TOWN OF GRANBY
PARK AND RECREATION BOARD
NOTES
January 5, 2010
PRESENT: Edward (Ned) Allen, Chairman, L. Squire Bressor, Suzanne Yucha, and Kay Woodford, Director of Parks and Recreation.
Chairman Allen called the meeting to order at 7:45PM. There was no quorum.
MINUTES
No action was taken on the minutes of the December 1, 2009 meeting due to the lack of a quorum.
PUBLIC SESSION
No one appeared before the Board.
OLD BUSINESS
A. GAFLAC
No report was given.
B. Bath House
Mrs. Woodford reported that she received a memo from Town Manager Bill Smith saying that repairs to the Bath House at Salmon Brook have been approved. The initial amount estimated for the project was $10,000, and this money will come from the Public Works budget. The roof will be replaced in the spring.
C. 225th Celebration
Chairman Allen mentioned that the website committee will be meeting Wednesday, January 6, 2010. The next 225th meeting is Thursday, January 7, 2010.
D. Winter Skating Activity
Suzanne Yucha reported she has seen the skating rink at Salmon Brook Park. It replaces the summer bocce courts and measures thirty by eighty feet with a border of 2x4’s mounded by snow. Public Works has moved 2 picnic tables and 2 benches near the rink.
Chief David Watkins of the Police Department is “okay” with the event and John Orr of the Fire Department will have 4 firemen in attendance. They will start, maintain and put out the bonfire. Chairman Allen will be providing pallets to be burned and will transport
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Park and Recreation Board
January 5, 2010
them by truck to the park. Suzanne will have volunteers on site to help unload the pallets, which will be covered with a tarp until ready for use. She mentioned that Kirk Severance expressed concern about the nails in the pallets but she says that these can be picked up using a contractor’s magnet roller.
No bathrooms will be available as the port-a-pots are gone and all water is shut off.
No admission to this event is being charged but participants are being asked to bring a donation to the Granby Food Bank. Suzanne has contacted Lori Hoover of the VNA to arrange details.
The Board talked about publicizing the event. Suzanne would like someone to take pictures for the local newspapers. Mrs. Woodford has signs for the town green, gave paper flyers to the town libraries, and will ask the school system to add the flyer to their electronic backpacks. Suzanne has a blank sign that will go over the Sounds of Summer Concert sign and Brigid Gunn’s daughter will be painting it. Suzanne said that Ginny Wutka has volunteered to add a notice to her weekly e-mail blast to residents.
Suzanne has sent letters requesting donations to Stop ‘n Shop, Geissler’s, Simsbury Bank, Dunkin Donuts and Windsor Federal. Ginny Wutka has offered to provide three 5-gallon urns for pre-made hot chocolate at cost; she will also provide other goodies at cost. The cookies, any other goodies and paper products will come from donations.
Mrs. Woodford will e-mail Kirk Severance about providing trash barrels.
NEW BUSINESS
A. Program Updates
- Mrs. Woodford said she has rented a POD for the Ski Sundown program so high school students can bring their ski equipment on Friday mornings. She will be there in the morning to lock it up and in the afternoon to unlock it so equipment can be transferred to the bus.
- Mrs. Woodford passed around flyers describing upcoming youth programs: Chris Corkum Baseball Training and After School Bowling at Bradley Bowl as well as Performing Arts Acting, Hip Hop Jazz, Cartooning, Graphic Novel Writing, Drawing and Painting classes. For adults, she offers Ceramics, Oil Painting and Watercolor classes. Trips include the Boston Pops at Tanglewood and the Terra Cotta Soldiers in Washington DC.
- AARP Safe Driver classes and Babysitting classes are being scheduled as well as some sports and camp programs for next summer.
- Mrs. Woodford remarked that registrations are down and she hears from parents that many are not checking the electronic backpacks. Chairman Allen inquired whether sending e-mail blasts would help.
- The Zumba instructor has asked to take a break from classes, as the floor in the Wells Road School cafeteria is hard on knees. Mrs. Woodford is trying to find another site.
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Park and Recreation Board
January 5, 2010
B. Town Parks Updates
David White, President of Rovers Soccer, has requested using one of the Recreation soccer fields next fall as the Rovers want to rebuild one of their fields. Mrs. Woodford feels that this will be possible. Chairman Allen asked whether Ahrens Park field would be available for their use but Mrs. Woodford believes that they could probably use field #3 at SBP. They would like to have Friday night programs to brush up on skills.
David also talked about wanting the Recreation Soccer Program to build a strong Fundamental and Division 1 program. Mrs. Woodford initiated a training program with Challenger Soccer coaches last fall in which they provided guidance or “lesson plans” for the Fundamental coaches to use.
OTHER BUSINESS AS NECESSARY
Squire Bressor inquired whether the problem with the Hartford Symphony and Simsbury over the concert title “Sounds of Summer” has been resolved. Mrs. Woodford said that Town Manager Bill Smith has responded to their letter. She added that it would be very easy for them to just call their concert series “Simsbury Sounds of Summer.”
Mrs. Woodford asked the Board’s opinion on the number of concerts to hold at Salmon Brook Park next summer. She does have the High School Group in early August but wonders how many other concerts to book. She described the costs involved: booking the band, publicizing in the Yankee Flyer, mailing letters to local business asking for donations, custodial costs should the concert be moved indoors, payments to those hired to handle parking and other special activities such as balloons and face painting, and charges for ice cream and paper products.
Chairman Allen responded that he’d like to see the Board continue with an Ice Cream Social at one concert, but that it would be good to continue this discussion when more Board members are in attendance. Mrs. Woodford said she would like to start planning in February.
ADJOURNMENT
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2, 2010 at 7:30 PM in the Senior Center/Youth Services Building, Activity Room #1. If you are not able to attend please remember to call Mrs. Woodford at 844-5356 or e-mail recreation@granby-ct.gov.
The meeting adjourned at 8:47PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Ward
Recording Secretary
P&RBOARD\MINUTES January 5, 2010.doc
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