Public Works & Facilities Commission

PUBLIC WORKS & FACILITIES COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2018 TIME: 7:00 P.M. MUNICIPAL BUILDING ROOM 208 MIDDLETOWN CONNECTICUT Members Present: Councilman Carl. R. Chisem Councilman Sebastian Giuliano Councilman Gene Nocera Councilman Philip Pessina Absent: Councilman Thomas Serra Staff Present: William Russo, Director of Public Works Christopher M. Holden, P.E., Deputy Director of Public Works Others: Frank Marchese, 583 Pine Street Eric & Cole Peterson, 6 Stoner Terrace, Portland CT 06480 Logan & Tina Wenzel, 31 Nutmeg Court Paul, Karen & Lucas Radziewicz, 62 Holly Lane Brendan and Kate Lenehan, 43 Bystrek Drive Eddie Valeriano, 36 Falmouth Court Chair Chisem opened the Public Works & Facilities Commission meeting at 7:11 P.M. Chair Chisem requested a motion to approve the minutes dated August 8, 2018. Motion to approve the minutes was seconded and approved unanimously. Councilman Nocera made a motion to amend the agenda to add the Long Hill Road Soccer Field report for discussion only as item 5f. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS: Paul Radziewicz, 62 Holly Lane, spoke on behalf of the Long Hill Road soccer field. He stated that he has been coaching for over ten years. The group he is currently coaching has been together for over six years. In the past, a request has been made for field time for his team in the fall which was met with some positive feedback and some resistance. After speaking with Brian Young, Superintendent of Parks, he was told that he would look into this matter which he has. After a meeting with some local teams, it was discussed who would be scheduled on the field. Paul was then told that his team was not going to be allowed on the fields this fall. Thus, Paul reached out to Director Russo to request time on the field and had the same outcome of which there was no field usage allowed this fall for his team. Paul mentioned that his team was not part of the town leagues and because of this he feels that they aren’t being recognized since they are a travel team. He made the point to say that his team is not registered as an AAU team even though they do travel. Over the last few years, they have reached out to surroundings town and have met with great individuals. Portland has rented fields out to their team and Meriden let them use the YMCA fields so they have been able to maintain the team, however, just not in Middletown. More recently, one of the parents driving through town to an out of town practice drove by a field and saw a group of kids on the field and did not recognize the children playing. Paul indicated that his team consists of eight Middletown kids and three out of town kids. One of the three kids that do not live in Middletown was a lifelong resident whom recently moved to Portland. More or less, Paul is looking for time on the field as a tax payer. He brought up the ordinance which states that tax payers living in the boundaries of Middletown, they are allowed to request time on the City fields. Karen Radziewicz, 62 Holly Lane, stated some of the other teams that are getting field time actually consist of about 65% out of town kids on the team. There are a couple of other new travel teams in Middletown that are also getting time on the field. Karen mentioned that six of the players on the Generals team are the starting line-up for the Middletown High School Blue Dragons. These players have made it to the States this year and she feels that they are being kept from their play time on Middletown fields. CORRESPONDENCE: a. Epilepsy Foundation Thank You Letter – The Commission reviewed the Epilepsy Foundation thank you letter. b. Larry McHugh’s Middletown Events Newspaper Article – The Commission reviewed Larry McHugh’s Middletown Events newspaper article. c. Motorcycle Mania Thank You Letter – The Commission reviewed the Motorcycle Mania thank you letter. d. U.S. Army Corps Letter from the Mayor – Seawall Funding – Deputy Director Holden stated that the City has applied to receive funding and is still waiting for confirmation from the U.S. Army Corps. This will be similar funding and a similar type of project that was conducted with the ballfield. It is for protection of public entities; 65% federal funding and 35% local funding. The process of which will determine whether or not funds will be expended is still in the process. There is a $100,000 investigation for the design portion that the City was going to take on to get the project moving. Before that happens, it needs to be ensured that 100% of the project is funded by the Army Corps if they do it. NEW BUSINESS: a. Naming of the Stage at Farm Hill School – Dr. Charles, Superintendent of Middletown Public Schools, spoke on behalf of the Resolution for the naming of the state at Farm Hill School. She mentioned that she was the principle at Farm Hill School while Carole Crayton was teaching there. Carole was a wonderful teacher and had a special way with one of the most difficult children. She really had a connection with her students and one of her annual Hallmark’s was a wonderful production that anyone was welcomed to attend. A motion was made to name the state at Farm Hill School in honor of Carole Crayton. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. b. Use of South Green for Vendor Craft Fair – One of the Councilmen mentioned that the South Green is used every year for the Vendor Craft Fair. A motion was made to give permission for the use of South Green for this event. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. c. Permission for Use of County Lane Park – Director Russo stated that County Lane Park is the parking lot next to Tuscany Grill and referred the Commission to read the backup in the agenda packets. A motion was made to give approval for the use of County Lane Park. