Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes - May 12, 2008

REGULAR MEETING

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008

DAUGHERTY ROOM

"Amended Minutes"

The May 2008 regular meeting of the Weston Parks & Recreation Commission ("WPRC") was held Monday, May 12. Present: Marc Butlein, Carl Bernstein, Chairman Dave Juneau, Nancy Babyak and Bob Uzenoff. Absent: Pat Kane and Carlos Mello. Public: Betsy Peyreigne and Skip Goldberg. Staff present: Dave Ungar and Gloria Sundlof.

  1. 1) Call to order: Chairman Juneau called the meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. and bypassed reading the Weston Code section 2-62.

  2. 2) Approval of minutes of April 7, 2008: The minutes of the April 7th meeting were approved with corrections.

  3. 3) Public Forum: Weston Little League President Skip Goldberg spoke on advertising at BSP. Skip thanked the Commission on their approval of the new Weston Little League dugouts. He stated the WLL players helped paint the dugouts. Skip stated a lot of money was spent on the dugouts and WLL would like to replenish the funds. A possibility may be to sell advertising signs to raise money. He stated the signs would not face the road. He discussed the potential use of gym space prior to opening season. Also discussed was having sponsorships on the back of WLL uniforms. He stated the spring season ends at the end of school and signs could be put up at the beginning of April and left up through the summer and fall seasons. Marc stated the policy of Town and BOE regarding the signs must be taken down. Carl stated he would like to see the signs up for advertising. Nancy stated what was said three years ago was no signs for commercial use. The commission has already spoken and has a standing resolution on this and is a case to case decision. The spring season is made up of seven days per week of play. The summer season would not be every day and the fall season is two to three days per week. Dave J. spoke on the aesthetics of the park. He stated signs will distract from the look of the park. Skip reported All Star play during the summer season would like to host tournaments all day. Skip stated the plan was to sell signage for three year commitments. Nancy stated it is very important to people of the town to keep Weston rural. Carl stated if Dave approves the aesthetics he would agree to it and recommended forming a subcommittee to review the signs prior to posting. Carl made a motion to allow WLL to enter into advertising on the fences for three years. There was no second and the motion failed. Dave J. read

  1. the resolution to the commission. Skip stated he will put advertising on the back of the WLL uniform shirts.

    2. Weston resident Betsy Peyreigne of Weston Lacrosse Club requested field use for a lacrosse summer program. She stated the summer lacrosse club lost their varsity coach to New Canaan. This resulted in the club without a coach which the teams had already been picked over the winter. The club is made up of four teams of Weston and Westport players from youth through high school age. Betsy stated she would like to have some field use in Weston for up to four practices. Dave U. stated we can accommodate this and will check his field schedule for availability. Betsy stated they now have a new H.S. coach and some H.S. graduates will help coach this summer program. Bob questioned the lights turning on at 10:00 p.m. on the field. There are security lights which stay on all night in the parking lots. Bob asked if we should charge a fee. Marc moved that Dave U. work out the details with Betsy of Weston Lacrosse on having up to four practices on the turf field under the lights. Nancy seconded motion. All in favor 5-0.

    4) Unfinished Business:

    1. a) Review of action items:

    2. 08-02. Dave J. reported a draft copy of the MFP human and natural history sign and minutes were sent to the First Selectman. It was amended by Bob and will be brought back to the commission for review. Dave U. will then speak to the sign company to move forward.

    1. 08-04. Dave U. met with Dan Clarke, John Venus and P&R maintenance staff regarding the maintenance on the turf fields. A field turf maintenance class was held. Dave U. stated he spoke with Dan regarding turf maintenance amendments on the facility use forms and set up a check list for all user groups to sign off on these rules. Dan will discuss field and track care with Joe Fitzpatrick and will follow up with Carlos Mello. Maintenance on the H.S. track will be coming due within next few years. Dave U. stated Athletic Director Mark Berkowitz is in agreement on rotating the softball games location on the turf field for P.E. class.

08-07. see above

08-08. Dave U. reported the turf field and track warranties are still being searched for and are not held by town attorney per owner’s rep Carl Goedecke.

