practicing with the A.A.U. team.  Westport is their primary location but would also like to use Weston fields as a backup location.  Dave J. praised Mr. Ameer for volunteering his time and his dedication.  The Commission stated it is important to maintain a team of Weston children.  Dave J. stated he would like to see this team work with the A.A.U. and develop and grow together.  Commissioner Juneau moved that Dave Ungar be allowed to work with Charles Ameer and his group of players to give him access to field space as Dave deems available.  The components of that determination are: the availability of field, the conditions of the field, whether it can handle the extra play and the consideration of any detrimental impact that this has to the other programs that has already scheduled in that area and whether the field would be in appropriate condition for games and practices.  It is the understanding of the WPRC that this is not the primary location for this team and WPRC is doing this in the spirit of cooperation with the Town of Westport considering all of the field space made available to us in our time of need and they are to find their source of field space for this team.  It is the understanding that the WPRC is appreciative of the development of this age group and the Commission sees this program as complimentary and hopefully dovetailing with what the A.A.U. team is doing.  Carlos seconded motion.  All in favor 4-0.          

d)      Other new business:  Carl stated he would like to see stands at H.S. football field.   Several Commissioners discussed at the Selectmen’s meeting on April 5^th our action items #07-09 and #07-10 regarding halting future encroachment of the field at the Middle School.  The Selectmen instructed the Commission to send a formal communication to the BOE and copy to the Selectmen.  This exercise will help keep the issue in full view of the Selectmen.  Dave J. stated Commission along with the BOE Chairman would like to see the area at M.S. go to the WPRC jurisdiction. 

7)      Correspondence:  none

8)      Announcements:  Dave J. thanked Carlos, Bob and Dave U. for attending the annual town meeting.

9)      Adjournment:  Carlos moved to adjourn meeting at 10:04 p.m.  Carl seconded motion.  All in favor 4-0.

 

Respectively submitted,

 

 

Gloria Sundlof

Adm. Asst.