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, May 30, 2023 A. Call meeting to order: Meeting called to order at 7:02pm by Comm Buxton. It was noted the meeting was being recorded. Attendance: Commissioners Buxton, Destapado, Ziemba, Bresnahan and Parks Superintendent Strepka B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Motion for approval of minutes for the April 26th, 2023 meeting made by Comm Destapado, Second by Comm Ziemba. Motion for approval of minutes for the May 3rd, 2023 meeting made by Comm Destapado, Second by Comm Buxton C. APPROVAL OF BILLS: Motion for approval of warrants dated May 19th, 2023 that were signed by Comm. Buxton made by Comm Ziemba, Second by Comm Destapado D. PUBLIC INPUT: NONE E. COMMUNICATIONS: 1. Request from Chicopee Braves for field use at Stefanik Field for football practice for their fall season beginning August 1st. Recommendation made by Comm Buxton for Superintendent Strepka to have discussion with School Dept. Director of Maintenance Chapdelaine as the Stefanik Field is on school property and not under the jurisdiction of the Parks & Rec Department. 2. Request from CHS Boys Soccer team for field use at Ike Alpert Park for their summer soccer season beginning June 11th. Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Ziemba 3. Request from Celtic United Soccer Club for field use at Ike Alpert for their summer soccer season beginning June 6th. Motion to approve use of Sarah Jane on Thursdays or Ike Alpert upon availability made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Ziemba 4. Request from the Springfield Thunderbirds to bring their Community Caravan to Szot Park in August for a 2-hour event. Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Destapado 5. Request from Sean Mackin to use Szot Park for the Chicopee Student-Athlete Summer Camp from July 5th to August 4th. Motion to approve contingent on field availability due to other scheduled activities made by Comm Destapado, Second by Comm Bresnahan 6. Request from Wanda Torres to bring a horse and carriage to Lincoln Grove for a photoshoot. Commission agreed to table this request and asked Superintendent Strepka to check with City Hall and Law Dept. as the request involves a horse and buggy ride on city streets. 7. Other Communications a. The Rumbleseat Mens Soccer Team submitted request for field usage this summer. Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Ziemba F. MAINTENANCE REPORT: 1. Parks Labor Force: Current Park openings: (1) 9L – Heavy MEO/Laborer (1) 6L – Grounds Maintenance Craftsman (2) 5L – MEO/Laborer (4) Seasonal Temporary Laborers. All other positions are filled. G. RECREATION REPORT: 1. Adult Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts, Yoga for Everyone. Tennis Lessons. Tennis at Williams Park until high school season is over and Szot courts become available. 2. Adult Rec Leagues: Softball – Season on-going (1) team dropped out due to stacked roster.  3. Youth Rec Leagues: Youth Baseball and Softball – Season on-going. Gold Star Zoo Soccer – Ongoing. 4. Youth Rec Programs: Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Arts. Tennis Lessons. 5. Clinics: Boys Basketball – July 17-21. Girls Basketball – August 7-11. 413 ATC Baseball – July 24-27. Gold Star Soccer – July 31 – Aug 4. No softball clinic due to lack of coach. 6. Safety: CPR/AED/First Aid Class – June 24th. Lifeguard Re-Cert – TBA. 7. Trips: Boston Red Sox June 30 – July 2. New York Yankees – July 22nd 8. Events: Fireworks – June 24th. Summer Movie Nights – July 15th and August 12th. National Night Out – August 7th. 9. Aldenville Summer Concerts: Beginning July 5th. 10. OPEE: Online Registration on-going. Confirmed it will be held at Fairview. Sewer separation project will be delayed. 11. Aquatics: Splash Pads opening. All splash parks open except for Szot, Ashe and Garrity, which will all be opened soon. 12. Recreation openings: Umpires, OPEE positions, Lifeguards, Leader of Rec/Art, Assistant Rec Leaders. An offer has been made to an applicant to fill the Clerk position. Waiting response. H. OLD BUSINESS: 1. PARC Grant – Final Pool Start Up in June 2023. Startup to occur after painting. 