Mohegan Park Improvement & Development Advisory Committee - Disbanded Feb 01, 2025

MOHEGAN PARK IMPROVEMENT & DEVELOPMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE Thursday, September 13, 2018 – 7:30 P.M. Norwich Public Works Conference Room 50 Clinton Avenue, Norwich, CT Regular Meeting MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Beryl Fishbone at 7:30 P.M. Committee members present: Beryl Fishbone, Bill Barbuto, Judy Magnano, Kyle Seitz, Rebecca Melucci , Alderman Sam Browning, Samantha Venturo, Ryan Thompson (Ex-Officio) 2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Upon a motion by Bill Barbuto, seconded by Rebecca Melucci, the committee unanimously approved the minutes of the regular meeting held on July 12, 2018. 3. FINANCIAL REPORT The financial report was provided by Ryan Thompson. Interest earned was $95.91 and there were no expenditures. 4. OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE In response to a letter to the committee from Roberta Clapper, the Chelsea Botanical Gardens sign has been removed. The lattice still remains. 5. OLD BUSINESS a. Handicap parking spaces: No update. b. Food Trucks: Alderman Sam Browning is looking to improve the ordinance regarding procedures and language that would allow food trucks in the park. c. Disc Golf: Kyle Seitz and disc golf professional, Greg Wintrob, gave a presentation showing the two areas of Mohegan Park that would be suitable for a 9 hole disc golf course. Greg Wintrob, a champion disc golfer, provided credentials showing an extensive background in course set-up and management. The areas chosen were: i. Lower Pond Course 1. Pros: a. Parking b. Easy Installation 2. Cons: a. Overlaps walking trail b. Short tee placement  ii. Wilderness Road Course 1. Pros: a. Room to expand b. Beautiful landscape c. More challenging course 2. Cons: a. No parking MOTION by Kyle Seitz: That the Committee pursues the construction of a disc golf course on Wilderness Road. Motion seconded by Rebecca Melucci and voted unanimously in favor. Ryan Thompson shared parking concerns and stated that his budget couldn’t support a graveled 15 space parking area. Samantha Venturo suggested fundraising. Beryl Fishbone stated that the City could open an account for The Wilderness Disc Golf Fund. Rebecca Melucci suggested that donors be a part of the financial report. Sam Browning asked that we draft an official letter stating the Committee’s position. It was discussed that that the Committee make available up to $10,000. Ryan Thompson agreed to secure parking lot estimates and Kyle Seitz will get estimates for holes and materials. MOTION by Kyle Seitz: Not to exceed $10,000 for a parking area on Wilderness Road. Motion seconded by Bill Barbuto and voted unanimously in favor. 6. CITIZEN COMMENT 7. OTHER BUSINESS a. Treatment of invasive aquatic plants: The plants in Spaulding Pond have grown to the point of causing problems and DEEP recommends eradicating. There are three options: i. Physically removing plants ii. Chemicals to kill plants iii. Lower pond five or six feet Ryan Thompson recommends lowering the water level. MOTION by Sam Browning: Lower water level. Motion seconded by Samantha Venturo and voted unanimously in favor. b. Removal of wisteria over dam. The roots have created voids in the dam and must be removed. Ryan Thompson suggested sinking planters to contain root masses. Beryl Fishbone suggested contacting DEEP or other experts for replanting expertise. Ryan Thompson will look into options. c. Recreation Director, Cheryl Hancin, attended the meeting to update us on future plans and park use. She has published a quarterly booklet of park programs and activities and she is eager to collaborate with our  committee. She expressed a desire to run children’s programs with the proposed disc golf course. She stated that the 2018 beach season went very well bringing approximately 100 to 200 people per day to the park and double that amount on July 4th. She has received requests for a longer season, longer hours and residency polling. d. Presentation to City Council: Beryl Fishbone will be presenting MPIDAC achievements and goals to the City Council on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 7:00 P.M. Judy Magnano will provide a PowerPoint presentation. e. Judy Magnano provided the 2019 meeting schedule. A motion to keep as presented was made by Rebecca Melucci, seconded by Samantha Venturo and unanimously approved. f. Judy Magnano also brought attention to member terms which are all due to expire, with the exception of Sam Browning, on December 31, 2018. 8. OTHER ATTENDEES: a. Greg Wintrop, Disc Golf professional b. Cheryl Hancin, Norwich Recreation Director 9. ADJOURNMENT Motion was made to adjourn by Beryl Fishbone, seconded by Rebecca Melucci and voted unanimously by the committee. The meeting adjourned at 8:51 P.M. Distribution: Bill Barbuto billsuebarbuto@hotmail.com, Beryl Fishbone berylfishbone@yahoo.com, Judy Magnano jmagnano12@gmail.com, Sam Browning tappingreeve@aol.com, Ryan Thompson rthompson@cityofnorwich.org, Rebecca Melucci beckimelucci614@gmail.com, Samantha Venturo stillwaters37@gmail.com, Kyle Seitz seitzk22@yahoo.com, Betsy Barrett bbarrett@cityofnorwich.org, Angela Fuller AFuller@cityofnorwich.org, Suzanne Cicarelli dpwadmin@cityofnorwich.org