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, June 29, 2021 A. Call meeting to order: Meeting called to order at 7:05pm by Comm Buxton. It was noted the meeting was being recorded. 1. Attendance: Commissioners Buxton, Bresnahan, Fenton, Ziemba, Montemagni and Parks Superintendent Strepka. B. ACCEPTANCE OF MINUTES: 1. Motion for approval of minutes for the May 20th, 2021 meeting made by Comm Fenton, Second by Comm Ziemba. Approved. C. PUBLIC INPUT: NONE D. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Request from Jonathan Oliveras to use the Stefanik Field for an outdoor church service on Saturday, July 31st and Sunday, August 1st from 12pm to 4pm. Discussion had regarding Parks Dept. jurisdiction to issue permit for this field and others in the city which fall under School Dept. control. Stefanik Field is one of several around the city that are maintained by the Parks Staff but are not considered a city park. Request made for Superintendent Strepka to review issue of jurisdiction with School Dept. Maintenance staff. 2. Request from Hampden Charter School for field use at Bowie Field for high school soccer during the fall season. Motion to approve made by Comm Fenton. Second by Comm. Bresnahan. 3. Request from Krissy Lemke for field use for a youth 3v3 soccer tournament on August 14th and 15th from 8am to 4pm. Superintendent Strepka recommended reserving Williams Park for this event. Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan. Second by Comm. Ziemba 4. Other communications. i. Request from Joseph Denault asking if a bench can be placed in Szot Park in memory of his late father Joseph Denault, Sr. The Denault family has lived on Academy St. for many years. Superintendent Strepka to decide on location and style of bench which will align with overall park master plan. Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan. Second by Comm. Montemagni contingent on details (style, location, cost to requestors, plaque approval) be consistent with other recent requests for memorial benches. ii. B&G Club request for juvenile delinquency grant. Motion to approve made by Comm Montemagni, second by Comm Fenton. As in previous years, this program support included in annual Parks budget allocated by City Council. E. MAINTENANCE REPORT: 1. Preparation, maintenance, and breakdown of Fireworks event. Overall, the fireworks were a success. The new set up for the location of where the fireworks were fired was well received. 2. Ray Ash Pool preparations. Targeting a 7/6 opening. 3. Parks Labor Force: Current Park openings: (1) 9L – Heavy MEO/Laborer (1) 5L – MEO/Laborer. (3) 4L – Laborer All other positions are filled. Budget tentatively approved. Superintendent Strepka moving forward with posting the positions. F. RECREATION REPORT:  1. High School Sports: Season complete. 2. Adult Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts, Tennis Lessons. 3. Adult Rec Leagues: Adult Softball League – Season on-going. USTA Social Tennis League – Beginning July 14th, at Szot Park. Swarm Basketball over 18 3v3 tournament – August 7th, also @ Szot. 4. Youth Rec Leagues: Youth Baseball and Softball seasons nearing completion. All leagues expected to end by July 2nd. Baseball Clinic – July 26th – 29th. Softball Clinic – July 12th – 15th. Softball clinic cancelled due to low enrollment. Chicopee Galaxy beginning flag football. Swarm Basketball Clinic – July 17th -July 18th. Basketball clinic open to kids age 6-13 5. Youth Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts, Virtual Art Ventures for Kids. Art Ventures August 16th -20th. Incrediflix Movie Making – July 26th -30th, Circuit Lab – August 9th - 13th, Gold Star Zoo and Clinic to run to the end of July or early August. 6. Safety Programs: CPR/AED First Aid Class – June 26th, Lifeguard Certification Class – ends July 2nd. (3) people took advantage of the Parks Dept. offer to cover cost of certification as part of their employment agreement as a lifeguard for the city. 7. Aquatics – Preparing to open Ray Ash Pool. Date –TBD 7/6 estimated opening. 8. Virtual Summer Concerts w/ Chicopee Public Library – Airing on ChicopeeTV. Superintendent Strepka is still considering to have a couple of live outdoor events later in summer. 