Park and Recreation Meeting Minutes
August 9, 2011
6:30 pm
Members In attendance: |
Kelly Magni - Commissioner/Chair |
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Dan Call - Commissioner |
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Michelle Ackerman - Commissioner |
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Sue Grabowski - Commissioner |
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Li-Ling Waller - Commissioner |
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Tracy Cesan - Secretary |
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Absent: |
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Guests: |
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The scheduled August 9, 2011 meeting was opened by Commissioner Kelly Magni at 6:30 pm. The next scheduled Park and Rec. meeting will be on August 23, 2011 at 6:30 pm.
Bills were reviewed and the bills approved were signed for payment. July 26, 2011 minutes were approved and signed by commissioners present.
6:45 pm - Southwick Town Beach
Senior Sizzler
The Senior Sizzler went off very well. The weather was warm but the trees provided great shade. We had at least 60 seniors in attendance. The Commission expressed thanks for all who helped and attended.
Picnic Tables
The Picnic tables are completed and have been delivered to Prifiti Park and The Southwick Town Beach. The two existing tables at Prifiti Park were redone and are already being used. All picnic tables were made to meet ADA regulations.
Review of Beach Data
Tracy Cesan has been collecting attendance data from the Southwick Town beach as well as comprising some financial spreadsheets that represent the money coming into the Southwick Town Beach. This data was shared with the Commissioners. The information is on file in the Park and Rec. Department for the public to view.
7:15 pm Rails to Trails
Benches and Quotes for Benches
As stated in previous meetings, the Park and Rec. Commission is finding it expensive to install the benches on the trails. A quote was submitted by Chester Comee. This quote was reviewed by the Commission.
View of proposal from Labarre Concrete via DPW Director
Jeff Neece, DPW Director, supplied the Park and Rec. Commission with a diagram as to where he plans on placing the water fountain, bench and trash can on cement pad, which is scheduled to be placed on the Rails to Trails, at the end of Sam West Road. The Commissioners reviewed the diagram and were happy with his plans. The project will start the week of August 15, 2011.
Proposed Park and Rec. Policy for use of the Trails
The Park and Rec. Commissioners have been getting an influx of requests to use the Rails to Trails for large scale events. The Commission thought it best to set up guidelines, rules and policies for rail trail use. Dan Call proposed, to the Park and Rec. Commissioners, a “Park and Rec. Policy for anyone requesting to sponsor a fund raising function on the Southwick Rails to Trails”. The Commission reviewed the Policy. Dan Call made a motion to accept the proposed policy Sue Grabowski seconded the motion. A vote was taken to accept the policy that Dan Call submitted (see attached) (4) in favor (1) abstained.
Lib Strong-Bike-A-Thon
The Lib Strong Bike-A-Thon has already been approved by the Commission as an acceptable fundraiser to be held on the Rails to Trails. The organizer of said event sent in a flyer with a request for the Park and Rec. Commissioners to post the flyers on all the kiosks that reside on the Southwick Trails. Li-Ling Waller made a motion to allow the flyer to be posted on all the kiosks, Dan Call seconded the motion. A vote was taken to allow the Bike-A-Thon advertisements to be posted on the Southwick Kiosks (5) in favor (0) opposed.
Tree Removal
As a reminder to the previous meeting minutes following is the discussion that took place at the July 26, 2011 meeting in regards to the tree removal on the Rails to Trails.
“The Southwick Rails to Trails received extensive tree damage in the same storm the spawned the tornado that hit Springfield in early June as well as the wind storm that hit Southwick the first week of June. At that time Kelly Magni, Park and Rec. Chairman, received a call from both Karl Steinhart and Art Pinell regarding fallen trees on the rail trail. It was requested by both Mr. Steinhart and Mr. Pinell that Kelly hire someone to remove the fallen trees as a result of the recent storm. At this point Kelly called a number of local tree removal vendors and was told that they were extremely busy removing trees and debris from local roadways. On June 10th after the call from Karl Steinhart Kelly thought it best to get the trails cleaned up as soon as possible; this was a Friday and the trail takes on over
1000 walkers/bikers on any given weekend. Kelly Magni called his brother Wayne Magni to see if he could assist in removing said trees. At the time of the agreement Kelly Magni nor the other commissioners realized the amount of trees and debris that had fallen on the trail. Wayne Magni was out on the trail with his own equipment for well over 5 hours removing the trees on the trails. After the job was complete the Park and Rec. Commission wanted to pay Mr. Magni as a token of appreciation and to compensate him for a job done quickly and well. The Commission asked Tracy Cesan to write a letter to the selectmen asking them how to go about getting Mr. Wayne Magni paid for his services to his community.”
At this meeting, dated August 9, 2011 the Park and Rec. Commission decided that an official vote needed to be taken to see if the majority of Commissioners felt Mr. Wayne Magni should get paid for his services to his community. Because Kelly Magni and Sue Grabowski have a conflict of interest when it comes to Mr. Wayne Magni both Kelly Magni and Sue Grabowski officially left the Park and Rec. meeting for the discussion and voting of the issue. Michelle Ackerman, being the senior commissioner, took over the meeting and resided over the discussion. Li-Ling Waller made a motion to pay Mr. Wayne Magni $400.00 for his services to the Park and Rec. Dept.; Dan Call seconded the motion. A vote was taken in favor of paying Wayne Magni for his tree removal services on June 10, 2011 in the amount of $400.00 (3) in favor
(0) opposed (2) absent. Tracy Cesan will forward this official request to the Board of Selectmen for review.
8:15 pm Meeting called to a close
Dan Call motioned to adjourn the meeting; Sue Grabowski seconded the motion. All commissioners voted in favor to close the meeting. The meeting was called to a close.
Respectfully submitted by: Tracy Cesan
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