2. Bemis Pond Dam Removal – Preparing contracts. Construction beginning. Pre-construction meeting scheduled for 5/31. Construction fencing will begin being installed in the coming days. 3. Pool Removal – Final site restoration. Fence to be put fence back in at Szot. 4. Open Space and Recreation Plan Renewal –Parks and Planning reviewing. Waiting final section submittal from PVPC to put whole plan together. 5. CDBG Project – Lincoln Grove Inclusive Playground Project – Sign installation. Sign installation is last task at Lincoln. CDBG now considering funding the replacement of Sarah Jane splash pad. 6. Post 9/11 and Service Dog Memorial Park – Work on-going. Dog park fencing is installed. 7. Pool Improvements – Work on-going. Sand blasting Ray Ashe to be completed first to prep surface before painting. While Ray Ashe is being painted, the Rivers pool will be sand blasted. 8. Szot Master Plan – Awarding contract. RDLA was chosen from the (4) firms that submitted proposals. Planning Dept. is working the final contract award and signoff. Multiple public input sessions will be scheduled. Comm Buxton asked for notification of when sessions are scheduled. 9. Other Old Business. i. Comm. Buxton asked for update on Community Garden. Superintendent Strepka noted things going well at both Lincoln and Rivers. Community garden mostly self-sufficient with occasional request for assistance or supplies. I. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Ranger/Site Monitor position. Superintendent Strepka revised ranger/site monitor job description and presented for Commission review. Motion to approve made by Comm Destapado, Second by Comm Ziemba. Next step is submittal to City Council for approval prior to posting. 2. Summer Construction Projects – Order fencing and installation at various parks, new doors at Rivers comfort station, Szot Tennis crack filling and painting of pickleball lines. 3. Final Budget Transfers- Move budget from labor to materials. Superintendent Strepka requested approval on budget transfer for new blower and mower ($18K) and for materials for summer projects ($6.5K). Motion to approve made by Comm Bresnahan, Second by Comm Ziemba. Pending City Council approval. 4. Other New Business i. Comm Ziemba received request for fixing light bulbs at Szot scoreboard. ii. Comm Bresnahan requested moving meeting start time to 7pm as bill signing is no longer done at start of meeting. Motion to approve made by Comm Destapado, second by Comm Bresnahan. Approved J. PARKS RULES REVIEW: 1. Table of Contents – Comm Bresnahan volunteered to draft a table of contents for review at next meeting. K. MEETING ADJOURNED: Motion made to adjourn meeting at 8:08m made by Comm. Ziemba. Second by Comm. Destapado. L. NEXT COMMISSION MEETING: June 27th 2023, 7pm___________ Documents presented at May 30th, 2023 Commission meeting: a. Parks Commission Meeting Minutes from meeting on April 26th & May 3rd, 2023. b. Parks Department Summary of Monthly Bills dated May 19th. c. Email (dated 5/6/23) from Tim Klett of the Chicopee Braves requesting field use at Stefanik Field for football practice. d. Email (dated 5/2/23) from Paul Langevin of the CHS Boys Soccer team requesting field use at Ike Alpert Park for their summer soccer season. e. Email (dated 5/3/23) from Rob Galazka of the Celtic United Soccer Club requesting field use at Ike Alpert for their summer soccer season. f. Email (dated 5/17/23) from Keith Allen of the Springfield Thunderbirds requesting to bring their Community Caravan to Szot Park in August. g. Email (dated 5/19/23) from Sean Mackin, CHS Director to Athletics requesting to use Szot Park for the Chicopee Student-Athlete Summer Camp. h. Chicopee Parks and Rec Job Description for Ranger/Site Monitor Position. Minutes Submitted by: _______________________________ __________ Thomas Bresnahan Date Commission Secretary