    1. 08-10. Dave U. and Dave J. met with Ed and Samantha Parker and Corey Attra regarding phase 2 at BSP. See below.

    1. 08-11. Dave U. sent annual report to commissioners to review.

    1. b) MFP Human & Natural History signage: see above

    2. c) Weston Park Project Phase 2 update: Dave U. reported on the additional cost of the roadway and pavilion. He stated Corey has done a remarkable job. Weston Park Project (WPP) knew some costs would be very expensive. They changed the original pavilion plan to a kit pavilion. Corey stated they have to be constricted for commercial usage adding another $3000 to the package. A new access road for maintenance vehicles on north side was

    1. discussed and thought it could be done for $10,000 - $12,000. Corey stated the access road can be built at $40,000. The tower can be built wide enough for emergency vehicles. WPP stated driving over the pavers would be less expensive then a new maintenance road but the pavers would need to be replaced every few years. Marc reported if a vehicle breaks the pavers there is no money to replace them. There is money already committed from donors for apparatus and gazebos and not for repairs. Dave U. stated all maintenance roads need to be done before the park opens in June and will need to be approved by Corey. Marc stated he would like Dave U. go back to WPP and have Corey to put a road in first. Dave J. stated before the playground was approved the well trucks came in through the playground area. Ambulance and sand trucks also need to come in. Dave J. recommended hold $10,000 from WPP for maintenance in the future. The commission discussed if the dynamics of the pond is changed in the future all this will need to be considered. The STEAP monies have already been spent. The commission will support Corey and he will need to speak with WPP. Dave U. stated he will take Corey to the area to see what specifications are needed for this to be approved. WPP may need to raise an additional $40,000. Dave U. stated he would like to have Corey attend a meeting regarding this situation.

    2. d) Annual Report 2007: Dave U. stated he will give the Town Clerk department a copy of the draft and if amended, a new copy will be forwarded for the record.

    3. e) Other unfinished business: The town insurance company inspected Revson field and approved the condition before it was reopened.

  1. 5) Reports of standing committees and resulting motions:

    1. a) Administrative Committee: none

    2. b) Aquatics Committee: none

    3. c) Fields Committee: Dave U. reported BSP fields look good. Nancy asked if the Weston fields get more usage then Redding fields. Dave J. stated he called surrounding towns to check comparable status of their fields. The commission questioned the premier teams using the MFP fields. Bob stated he feels clubs have to compete for time and all Weston teams have first preference on the fields. Dave J. will contact Phil Shaner of Weston Soccer on the wear condition on fields at MFP. Dave U. reported he is trying to get company back to inspect the Revson field. He suggested turn fields and close one field a year. Dave J. reminded the commission first priority is field safety. Dave U. reported this summer we will be holding a competitive tennis camp run by the Norwalk Fitness and Tennis. They will use four of the courts five days a week and will run through end of August. Bob stated he would like Dave to provide new program information to the commission. Dave J. stated a question arose of pre selling tickets for the Memorial Day fair. He stated because it is a school organization it is approved. Next year it would go through Dave U. and they must have give more notice and come before the commission.

    4. d) Programs Committee: Dave U. reported on camp dates and registrations.

    5. e) Parks Committee: Dave U. stated the pond will open after school is out in mid June and free swim to Weston residents. Bob asked about the advertising on local TV channel. The commission discussed a sign in sheet. A community service project to come up with a survey for the pond. This will then go to the Selectmen to either close the pond or put additional money into it. Dave J. suggested making up index cards with family names and recording every visitor who uses the pond.

  2. 6) New Business:

    1. a) Other new business: Carl stated a friend of his is a film producer and would like to set up a movie projection and show a film outdoors at no cost. He is interested in setting up between the M.S. and H.S. near the Labor Day weekend. The only costs would be police and EMS.

  1. 7) Correspondence: none

  2. 8) Announcements: none

  3. 9) Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 10:35 p.m. All in favor 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Gloria Sundlof

Adm. Asst.

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