TOWN OF GRANBY
PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES
March 3, 2009
PRESENT: Edward (Ned) Allen, Chairman; L. Squire Bressor, Brigid Gunn, Kathy Ungerleider and Kay Woodford.
Chairman Allen called the meeting to order and confirmed a quorum at 7:39PM.
REVISIT MOTION AT THE JANUARY 6, 2009 MEETING
Kay Woodford was informed that because the agenda for the P&R Board Meeting on January 6, 2009 was not filed correctly, the Board needed to revisit any motions made at that meeting.
The only motion involved was the one in which the Board voted to send a letter to the Board of Selectpersons requesting that the Marquis of Granby have exclusive use of Salmon Brook Park the first weekend in October 2009 for their Muster. In addition to closing the park to other groups, the letter recommended that the BOS approve an exemption for the use of alcohol in the park for Saturday evening only, noting that usage of alcohol would be well-planned and supervised by the Marquis of Granby, with no issues and served only during the non-public hours.
A new vote was taken: ON A MOTION by Squire Bressor, seconded by Brigid Gunn, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) that the letter be sent.
MINUTES
ON A MOTION by Squire Bressor, seconded by Kathy Ungerleider, the Board unanimously (4-0-0) approved the minutes of January 6, 2009 as presented.
PUBLIC SESSION
No Public appeared before the Board.
RECREATION DEPARTMENT UPDATES
A. Programs
Mrs. Woodford reported that the Youth Basketball season is almost over and that despite the weather, there were not many cancellations.
Friday, March 6, 2009 will be the last day for Ski Sundown. Squire Bressor inquired how many participated this year, and Mrs. Woodford said about 100 youth.
Recreation Department programs for the summer are just about complete and many are already on the website. She is finishing the summer brochure and it should be out in early April. Many camps from previous years will be offered again, however, she is offering just one soccer clinic this year and has been unable to find an archery instructor.
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She has scheduled two new camps: a Kara Wolters Girls Basketball Camp and a Girls Lacrosse Camp taught by the varsity LAX coaches from Granby and Suffield.
She has seen a downturn in numbers going on bus trips, but has noticed no decline in interest in Red Sox and Yankees games (people are encouraged to call the office with their e-mail addresses so she can send out a blast e-mail whenever she obtains tickets).
Granby Youth Soccer will undergo a change next fall. Challenger British Soccer will provide “head” coaches for the Fundamental Division (5 and 6 year olds). They will run three one-hour sessions on Saturdays, providing the drills etc. that the parent coaches can then supervise. The division will no longer be a “parent-and-me” activity.
Chairman Allen asked how the Parks & Recreation budget has been impacted by the present BOS and BOF guidelines. Mrs. Woodford replied that Selectman Frank Judice is in charge of looking over her budget and would be reporting back to the Boards. She is not sure just where her budget would be cut… office supplies, attendance at conferences, and membership to organizations. She will be checking to see whether the budget contains “seed money” for the 225th anniversary celebration.
B. Salmon Brook Park/Ahrens Park Updates
Salmon Brook Park
Little League has presented plans for Batting Cages to be placed in two locations at Salmon Brook. Little League would be putting them up and paying all the costs. The first batting cage would replace the present one between Fields #1 & #2, however it will be about three times wider than the present one. The second cage would be by the newest, #5 field. The Board looked over the drawings. Mrs. Woodford said that Jamie Klase from Public Works has no problem with the proposal. The posts would be permanent but the nets would be taken down at season’s end.
Chairman Allen asked whether the Board should look at the proposal as two separate issues: one being a replacement and the other being new. Mrs. Woodford suggested that the Board specify that Little League work with Public Works as to where the new cage would be located and the Board members decided that would be okay with them and so treat their request as a single project.
ON A MOTION by Brigid Gunn, seconded by Squire Bressor, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to accept the Little League’s proposal to replace the batting cage between fields #1 and #2 as described and to approve a new batting cage in the vicinity of Field #5 with its final placement dependent on Public Works’ input.
Squire Bressor asked about ice-skating at the Salmon Brook Park this year and Mrs. Woodford said that although Public Works made a temporary rink last year, nothing was done this year.
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Ahrens Park
Nothing new was discussed.
C. The GAFLAC
Nothing new was discussed.
D. Bathhouse
Nothing new was discussed.
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD
A. Election of Officers
ON A MOTION by Squire Bressor, seconded by Kathy Ungerleider, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) that Chairman Edward (Ned) Allen continue as Chairman of the P&R Board.
ON A MOTION by Kathy Ungerleider, seconded by Squire Bressor, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) that Brigid Gunn be Vice Chairman of the P&R Board.
B. 225th Celebration
Chairman Allen reported that 15 people attended the February meeting and that several people have volunteered to be on a steering committee: Treasurer – Bob Smith, Secretary - Karen Bledsoe, Fund Raising – Bill Ross, Corrine Dickerson & Sarah Kindle, Fireworks – Martha Delaney, Parade – Audrey Lampert.
Mrs. Woodford will continue to e-mail the civic groups; many have started thinking of ways to participate. Information as to when the various civic groups have their monthly meetings is being collected and 225th committee members will be asking for presentation time at their meetings.
Mrs. Woodford will be asking the Board of Selectpersons for about $10,000 seed money as soon as there is a plan (budget) that the committee can present to them.
Squire Bressor promised the Board that if he wins big in the lottery, he will donate $50,000 to the 225th celebration.
C. Marquis of Granby Muster
Mrs. Woodford reported that the Board of Selectpersons has approved the Marquis of Granby Muster.
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D. 2009 Sounds of Summer Concerts
According to Mrs. Woodford, arrangements for a Thursday July 16th concert have been finalized. She has booked the band Island Rhythm. Antique and classic cars will be on display, the American Legion and the Lions Club will be serving food. There will be a
“face painter” and a fellow who twists balloons into animal shapes. The P&R Board will do the Ice Cream Social.
Local businesses have now contributed enough money to cover the minimum amount. If there is no need for the rain site, the money saved from custodial fees for use of the High School Commons might cover a second “really inexpensive” concert in August… perhaps Wayne Chapple’s group would perform.
OTHER BUSINESS AS NECESSARY
A. Celebrate Granby
Mrs. Woodford distributed a letter from the P&R Board to the Board of Selectpersons regarding the Chamber of Commerce’s Celebrate Granby day at Salmon Brook Park.
It requests that the BOS close SBP to all activities on Saturday, June 13.
It asks that just the main field be closed to all activities all day on Friday and Sunday (so that tents can be set up and removed); all activities in other areas of the Park would be allowed.
It requests a permit for limited use of alcohol to allow liquor stores to do sample tastings. The letter states that any restaurants serving a sampling of their alcoholic products must abide by the same rules as the liquor stores and the State Liquor Commission. The P&R Board is not requesting a permit for general overall use of alcohol throughout the day.
ON A MOTION by Brigid Gunn, seconded by Squire Bressor, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) that the letter be sent. The four Board members in attendance signed the letter and Mrs. Woodford will see that the BOS receives it.
B. Maze at the Park
Squire Bressor passed around a drawing of a labyrinth or maze and asked that the Board consider it as a future project for the park. He said that his prototype, consisting of paths but no yew bushes, was built for $325. Mrs. Woodford commented that space is a major consideration in addition to the cost. Chairman Allen noted the diagram shows the need for about an acre of land. No action was taken.
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ADJOURNMENT
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7, 2009 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.
ON A MOTION by Brigid Gunn, seconded by Squire Bressor, the Board voted unanimously (4-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:42PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Ward
Recording Secretary
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