Board of Park Commissioners

CITY OF FITCHBURG James McGrath (Chairman) Mary Whitney (Vice-Chair) Dave Brooks Board of Mary Cringan Park Commissioners Colby O’Brien James Bunnell Director of Parks & Recreation P: (978) 829 1815 718 Main Street Fitchburg, Massachusetts 01420 Ama Baker F: (978) 345 9687 Recreation Assistant Board of Park Commissioners Meeting FITCHBURG CITY CLERK Date: Tuesday February 6, 2024 May 08 2024 3:05 pm Location: West Conference Room, Fitchburg City Hall, 718 Main Street Call to Order: The Tuesday February 6 ,2024 meeting was called to order by Commissionor Jim McGrath at 5:37 pm. Commissioner Members Present: Commissioners Jim McGrath, Mary Whitney, Colby O’Brien Also Present: Parks & Recreation Director James Bunnell, DPW Commisioner Nick Erickson, Recreation Assistant Ama Baker, Mayor Sam Squailia Absent: Commissioners Mary Cringan and Dave Brooks Public Comment: No Public Comment Prior Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Mary Whitney and seconded by Colby O’Brien to amend the minutes from the December 5th meeting stating Mary Whitney was present twice. Once Mary Whitney was amended to Mary Cringan. Motion Approved 3-0 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Department Reports: Friends of Coggshall Report: James Bunnell reported: • Neurotic Gumbo Concert is confirmed for August 18th • Junior Police Academy is scheduled for August 5th • Coggshall Caretaker update o Guidebooks have been created for the positions A motion was made by Mary Whitney and seconded by Colby O’Brien to approve the report. Motion Approved 3-0 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Riverfront & Trails: Tabled A motion was made by Mary Whitney and seconded by Colby O’Brien to approve the report. Motion Approved 3-0. Community Development Report: James Bunnell Reported: • Applied for 2 CDBG for signs continuation o This year replace park name signs o Last year updated and replaced Park Rules signs  • 5013C Hurdle for Fitness Park o As municipality and apply for some grants o Need $40k still; originally was $20k but now $40k because of concrete slab • Green Street and Parkhill Projects o Amy requested more CDBG funding for Parkhill and Mama Fitz o Police station paused project repurposed money to Green Street and Parkhill A motion was made by Mary Whitney and seconded by Colby O’Brien to approve the report. Motion approved 3-0. Parks Maintenace Report James Bunnell reported: • Stump removal completed before snowfall o Coolidge (40), Parkhill (25), Hartworth (8), Goodrich (4) • Met with DCR who approved and complimented the work completed by the Parks staff • Attended DCR Summit- tree grants have increased for the next year; will be applying again o Ash trees with invasive species at Coolidge can be included; 21 total • Parkhill boundary fence removed o Will be replaced with trees as part of DCR grant • Christmas Lights on Main Street have been taken down o 12 sets of lights on the poles were cut and damaged intentionally o 1 complaint about Baby Jesus facing wrong way and that he was wrapped in a blue blanket • Street department helped fix fencing at Lowe Park & Caldwell • New attachment for “mamouth” to help with snow removal on bridges • Coggshall’s Stonehouse needs roof fixed & fireplace is leaking o Thinking fireplace leak is from the cap not being sealed at the top of the chimney o Will have someone check flashing around it in Spring • Emergency Lights downstairs at the Stonehouse are broken • Ordering new wire for fountain o Possibly ordering another fountain to have 2 fountains • Parks Departments will be getting a new department truck and 2 new trailers • When snow melts the guys will cut back brush-Parkhill, Nikitas & Gus Johnson, Herman Bourque • Granite benches at the Gazebo were slightly hit when plowing o Need to be reset or possible relocated • Take inventory of wooden benches o Replace wooden benches or look into cost of new ones o Composite materials might be more beneficial for the long run o Phillips park needs composite too A motion was made by Mary Whitney and seconded by Colby O’Brien to approve the report. Motion approved 3-0. Recreation Report James Bunnell Reported: • Walking passes have reached 158 distributed; 3 times more than last year • Raider the Department Elf on the Shelf was a huge success on social media • Fitchburg State Community Service project is finished o Looks very nice and will be very helpful • Giving Tree was very successful o 116 Recipients; Fitchburg Public School Studemts grades 6-12 o Department did recieve a thank you card from superintendant for gifts, coats, etc. o Provided Hygiene Kits along with coats and gifts for students • Lots of planning going on for Spring & Summer o Concerts in the common only has 2 dates available o Received a grant from Fitchburg Cultural Council for $1407 o Movies in the Parks will start a little later but is 5 weeks long • Civic Days planning has begun o Ama is the new Co-Chair o Sponsorship package was revamped and distributed o Sponsors from last year received a hand written thank you card with this year’s sponsor package o Woo-Sox Take over is not included on the Civic Days Calendar for July 6th • Biddy League o Will have teams/player photos on February 29th  Photos haven’t been offered for a few years o Each coach gets updated every week for league standings o Many people seem happy with the way it is organized this year • Worcester Railers March 16th o Each family who registers will recived 2 complimentary tickets  Looking into the possibility of a high five tunnel & mayor dropping the puck • League Lease Agreements o A lot of change with heads of the leagues  Street Hockey, Youth Football, etc. • Summer Jobs have been posted • Fun Soccer wants to use one of our fields on Tuesday and Thursdays o Looking to use 62 days and 100 hours o Need to come up with fee structure • AARP Grant for Fitness Park • Photobind at Coggshall; grant $1500 will be majority for materials o Near Fire Road o Lock it up with combo lock A motion by Mary Whitney to approve this report. Seconded by Colby O’Brien. Approved 3-0 ____________________________________________________________________________ New Business: • 2024 Event Dates (handout) • Jr. Park Ranger Program o Designed a booklet for local children in the community (ages 6-12) to engage more in our parks o Working with Luisa from School Department to create a Spanish version o Used this to apply for DCR Recreation Activity Event Grant  If it doesn’t happen, Department will use it to appy to DCR Grant o Use customized stamp for the booklet event page o Kids will receive a badge, t-shirt, a hat & certificate upon completion of the book. A motion to move forward approved by Mary Whitney and seconded by Colby O’Brien. Approved 3-0 Old Business: Grant of “Rock Walk”; Community Development to help Concerns about it being a “passive park” A motion by Mary Whitney to approve this report. Seconded by Colby O’Brien. Approved 3-0 Motion to adjourn the meeting by Mary Whitney seconded by Colby O’Brien. Approved 3-0 The meeting adjourned at 7:03 pm