9. OPEE –Registration full. Program begins July 12th at Chicopee High School. Capacity is 60 kids each week. 10. Fireworks – June 26th. Superintendent Strepka to have wrap up meeting with Police and Fire Departments the week of July 5th. Objective of the meeting will be to review what went well, what did not go well, and discuss recommendations for improvements. 11. Recreation: Current openings: Seasonal positions – Assistant Rec Leaders. G. OLD BUSINESS: 1. PARC Grant –Construction on going. Splash Pad removal complete. Waiting for the final waste assessment report of the removed material. Change order to be submitted as the waste assessment work will not include backfilling the removed material. Mountain View to resume construction. Pool filter installation on-going. Change orders – Pavilion pad repair and 90’ Baseball Diamond Renovation. Change orders approved. Pavilion pad repair to happen now, the diamond renovation to happen nearer the end of the summer in preparation for next season. Final Reimbursement paperwork submitted. 2. Tennis Court Reconstruction – Complete. Courts not open just yet. The work has not been officially accepted by the Parks Dept. When accepted, the official opening will be a pickle ball event between some of the city’s elected officials vs members of the local media. 3. Bemis Pond Dam Removal – Early permitting. Construction in 2022. 4. Pool Removal – Szot and Fairview. Proposal received from engineers. The goal is to remove by November. The pool buildings will remain. The City had previously gone out to bond for removal, but until the job goes out to bid, total cost is unknown at this time. Bid will be for removal and fill only, not new construction on the site. Future use of the pool sites still to be determined. 5. Review of Park Rules – final proposed changes not complete and Superintendent Strepka requested Commission review at next meeting. 6. CDBG Project – Lincoln Grove Inclusive Playground Project. Carolyn Cooney and Associates have been chosen as the Landscape Architects for the project. Plan to remove playground and replace with more modern playground, that will be more accessible for the disabled. Plan is also to transfer existing playground equipment for use at Fairview, 7. Other Old Business i. NONE H. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Recreation Supervisor – made offer to James Mercer, and he has accepted the position with start date of July 19th. 2. 2021 Seasonal Employees Opee staff roster was presented. Still short on park attendants. Current plan to staff Sarah Jane, Lincoln and Williams. Other parks will have no attendants but spray  features will operate on timers. If more come park attendants are hired, Superintendent Strepka will look to staff other parks currently unstaffed. Motion to approve made by Comm Fenton. Second by Comm. Bresnahan 3. Pool Rules Revisions. It was noted that not all key elements are necessarily new rules but department will put more emphasis on enforcing them. Some of the key items discussed….Admission fee charged whether person is intending to swim or not, no food or drink will be allowed in any part of the fenced in pool area, and no strollers or chairs in pool area. Sale of pool passes to be done in person at Parks office or online on MyRec. Motion to approve made by Comm Montemagni. Second by Comm. Ziemba. 4. Other New Business i. (2) Movie nights planned at Szot Park. 7/24 and 8/21. I. MEETING ADJOURNED: Motion made to adjourn meeting at 7:46pm made by Comm. Fenton. Second by Comm. Bresnahan. J. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING: August 24th, 2021, 7pm___________ Documents presented at June 29th, 2021 Commission meeting: a. Parks Commission Meeting Minutes from meeting on May 20th, 2021. b. Email (dated 6/14/21) from Jonathan Oliveras of Iglesia Jehova Shalom requesting use of soccer field at Stefanik School. c. Letter (dated 6/15/21) from Patrick Graham of the Hampden Charter School requesting field use at Bowie Field for high school soccer. d. Email (dated 6/6/21) from Krissy Lemke of the Abbey Villa Dragons U6 soccer team requesting field use for a youth 3v3 soccer tournament. e. Chicopee Parks & Rec 2021 Camp Opee Staff Roster. f. Chicopee Parks & Rec 2021 Pool Rules (Proposed). Minutes Submitted by: _______________________________ __________ Thomas Bresnahan Date Commission Secretary