Recreation Advisory Board

City of Norwich Recreation Advisory Board Minutes November 20, 2008 Members Present: Robert Spayne, Chairman William Nash Mark Bettencourt Members Excused: John Iovino Ray Stewart Also Present: Luis DePina, Recreation Director Meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Chairman Spayne: A motion to accept minutes was made by William Nash and seconded by Mark Bettencourt to approve minutes of the September 25, 2008. Motion passes unanimously. Luis DePina presented a draft of the master plan for the Hamilton Avenue football field. The plan calls for the following: - Reconfiguring the parking lot to add 25 more spaces and additional handicap parking - Adding lights to the parking area - Adding water fountain to both the game field and practice field - Creating viewing areas to the river - Adding a walking trail around the perimeter of the park - Creating a passive park area beyond the practice field - Adding a fishing area - Increasing the spectator area by shifting the field - Re-grading of the practice field DePina stated that improvements to the practice field and parking area will be a priority. DePina will also meet with the members of the football league Board to incorporate any comments into the plan. The 2009-20010 budget was discussed. There are no major changes in the line items. DePina will request funds from the capital improvement account to reconstruct the Greeneville basketball courts and the Mohegan Park bathhouse. Total cost of projects is estimated to be $200,000. The City of Norwich hiring freeze was discussed. DePina expressed concerns about the shortage of manpower and not having enough people to meet the demands of the department. DePina informed the Board that a complaint was received in regards to skateboarders skating at the new Technical school and damaging the sidewalks and curbs. The complainant believes that lights at the skatepark would help prevent this from happening since most of the activity was occurring after dark. After a brief discussion, the Board had no objections to the Recreation Department researching the possibility of placing lights at the skatepark. The meeting was adjourned at 7:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mark Bettencourt