Parks & Recreation Commission

LACONIA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING Monday, September 19, 2022 Laconia Community Center 6:00 P.M. CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Mitch Hamel called the meeting to order at the above date and time. RECORDING SECRETARY: Secretary Liza Kelleher recorded this meeting. ROLL CALL: Commissioner Hamel called the roll with the following Commissioners in attendance: Arthur Kirk and Deanna Guyer. Absent- Rodney Roy and Laura Ringer. PARKS AND RECREATION STAFF PRESENT: Asst Director of Recreation and Facilities Matt Mansur and Secretary Liza Kelleher. Absent- Director of Recreation and Facilities Amy Lovisek. ADOPTION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS: 1. Regular meeting minutes of August 15, 2022 Commissioner Kirk moved to adopt the minutes from the August 15, 2022, meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Guyer. All were in favor. I. FACILITY USE REQUEST FORM: 1. Winnipesaukee Muskrats- Robbie Mills and Memorial Baseball field- Saturday and Sunday, October 15 & 16, 2022 from 8:00am to 8:00pm for 2022 Winnipesaukee Muskrats Fall Baseball classic. Commissioner Guyer motioned to accept the request pending upon the payment of $300.00 tournament fee and light fees if needed. Seconded by Commissioner Kirk. All were in favor. 2. Robert Ronstadt- Memorial or Leavitt Park Tennis Court- Whenever court is available for Individual Tennis lessons for teens and adults (springtime). Commissioner Kirk motioned to accept the request and will consider a contractual agreement (scheduling and fees) between Robert Ronstadt and the Parks and Recreation Department. Seconded by Commissioner Guyer. All were in favor. 3. Christmas Village- Laconia Community Center- November 11 through December 11, 2022. Commissioner Kirk motioned to accept the request pending on the results of September 24th organization meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Guyer. All were in favor. 4. Laconia Adult Coed Softball- Memorial Softball Field- September until end of November 2022. Commissioner Guyer motioned to accept the request for a wiffle ball games with the understanding that the water will be shut off mid October for winterization, and payment for the lighting is required for additional nights. Seconded by Commissioner Kirk. All were in favor.  II. OLD BUSINESS: A. Cure SMA- Opechee Park -Saturday, October 29, 2022, from 7:00am to 2:00pm for 2022 New Hampshire Walk-n-Roll. Commissioner Kirk motioned to table the request due to no representation. Seconded by Commissioner Guyer. All were in favor. B. Possible increase in users’ fees- Chairperson Hamel reported that he and Director Lovisek met with the City Manager to discuss the fee structure and asked the Commissioners to familiarized themselves with the proposal to be discuss at the next Commission meeting. III. ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVALS-ROTARY PARK, BEACHES, WEIRS AMPHITHEATER & PAVILION IV. NEW BUSINESS: A. Rules about RV’s, Trailers, and buses- will discuss in the next Commission meeting. B. Leavitt Park Parkhouse and/or Laconia Community Center for emergency shelter for Laconia Christian School. Commissioners will discuss in the next Commission meeting. V. ANNOUNCEMENTS: VI. NOMINATIONS, APPOINTMENTS & ELECTIONS: VII. PUBLIC COMMENT: VIII. COMMUNICATIONS: IX. OTHER REQUESTS REQUIRING COMMISSION ACTION: X. PARK ASSOCIATION REPORTS: A. Leavitt Park Association- No report. B. Weirs Community Park Association- No report C. Tardif Park Association- No report XI. DEPARTMENT REPORTS: A. Director’s Report submitted by Amy Lovisek September is the month that things start to settle down at the beaches but start to really move for fall sports! During the month of September, we will open the beach bath houses on the weekends to provide that service, but we are not there to monitor the facilities. The athletic fields are getting a workout (pun intended) now that soccer, field hockey, football, fall baseball and softball and cross country are happening. From youth leagues to interscholastic sports our fields are packed full of activities. Then you add in the special events and just Wow! The Ironman Timberman triathlon is happening this weekend and it is taking up almost all of Opechee Park. It is less this year as they are having the main event at the City Hall parking lot. Opechee is being used as the transition location only this year. I have started a 4 series class at Primex on how to cultivate a positive culture in the workplace. I am one class in, and I am hoping to implement at least one technique to better our work environment. I took the Trustees of the Trust on their annual cemetery tour. This is something we started last year and is in their bylaws. This provides them with the experience and knowledge of the cemeteries, where they are and what condition they are in. I have been working on the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) for most of this month. It certainly does take a good portion of time. I have attached the list to this report for your perusal. I did not hear from any Commissioner after last month’s meeting that you would like to see anything specific, so I did what I though best for the department. If you ever do come up with an idea, please let me know any time of year. I can add it to the list for the following year. As far as projects go, we have some that are completed. Opechee Roof, Riverwalk paving and Weirs Beach ADA beach access. I have Dubois & King working on the engineering for the Bond Beach bath house and sewer upgrades. This work should be starting in the spring. Memorial Park House doors bid has been awarded as well as the Memorial Park tennis court repairs. B. Assistant Director’s Report submitted by Matt Mansur Summer Wrap-Up Labor Day has come and gone and the temps have dropped. Our staff have all wrapped up and moved onto their fall priorities and responsibilities. It was a tough summer that we plan on learning from and creating some new ways to make our lives easier next year. I have pulled the swim lines in for the Opechee Point (needed to get them in for the Ironman). I will pull the swim lines at the Weirs this week before the dragon boat races on Saturday. The rest of the lines I will get in as soon as I can, but we’re not up against anything except for the weather. Community Center Programs We have begun our fall schedule with rate increases. However, this year we are providing Laconia residents with a $1 discount for our programs. With demand increasing for our facilities every summer, we are happy to provide our tax paying residents with this service. XII. PRESENTATIONS XIII. ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Guyer motioned to adjourned at 6:48pm. Seconded by Commissioner Kirk. All were in favor. Respectfully submitted, Liza Kelleher Mitch Hamel Secretary Chair Commissioner