Parks Commission

CITY OF CHICOPEE Department of Public Work PARKS DIVISION 687 Front Street Chicopee, MA. RECREATION OFFICE 413-594-3481 413-594-3486 (fax.) _________________________________________________________________________________________ Benjamin Strepka Sean Carroll Superintendent Assistant Superintendent Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes Thursday, October 24, 2019 A. Call meeting to order: Meeting called to order at 7:05pm by Comm Ziemba. It was noted that the meeting was being audio recorded. 1. Attendance: Commissioners Buxton, Bresnahan, Fenton, Ziemba, Montemagni, and Parks Superintendent Strepka B. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: 1. Motion for approval of meeting minutes for September 12th made by Comm. Buxton, Second by Comm. Fenton. Approved C. PUBLIC INPUT: None. D. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Request from the family of Stephen Pietras to hold a memorial bike ride/walk in Szot Park on Saturday, October 19, 2019. Motion to approve made by Comm. Buxton, Second by Comm. Bresnahan. Approved 2. Other communications. - NONE E. MAINTENANCE REPORT: 1. Closing down comfort stations and irrigation systems. 2. Clearing fallen trees, limbs, and leaves from wind storm. 3. Maintaining fall sports fields. 4. Assistance with Halloween Spooktacular 5. Parks Labor Force: Current Park openings: (1) 5L – MEO/Laborer (1) 3L – Laborer. All other positions are filled. Interviews for 5L completed and offer letter to be sent next week. F. RECREATION REPORT: 1. Trips: Boston Celtics Trip January 3rd – (14) people paid in full. 2. Adult Leagues: Adult Volleyball and Basketball – Volleyball began 10/21. Basketball to begin 11/23. 3. Adult Rec Programs: Yoga for Everyone, Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts. New session for yoga at senior center beginning. A (6) week session up to the holidays and a (10) week session beginning after New Year’s. 4. Youth Rec Leagues –Youth Soccer games ending 10/27. Rec Basketball meeting in mid-October. Suburban Basketball practice began 10/17. Motion to approve Suburban coaches made by Comm Fenton, second by Comm Bresnahan 5. Youth Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts, Art-Ventures November 5th, Babysitting Class December 6th. It was noted that city schools closed on both Nov. 5th and Dec 6 6. Aquatics – Swim Lessons at CCHS pool - Program very well received. Class had to move to CHS due to issue at CCHS pool. 7. Trip to see Red Sox play Cubs in Chicago next season is being considered. G. OLD BUSINESS: 1. Update Nash Park improvements – Final vandalism restoration. Parks Superintendent Strepka met with IT director and picked location of cameras. Waiting for new cameras for downtown to come  in and older cameras from downtown to be installed at Nash. Cameras also to be installed at Rivers, Williams, Sarah Jane and possibly Lincoln Grove 2. Front Street Office – Roof repair is complete. 3. Tennis Court Reconstruction – Both vendors responded but have only provided limited information. Estimates of job provided but no details of what is included in estimate. Ben looking at developing master plan with architect for Fairview. Job to then go out to bid. 4. Update Bemis Pond Dam – DPW, Planning working with Tighe & Bond on engineer contract scope. 5. Recreation Software update – Site adjustments. Final shell design in process. Site to look like the city web site and currently working how money to be collected and allocated to appropriate accounts. Working with Treasurer’s Office and Auditing Dept. 6. Revision of Rules, Policies, and Permits - Working with Law Dept. 7. Lincoln Grove Spray Park CDBG project – RFP reviewed. Firm selected was Carolyn Cooney & Associates. Meeting design firm on 10/25. 8. Other Old Business i. Yoga in the Park had (1) participant. Others have expressed interest but noted conflicts. Another session will be offered in spring. ii. Trip to Wrentham was cancelled due to lack of interest. iii. Comm Buxton asked for status naming Szot #1 softball field for former Superintendent Walczak. Plan to have ceremony in Spring 2020. iv. Comm Bresnahan requested disc golf update. Quotes for chains came in higher than expected. Superintendent Strepka to continue to look for cheaper options. H. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Rivers Park PARC Grant acceptance. City was awarded PARC grant for Rivers Park Project. Max. grant of $400K was awarded. Project to cost over 900K and includes replacing pool filters, adding another community garden and adding connectivity of pathways within the park. Motion to approve accepting grant made by Comm Buxton, second by Comm Montemagni 2. Revision of sports league official rates. Motion to approve option for percentage increase rounded to the nearest quarter dollar made by Comm Montemagni, second by Comm Fenton. Percent increase based on $12/hour rate increasing to $12.75. 3. Revision of Recreation Supervisor job description. Job description updated by Superintendent Strepka and presented to Commission for review. It was noted that major revisions to job description cannot be made since one of recreation supervisor positions is currently filled. 4. Renewal of MA CDL License. Motion to approve made by Comm Buxton, second by Comm Bresnahan 5. Replacement of Szot Stadium Heater. Initial quote received for $3500. Other quotes pending. 6. Other New Business i. Accident at Aldenville Commons - $11K in damage. 3 benches and 2 railings were damaged. Working with insurance company of the driver involved. ii. Comm Bresnahan noted local news story on fundraiser for a statue for Chicopee resident Bernard “Bunny” Murray in Aldenville Commons. Superintendent Strepka noted proposal would have to be presented to Commission for approval. I. MEETING ADJOURNED: Motion made to adjourn meeting at 7:47pm made by Comm. Buxton. Second by Comm. Bresnahan. J. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING: Monday, November 18, 2019 7:00PM___________________ Documents presented at October 24th, 2019 Commission meeting: a. Parks Commission Meeting Minutes from meeting on September 12th, 2019 b. Commission Report submitted by Parks Asst. Superintendent Sean Carroll, dated 10/22/19 c. Commission Report submitted by Recreation Supervisor Dan Woodill, dated 10/24/19 d. Notice for Memorial bike ride/walk in Szot Park on Saturday, October 19 in memory of Stephen Pietras  e. Letter (dated 10/4/19) from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to Superintendent Strepka announcing the award of the PARC grant for the Rivers Park project. f. Proposal for Parks Referee/Umpire/Scorekeeper pay increase. g. Recreation Supervisor Job Description h. RMV receipt for MA CDL license renewal Minutes Submitted by: _______________________________ __________ Thomas Bresnahan Date Commission Secretary