TOWN OF GRANBY
PARK AND RECREATION BOARD
MINUTES
November 3, 2009
PRESENT: Edward (Ned) Allen, Chairman; Brigid Gunn, Vice Chair; Suzanne Yucha, Joe Zafian and Kay Woodford.
Chairman Allen called the meeting to order and confirmed a quorum at 7:34PM.
MINUTES
ON A MOTION by Suzanne Yucha, seconded by Brigid Gunn, the Board (4-0-0) approved the minutes of September 1, 2009 as presented.
ON A MOTION by Suzanne Yucha, seconded by Chairman Allen, the Board (4-0-0) approved the notes of October 6, 2009 as presented.
Squire Bressor arrived at 7:40PM.
PUBLIC SESSION
No one appeared before the Board.
OLD BUSINESS
A. GAFLAC
No report was given.
B. Bath House
Chairman Allen and other Board members mentioned seeing an article in The Granby News that said no repairs would be made until spring 2010. Mrs. Woodford said she has a list of repairs compiled by Jamie Klase and the cost is estimated at $10,000.00
C. 225th Celebration
Chairman Allen mentioned that the next meeting is Thursday, November 5, 2009 and that at a recent website meeting Deborah Kulwich volunteered to be the Co-Chair. He said the committee continues to work on a budget and he will be attending the Board of Selectman meeting on October 16 to report on the committee’s progress and request seed money.
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Parks and Recreation Board
November 3, 2009
Chairman Allen reported that the 225th Website/Communications Committee has met with two people to discuss designing a 225th Celebration website. This website would be used as a “store” to sell commemorative items as well as having other pages for information, sending messages and blogging. They estimate the cost for development to be $4000.00 to $5000.00.
Chairman Allen told the Board he feels that it would be a shame to invest in developing this website and then “pull the plug on it” when the event is over. He would like to continue using it for Park & Recreation since getting the word out on programs has become difficult now that distribution of paper flyers through the schools is no longer permitted. The school is attaching flyers to students’ electronic backpacks, however many parents are not checking it frequently and residents without children in the school system do not have access.
Since the 225th Celebration website will contain a “sending messages” capability, Chairman Allen believes this would enable Mrs. Woodford to publicize her programs – even better than the pages on the Town of Granby website. Mrs. Woodford could use this messaging capability to send e-mail blasts to former program participants.
The Board agreed developing the 225th website to coordinate with future Park & Recreation use is a very good idea.
D. Winter Skating Activity
The Board discussed the time and place for the event. So as not to coincide with the SuperBowl, the Board decided on 1:00 – 4:00PM Sunday, January 31.
Suzanne Yucha is coordinating the event and will be meeting with Kirk Severance from Public Works to determine where in Salmon Brook Park the ice skating rink will be built and where the bonfire can be placed. She will take care of getting a burn permit also. She thinks that because Christmas trees tend to send out sparks, using pallets for the bonfire would be a better choice. Chairman Allen offered to provide additional pallets if needed.
As to refreshments, Suzanne thinks hot chocolate and cookies will be best. Mrs. Woodford suggested getting foodstuff donations from local groceries. Brigid Gunn asked who would be helping at the event and Suzanne responded that she’d be asking for volunteers nearer to the time of the event.
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Parks and Recreation Board
November 3, 2009
NEW BUSINESS
A. Program Updates
- Mrs. Woodford said the Ski Sundown program has a full grades 3 - 6 bus (with a wait list) but there are some spaces available on the MSHS bus. She mentioned that there is a problem involving storage of ski equipment for high school students as the principal told her no room is available. In the past parents could drop off ski equipment on Friday mornings. A secure space is needed and getting a storage shed for the equipment could run up to $1000.00. Squire Bressor suggested checking Home Depot and Lowes prices. Brigid Gunn suggested that parents be told they need to work something out among themselves. (The Middle School will store equipment for Middle School students only.)
- Registrations for the K – 8 Youth Basketball program are coming in.
- The high school basketball coaches will run a Pre-Season Basketball Clinic December 5 for grades 3 - 6.
- A Holiday Vacation Camp with some summer daycamp counselors is scheduled for December 28 – 31.