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. d. Field User Agreement – Director Russo stated that this is the fourth travel team requesting use of the fields compliment to what was built. It is not limited to this; the City would have to open up tennis, the little league fields and the gyms. Requests are being received constantly not only from baseball but every organization including out of town football teams that want to play at Palmer Field. When the Parks studies were conducted for wear and tear of the fields, they were done based on the residents in the City of Middletown’s needs only so a line has to be drawn somewhere. Director Russo stated that he sent a text to the Superintendent to remove the travel teams from the fields. He stated that they are not there based on his permission and if they are affiliated with any of the approved teams from the Parks study, they will be recognized. Councilman Giuliano mentioned that ordinance passed out to the Commission by Paul Radziewicz, 214-37, only deals with Pat Kidney, Smith Park, Hubbard Little League and Snow School. Ordinance 214-38 is conclusive to Palmer Field. The definitions of a local team are different in those two ordinances. Under 214-37 the definition states that every member on the team has to be a Middletown resident to be considered a local team. On Palmer Field, for a team to be considered a local team must be organized in Middletown. This means that the members don’t necessarily have to be Middletown residents to be considered a local team. He is unsure about tennis courts or gyms since these ordinances do not address them; they address only the fields mentioned. He stated that if the Legion has players on it from other communities, the players on Pat Kidney cannot be treated or defined as a local team. Director Russo stated that the Department has been meeting with the City Attorney’s office in regards to this matter. Even though it is a compliment to the facilities that were built, the large amount of requests coming in from those that want to use the facilities cannot be met. To schedule games is one thing but to maintain the premises in the way that it needs to be maintained would be almost unmanageable. If he opens it up to one team, then he has to open it up to all teams. Councilman Nocera stated that this topic will be added to next month’s agenda to come to a conclusion. Director Russo stated that the ordinances involved with this topic will be brought to the City Attorney’s office again to have the language cleaned up. He has been asked to try to minimize the amount of time spent on the fields since it is virgin turf and hasn’t had the chance to really set in. Paul indicated that if he were to play on the field at Pat Kidney, he would need an hour and ten minutes tops for a total of three Thursday nights per month. Director Russo stated that he will call the Legion to find out exactly what they are doing on the fields. He will tell them that structure fees were discussed at the Commission meeting and that they will have to pay the fee for Pat Kidney Field. Any out of town teams are going to be told that they are no longer allowed to play on Pat Kidney Field for free.  One of the Councilmen stated that Paul and Karen Radziewicz’s team is not considered a local team according to the way the ordinance was written. Unless the ordinance is changed, fees will be charged to play on the fields. A motion was made to move this to the General Counsel for revision and rewriting of the Chapter 214 Parks, Facilities and Recreation areas for clarification. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. e. Review of 66 Thomas Street Environmental & Potential Acquisition of Site – Deputy Director Holden stated that he is working on an environmental due diligence with by doing an environmental site assessment which is a paper investigation followed by a trip to the site based on. Based on standard operations of our maintenance garage and what they saw, it was recommended that samples were taken from the property to make sure that the parcel is in good condition so that the City knows that their liability is. A motion was made to approval of the review of the 66 Thomas Street Environmental & Potential Acquisition of the site. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. f. Long Hill Road Soccer Field Report Discussion – Frank Marchese, 583 Pine Street, stated that he was at the understanding that two months ago that this Commission gave the green light to the Consultant to get the ball rolling for the renovations to the Country Club Road soccer fields for the concession stand, parking lot and field. He is wondering if he is next in line for these renovations. Director Russo stated that turf cannot be done using the bond money nor can the prepping for turf. Frank suggested that maybe this year the concession stand and the parking lot undergo construction and then next year the field renovations can take place. He wants to show the residents that work is in progress. Director Russo stated that he has the same priorities for soccer; restrooms are needed on the premises as well as a paved parking lot. He briefed Carl Erlacher, Director of Finance on this topic. Director Russo stated that he is going to keep the process moving in relation to Frank Marchese’s request for phase 1: the paved parking lot, concession stand and restrooms. Deputy Director Holden is working with the Health Department in terms of installing a holding tank or leaching fields. He believes the State is not in favor of the installation of a holding tank. Either way, this needs to go through the Health Department. Once the job is permitted, everything else will fall into place. OLD BUSINESS: a. August 2018 Public Works Overtime Report – The Commission reviewed their August 2018 Public Works overtime reports. b. August 2018 Building Permits – Director Russo stated that the Building Division took in $135,571.00 as of today which is an average of $44,000.00 per month. The Division is on target to meet their goals for the year even though FedEx is not included in the current total. FedEx’s grand opening is at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, September 21, 2018. OTHER: Chair Chisem brought up pesticide credits for the Parks Division. Director Russo stated that this just came to him today and that he will need 4 spots approved for Parks Employees at $10.00 apiece. A motion was made to approve of the pesticide credits. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. Director Russo credited the Commission in regards to allowing the spending for the rebuilding of the playscape at Farm Hill Road. The entire school sent thank you letters to the Department. Chair Chisem read the thank you letter written by Sarah H. Shapiro, President of Farm Hill School Governance Council. The letter indicates the happiness the children have been given with compliments to the new playscape. The Commission and Committee members have also been invited by the Farm Hill PTA to an ice cream social on Friday, September 21, 2018 at 6:00 P.M. They are forever grateful to this Commission, the 21st Century Parks Committee, Director Russo, Deputy Director Holden and the entire Department of Public Works for their vision and generosity. a. August 2018 Monthly Report – Highway Division – The Public Works & Facilities Commission reviewed their August 2018 monthly reports for the Highway Division. b. August 2018 Overtime Report – Parks Division – At this time, there was no Overtime Report for the month of August 2018 available to review for the Parks Division. PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS: As there was no further discussion, a motion was made to end the meeting. Motion was seconded and approved unanimously. The Public Works & Facilities Commission meeting adjourned at 8:47 P.M.