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 Tuesday, December 8, 2020 A. Call meeting to order: Meeting called to order at 7:05pm by Comm Buxton. 1. Attendance: Commissioners Buxton, Bresnahan, Fenton, Ziemba, Montemagni(remote) and Parks Superintendent Strepka. B. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: 1. Motion for approval of minutes for November 10th, 2020 meeting made by Comm Fenton, Second by Comm Ziemba. Approved. C. PUBLIC INPUT: NONE. D. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Email from Atty. Mark Albano regarding Aldenville Commons accident. Parks Superintendent Strepka provided update noting final court settlement is $6,582 which will be received from individual who damaged the Aldenville Commons gazebo area. 2. Other communications i. Request received from Tim Kane seeking permission and space in city park to hold public hand drum program. Activity is sponsored by Chicopee Cultural Council. Motion to approve contingent on compliance with state COVID guidelines made by Comm. Fenton. Second by Comm. Bresnahan. Approved. E. MAINTENANCE REPORT: 1. Leaf pick up, preparation of downtown Christmas lights with Forestry, cemetery work, storm clean-up, fence repairs. 2. Lower Szot Dormant Seeding and Deep Tine Aeration completed November 17th. 3. Parks Labor Force: Current Park openings: (1) 9L – Heavy MEO/Laborer (1) 5L – MEO/Laborer. (2) 4L – Laborer All other positions are filled. Open positions not funded in current year budget. Possibility of funding in next fiscal year budget pending state budget distribution. F. RECREATION REPORT: 1. Adult Rec Programs: Virtual Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts, Yoga. Yoga cancelled December session. No one signed up. 2. Youth Rec Leagues: Youth Basketball – TBD. Parks Superintendent Strepka to meet with Schools Maintenance to determine possible availability of one gym in city that could be used for basketball skills program. 3. Youth Rec Programs: Virtual Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts, Virtual Art Ventures for Kids, Babysitting Class. Babysitting class push off to January by instructor. 4. MyRec – Troubleshooting with Treasurers/Credit Card merchant 5. Cultural Council Grant for Concerts. Grant supports summer concert series and concert in Szot during fireworks. Due to cancellation of fireworks, requirements for grant were not met in 2020 but working to get extension to still have access to grant for fireworks in 2021 in addition to seeking 2021 grant for summer concert series. G. OLD BUSINESS:  1. PARC Grant – Going to bid Dec 9th and Soil Sampling on Dec 7th for HBMA plans. Sampling results due in about 10 days. Plans for removal of hazardous materials from wading pool can then be finalized. Locations have been selected for installation of cameras by IT Dept. 2. Tennis Court Reconstruction – Contract with Mountain View Landscapes signed. Meeting scheduled for week of 12/14, so contractor can then begin demolition prior to the spring when the new court will go in. 3. Lincoln Grove CDBG Project –Comfort station roof replacement completed. Camera to be installed on light pole by comfort station by IT Dept. Camera is a 360-degree camera with connection to Police Dept. 4. Field Use Fees – Proposal for fee structure and fee policy under review by Law Dept. No estimate provided for completion of their review. Request made by Comm Buxton to get review complete by end of February. 5. Other Old Business. H. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Rivers Park 100% Review Plans. Completed plans received. Hardcopies were available for review at the meeting. 2. Revision of seasonal pay rates – Proposal for 2021 wage increase based on minimum wage rate increase was presented. Similar proportionate increase to all recreation position wages was included. Motion to approve made by Comm. Bresnahan. Second by Comm. Fenton. Approved. 3. Williams Park Project – funding was appropriated through DPW for the soil contamination issue. Funding allocated to continue soil sampling and tracing extent of contamination in the area. 4. Other New Business I. MEETING ADJOURNED: Motion made to adjourn meeting at 7:27pm made by Comm. Bresnahan. Second by Comm. Fenton. J. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING: January 12th, 2021, 7pm___________ Documents presented at December 8th, 2020 Commission meeting: a. Parks Commission Meeting Minutes from meeting on November 10th, 2020. b. Letter (dated 12/2/2020), from Chicopee Law Dept, with attached Agreement for Judgement regarding Aldenville Commons accident. c. Rivers Park Project Plans Minutes Submitted by: _______________________________ __________ Thomas Bresnahan Date Commission Secretary