- Chris Corkum will run the Pre-Season Baseball Training Camp in January & February.
- An 8-week Youth Bowling Program at Bradley Bowl is scheduled to begin January 20.
- The fall Youth Wrestling Clinic was canceled due to low enrollment. Mrs. Woodford informed the Board that another group is offering a 3-nights a week program in Granby.
- A new adult Zumba class at Wells Road School on Thursday afternoons with Mary Fuller is popular and is scheduled to continue through June.
- Mrs. Woodford is offering several arts programs with instructors at the Free Lunch Studios facility located near New England Pizza. These include Graphic Novel Writing with Steve Kanaras, Fantasy Watercolors with Kevin Murphey, Oil Painting for Adults with Deb Wadsworth and Cartoon Anatomy, Creating a Cartoon World, and Drawing & Painting classes with Matt Ryan.
- Bus trip registrations are going well. There are only 3 spaces left for Radio City, the December NYC trip is full and the December trip to Newport is almost full. Registrations are being taken for the 2010 trips: Foxwoods, Boston Flower Show and the overnight trip to view the Terra Cotta Soldiers exhibit in Washington D.C. A NYC trip to view the King Tut exhibit is being planned.
B. Town Parks Updates
Mrs. Woodford received Nick Healy’s written Eagle Project Plan for the sign to be placed at Ahrens Park. She instructed him to coordinate with Public Works.
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Parks and Recreation Board
November 3, 2009
C. Coaches’ Conduct Policy
The Board discussed coaches’ conduct at sports events in Salmon Brook Park after hearing from Chairman Allen and Mrs. Woodford that there have been complaints about coaches swearing, berating players and generally giving negative feedback through their language and tone of voice.
Squire Bressor felt that we should go on record that the P&R Board does not condone this kind of behavior. Brigid Gunn remarked that inappropriate behavior gives the town a bad reputation, to which Mrs. Woodford added that some out-of-town teams also use offensive language and poor sportsmanship.
The Board discussed whether the P&R Board should adopt a coaches’ conduct policy requiring adherence as a prerequisite to holding events in the Granby parks. Joe Zafian asked whether the various leagues already have coaches’ conduct policies in place and Mrs. Woodford replied that they do.
Chairman Allen cautioned that a P&R Board policy would be difficult to enforce and suggested that since leagues already have policies, they need to be reminded to enforce their rules. It was decided that Mrs. Woodford would distribute a reminder letter to all leagues at the Field Scheduling Meeting in February.
D. Dog Park
Mrs. Woodford made the Board aware of some issues regarding the Dog Park but added that no action is required.
On a positive note, the Granby Dog Park continues to be self-sustaining and no town money is being used for its upkeep. The organizers show newcomers the rules for usage and request donations.
On the negative side, the police department continues to get complaints. Also some previous users no longer do so as they complain other users are being overly bossy.
OTHER BUSINESS AS NECESSARY
Squire Bressor inquired whether the rope fence along the path from Route 20 to the back soccer fields at Salmon Brook Park had been done. Brigid Gunn said she would check.
Squire Bressor wondered whether all Board members had received invitations to the Town of Granby Youth Services Bureau survey presentation and all responded yes. Mrs. Woodford said she would figure how the positive aspects can be incorporated into coaches’ packets.
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Parks and Recreation Board
November 3, 2009
Mrs. Woodford reported that Dave Schupp would like the town to take over the memorial 5K-road race in May. Mrs. Woodford believes that perhaps the Lions or Rotary Club should take over the fundraising event because they have the broad based membership needed.
Mrs. Woodford informed the Board that Town Manager Bill Smith received a letter from the Hartford Symphony requesting that Granby stop calling our summer concert series “Sounds of Summer” because that is what they call their series. Mrs. Woodford told Mr. Smith that Granby started using that title in 1995, years before the Hartford Symphony began using it. Mr. Smith has requested the town lawyer to look into the matter.
ADJOURNMENT
The next Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 1, 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 Squire Bressor, seconded by Suzanne Yucha, the Board voted unanimously (5-0-0) to adjourn the meeting at 8:50PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Pat Ward
Recording Secretary
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