PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
3.14.06
APPROVED MINUTES
Present: Joe Carabello, Tom Caccavarro, Don Vitters, Leslie Mayer
Staff: Jonathan Jalbert, Superintendent
Public: Elizabeth Coyne, Jeanne Leary, Barbara Murphy (Summer St. Neighborhood Assoc.), Paul Olsen (Field Maintenance & User Fee Committee), Steve Moniak
1. Feb minutes –
a. MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES AS AMMENDED BY LESLIE MAYER
b. SECONDED BY TOM CACCAVARRO. APPROVED 3-0
2. Permitting fees discussion:
a. The Field Maintenance and User Fee Committee has recommended a field maintenance fee for every user group. This fee would be in addition to the current permit fee which is $2.50/head/season. User groups requested decreasing the permit fee by $1.00 with new fee of $1.50/head/season. The Superintendent of Recreation supports the decrease. The Town Manager has agreed to this and recommends the geese control costs charged to this account be charged to the new field maintenance account. Discussion around goose program
being discontinued if the user groups did not want to pay for this. The program would continue at the Res Beach as this service is paid for through tag fees.
b. MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REDUCTION OF THE USER FEE TO ARL. REC. BY $1.25 IN HALF. TOM CACCAVARRO.
i. SECONDED BY LESLIE MAYER
ii. Approved 4-0.
iii. Mr. Carabello noted his concern of the goose program and possibly still paying for this with the adjusted fee. Mr. Carabello also asked if Mr. Jalbert’s department’s
administrative portion would cover all the expenses. Mr. Jalbert stated he will have to streamline some tasks to make it work but would need to review the receipts and see if it is possible to continue with the goose management program.
iv. Leslie requested to review the field permit cost and record tracking over the past 3-4yrs for the next meeting. Further projections and analysis would need to occur from Mr. Jalbert
with the new fee being applied.
3. Mr. Jalbert updated the commission that the current abutters list is a third completed and a 300 feet radius needs to apply to every list. Mr. Carabello wanted to clarify that a database will be corrected and updated in a priority of capital projects.
4. Warrant Articles were reviewed and discussed and the Commission sees no issue with the Articles being presented. Ms. Mayer wanted to clarify that the commissioners had no knowledge of Article 17 as was stated by the selectmen during their meeting and would have had representation present
at the hearing if they had been notified.
a. MOTION TO SUPPORT ARTICLE 17(BYLAW AMENDMENT/SECTION 8 ANIMAL CONTROL- to see if the Town will vote to amend Section 8 Animal Control of Article 1 of Title IV of the Bylaws by providing for a hearing process to be
established by the Park and Recreation Commission to consider community input regarding the creation, placement and/or use of dog parks, dog runs or dog exercise areas, to authorize the Commission to adopt rules and regulations relating to same, which will be subject to the approval of the
Town Manager; or take any action related thereto.) – TOM CACCAVARRO
b. SECONDED BY MS. MAYER.
c. APPROVED 4-0 with the comment that this article is consistent with the public input process that the Commission currently follows for all projects.
d. Ms. Mayer handed out copies of other articles relating to PRC issues that the commissioners may be interested in and/or commenting on. The commission discussed briefly a few of the
articles.
i. Presented were Articles 6, 14, 17, 24
5. Sub-Committee Reports
a. SCIC – Tom missed the last meeting but they will be meeting this Thursday where a new Chairman and Vice Chairman will be voted.
b. Field Users Mtg- A meeting occurred to review the permits and the reduction of the user fee was discussed.
c. Capital Sub-Committee
i. Bishop and Menotomy proposals extended one week and will be presented at the April mtg
ii. CDBG request submitted for Menotomy path system $110K
iii. Budgets for Bishop and Menotomy were discussed.
iv. Budget for Menotomy coming from 5 sources and Don will send an email later with the details
v. Don received the information from Tony Lionetta and the amount allocated from CPC of $400,000
vi. Mr. Jalbert presented to the capital sub committee an initial project review on all upcoming Park projects.
vii. NU received allocation of $58,000 in addition to the $56,000 for the surfacing. Mr. Jalbert will send the commissioners a copy of what Mr. Leonard provided. Ms.
Mayer would like to see the scope of the services. The Commission would like to request a public meeting to get all the neighbors, friends, etc. to discuss additional ideas. Meeting to be set up early April by Mr. Jalbert and Andrew Leonard’s cost
estimates will be sent via email by Mr. Jalbert.
viii. Spy Pond date approved for ceremonial opening on Sunday, April 30, 2006 3-6pm, with a rain or mud date of Sunday, May 7th same time.
ix. Buzzell put off another year maybe start discussion at the May meeting.
x. Waldo opening waiting to hear from the friends group.
xi. Locke opening when Deb Hayes can be present. Get date from Deb.
b. Open Space- Request for CDBG has been made to assist putting together an updated open space plan as well as soliciting additional information from the community.
c. Reservoir Committee-Westin & Sampson was awarded a Gold Award from ACEC –American Council for Engineering Companies, on the Reservoir Project.
A formal landscape plan is coming for the Reservoir Area and coming in front of the commission for review.
6. Hlth Dept. Letter presented by Joe and will be forwarded to Nancy Campbell for further review with the Field User Committee.
7. Residents question the installation of the lights at Buck. The commission would like to see the draft policy for light fields. The lights were approved to go up and the residents were concerned about the public process.
8. Residents were concerned about a field lighting policy, rink loitering early am., retaining wall, and trees, 4/4/05 SSNA is holding a meeting about the Summer Street Construction at the former St. James between Appleton and Mass.Ave. Details to come.
9. Rec and Rink
a. Mr. Carabello would like to evaluate the fees at the Res, if enrollment goes down to reduce the costs.
10. Others
a. Robbins Farm- Christian Clein, Correspondence sent regarding the signage being left up and not removed. Mr. Jalbert will follow up with John Sanchez directly.
MOTION MADE TO ADJOURN 9:30PM –Leslie Mayer, 2ND Tom Caccavarro, Approved 4-0
| 
