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, April 2, 2024 May 08 2024 3:01 pm Location: West Conference Room, Fitchburg City Hall, 718 Main Street Call to Order: The Tuesday, April 2, 2024 meeting was called to order by Commissioner Jim McGrath at 5:35 pm. Commissioner Members Present: Commissioners Mary Whitney and Mary Cringan Also Present: Parks & Recreation Director James Bunnell, DPW Commissioner Nick Erickson, Recreation Assistant Ama Baker Absent: Commissioners Dave Brooks and Colby O’Brien Public Comment: Prior Meeting Minutes: A motion was made by Mary Whitney to approve the minutes and seconded by Mary Cringan. Approved 3-0 ____________________________________________________________________________________ Department Reports: Friends of Coggshall Report: • Benches and tilted benches are being worked on • Friends of Coggshall received the funds from the donation • The August letter for the Neurotic Gumbo concert on 8/16 has been sent out o The Parks and Recreation department filled out an entertainment permit for a concert o Departments have to pay money for entertainment; that money goes to the state o Police will be donating their time for crowd control • Junior Police Academy clean-up will be their first week of cadet week (8/5) • Research Results will do a company clean-up o Last year they scrubbed benches, spread mulch, and painted black iron A motion was made by Mary Whitney to approve the report and seconded by Jim McGrath. Motion Approved 3-0 _____________________________________________________________________________________ Riverfront & Trails: • James Bunnell Director of Parks and Recreation will be appointed to replace Nate Lerose • Funds are running low o Fundraisers or percent of the cost of rentals • Trim grass and irrigation repair for Beers for Good A motion was made by Mary Cringan to approve the report and seconded by Jim McGrath. Motion approved 3-0. Community Development Report: James Bunnell Reported: • $90k from unused police CBDG project transferred to the Mama Fitz Project. A motion to approve the report was made by Mary Cringan and seconded by Jim McGrath to approve the report. Motion approved 3-0. Parks Maintenace Report James Bunnell reported: • Wash out at Coggshall o Plan to take care of this before Neurotic Gumbo  Thoughts on what is causing the blockage  An upsized covert was discussed so that it will no longer clog o Need to repave all roads at Coggshall • Jeff from streets doing CBDG work with the brook and path to Memorial o Signs and cameras were installed at Parkhill o The baseball infield is being redone; pitcher's mound, bases, and home plate • Pickleball at Parkhill o BMX has cemented blocks on their obstacles which would make it very hard to convert the tennis courts to pickleball. o The whole court would have to be redone o The department is purchasing portable nets, paddles, and balls to rent to citizens • Wood for all bleachers will be delivered tomorrow (4/3) o All parks with bleachers will have wood replaced • Stone dust for the walking path at Coolidge has been ordered • Coggshall o Disc Golf renters put 4 piles of bush together and we removed it • The library had shelves that needed to be moved and installed; they were very thankful for the Parks Department’s help • Fitness park concrete is $46k o Looking for a $10k donation or sponsorships o Community Foundations could potentially have a grant • Jon from Coggshall is leaving and the job description is being posted • DCR Tree grant o James B. ordering trees for Parkhill and Coggshall • Trash barrels at Sarah Quatrale Park have been removed o Hoping people will stop illegal dumping • Parkhill also has illegal dumping o A lock was put on the dumpster o Cameras are helping • Park workers now have daily task sheets o Weekly rotating park check, to keep up with cleanliness and maintenance • The volleyball court fence at Coolidge is coming down • Parkhill softball fence is currently being taken out • Measuring for screens at Parkhill and Pool House  o Bird issue • Crocker playground fence is going to be taken down • Nikitas Field has cameras being installed soon. o Kids are breaking into concessions • FSU honor student clean up at Coolidge • Fun soccer using Babe Deconza o Paying bi-monthly o Using Tuesdays and Thursdays for 1 hour o Bringing their own supplies • 53’ storage container will be bought and delivered to Morin o Concession stand discussion • Street Hockey has new fencing and LED lights A motion was made by Mary Cringan and seconded by Mary Whitney to approve the report. Motion approved 3-0. Recreation Report James Bunnell Reported: • Received award from MRPA • Walking passes concluded at 171 o A total of 54 last year • Applied for a Recreation Commission grant ($10k) for the Junior Park Ranger program o Received $5k o Looking to go to Monty Tech for printing • Summer jobs have been posted o Decent amount of applicants o Need lifeguards o Looking into joining the Career Fair at Sizer • The Easter Egg Hunt was moved from outside to inside due to the weather o Held on the first floor of City Hall o Had over 1000 eggs o Had pictures with the Easter Bunny and coloring o Lots of prizes for eggs that had numbers instead of a toy o 300+ people attended • Park Rules showed to police and they were happy with the rules • Trying to bring in more revenue o Potentially decorating services with events at Coggshall • Storage for the summer playground will be ordered for Coolidge • Celtics Camps o Ama is working on bringing a Celtics Camp to Fitchburg for August 2025 • The budget for next year was submitted o Did request another park staff and an additional vehicle • The pool may need to be updated A motion by Mary Whitney was made to approve this report. Seconded by Mary Cringan. Approved 3-0 ____________________________________________________________________________ New Business: • Coggshall rules will include fishing o No fishing because fishing line and lead go into the water and birds can get tangled in them o Calls to the police and wildlife will occur o Keep no fishing rule o Could get the water near Gomes Liquors stocked with fish • Did receive conservation land o Signed the other day • Food trucks stationed at Parks pay a fee o Could be ideal in spring and summer • MVP Grant-Nick Erickson o Applications are due at the end of April o Floodable field at Coolidge  Permeable pavement at John Fitch  Parking lot at Civic Center • Intercept all runoff before hits the stream o Erosion at the bridge needs to be fixed o Singular grant application with complete engineering designs of all (3) Motion to continue with the project by Mary Whitney and seconded by Mary Cringan. Approved 3-0. Old Business: Need to update fines for park rules and Regulations Keep short and keep the most important Smoking prohibited? Before making signs have the Chief of Police review and agree Motion to adjourn the meeting by Mary Whitney seconded by Mary Cringan. Approved 3-0 The meeting adjourned at 7:18 pm.