Park & Recreation Meeting Minutes

Members in Attendance:  

Patrick Roche, Jeanne Reed-Waldron, David DeiDolori, and Cara Cartello

Members Not in Attendance:

John Whalley and Mike Massarelli

Guests:

Dave Sutton

The meeting was opened by Commissioner Patrick Roche at 6:30 pm. The next meeting of the Park and Recreation will January 25, 2017 at 6:30pm.

Dave Sutton would like to hold the One Call Away Fundraiser for Wounded Worriers at Whalley Park.  Last year they held it in October, they filled a van with food and delivered it to the air force base.  This year it will be July 22, 2017.  It will be a family event that includes a motorcycle ride, BBQ, music, and many activities for families and kids.  The theme will be Men and Women in uniform.  The Boy & Girls Scouts will be involved.    He will get insurance for the event.  Last year the insurance company sent a donation of the same amount of the insurance to the Wounded Warriors.  

Bills were reviewed and approved.  Minutes were reviewed and approved.  

Brian Alves would like to use the 90’ field May – July Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 8am-7pm for $150 a day.  The board agreed the rental fee will remain $200/day.  We already have field reservations during that time frame.  Pat Strange is going to rent the 90’ field again this year for weekly practice on Tuesday’s and 4 weekend games.  Alicia Szender from Western MA Sports Commission of Springfield Visitors Bureau struggles with finding adequate fields to hold visitors events.  She would like to know if P&R would be interested in renting out the facilities to some of these groups.  We are glad to accommodate as long as we have availability.  She would like to come to a meeting to discuss further.  

 

The trail mower needs repairs.  R&R provided a quote of repairs needed.  The fountain on the rail trail is still broken but costly to remove.  Jeanne proposed using the rail trail funds to fix the mower instead of removing the water fountain at this time.  Dave DeiDolori motioned to have R&R fix the rail trail mower; Jeanne Reed-Waldron seconded and the motion was approved.  Dick Grannells would like someone to check out property on Chapman Street.  They are encroaching on the Town ROW.  Jeanne spoke to a neighbor and the house was recently purchased and it is in process of being cleaned up.  Review Dick email in reference to $1.5M JTC project shortfall for FFY2017.  He suggested it could be used to provide bike/pedestrian access to the rail trail from point grove road area, along with adding parking at Miller Road and creating parking at Point Grove Road, and possibly Powder Mill Road and /or Feeding Hills Road crossings.  P&R would like more detail as to ideas for parking around 57, are there areas available to use at these locations?  

No new movement

Cara will complete Kevs Foundation, Inc Grant application for a gifted AED for both Whalley Park and the Town Beach.  Discussion about the application including the placement, training and access to the AED.

7:56 pm  Jeanne Reed-Waldron motioned to adjourn the meeting; Dave DeiDolori seconded the motion. The meeting was called to a close.

Submitted by:

Jeanne Reed-Waldron

John Whalley

Patrick Roche

David DeiDolori

Mike Massarelli