Park & Recreation Commission

FINAL MINUTES Salem Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 6:50 P.M. Meeting Location: Dining Room, 401 Bridge St. Members Present: Bob Callahan, Amy Everitt, Chris Burke James Shea, Deb Amaral Absent: Patricia O’Brien Also Present: Joe Candelaria Clerk: Kathleen Fitzgerald Meeting Called to Order Deb Amaral calls the meeting to order at 6:50 P.M. New Business Approval of Minutes of the meeting on March 19, 2019. Bob Callahan moves to approve, seconded by Amy Everitt and unanimously passes. First on the Agenda: Jake Lefker, North Shore Community Development Coalition – This is for an event on April 18, 2019 called “Get to the Point Day” at Peabody Street Park which is organized to provide neighborhood children in The Point during school vacation week to participate in games and fun activities. He is coming before the Board to get approval to play music from speakers. Bob Callahan asked how many years he has been doing this and Mr. Lefker advised that this was the 8th year. James Shea makes a motion to approve the event, seconded by Bob Callahan and passes unanimously. Natalie Thelen (for Doug Bollen), Boys and Girls Club of Greater Salem -- She appeared before the Board to seek approval for the 16th Annual Wild Turkey 5 Mile Run. The only question raised by the Board was the location of port-a-potties. Ms. Thelen advised that they would be in the same location as those placed during Haunted Happenings. James Shea moves to approve the event, seconded by Bob Callahan and passes unanimously. Wendy Brito, Ministerio Cristiano – Requesting use of the Salem Common for an event on September 14, 2019 from 3:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. where an estimated 100-300 people are anticipated to attend. There will be a preacher and worship team. -1- Bob Callahan asked if there have been any issues in the past and Joe Candelaria advised that the only issue was amplification. Bob Callahan stated to Ms. Brito that if amplification was an issue and if the police got a call and advised them to turn it down and they didn’t, future events would be voted down. James Shea moves to approve the event, seconded by Amy Everitt and unanimously passes. Neil Sicard, Salem United – This request is for the annual black picnic on July 20, 2019 attended by approximately 2,000 people. Mr. Sicard stated that nothing has changed from their last request. James Shea inquired about vendors at the event and asked how many there would be. Mr. Sicard stated there would be about 20, but as the event got closer more vendor requests were received and that he wanted to finalize the number some time in May. Mr. Shea asked what kind of vendors and was advised vendors would be selling African American dolls, book, etc. and that there would be a job fair and an ambulance company present. James Shea stated that he saw in the application that Mr. Sicard wanted sports to go through Salem United and Mr. Sicard advised that there was a discussion about two weeks ago about this, and the MOU moving forward would be updated saying Salem United would be in charge of all the fields. He said he spoke with Roy Breckinridge and everything was fine for this year. James Shea advised that the Board issues all permits, and Mr. Sicard stated that he went over all of that with Trish O’Brien. James Shea advised that an MOU would not overrule this Board and stated that the new MOU would reflect that change. Bob Callahan advised that the MOU would be issued by Beth Renard, but the Park & Rec Commission has a certain responsibility and it has to be okayed by the Park & Rec. Commission as they have the ability to give all permits for use of the parks. He stated that the Board respects Beth Renard and go along with her almost 100% of the time. Deb Amaral stated that the present MOU was out of date. She advised that there would be a meeting in May, and while she could not make the motion to approve the event until the MOU was done, she thought the Board should table the vote. Amy Everitt stated that Trish O’Brien had emailed the Board and advised that the MOU was not signed. James Shea advised that this Commission had no problem with the event, but that the MOU needed to be finished. Deb Amaral stated that as long as everything was signed by all parties by the next meeting on May 21st, the event could be put to a vote. Mr. Sicard stated that it appeared to him that as it stands now, they would have to have everything cleared up by the next Board meeting. Bob Callahan advised that the old MOU was gone and does not exist and that everything this Board does now is based on a new MOU which will hopefully come out before the next meeting. James Shea makes a motion to table the event, seconded by Bob Callahan and passes unanimously. -2- Robert Duprez, Witch City VFW Golf Tournament – Before Mr. Duprez spoke, Bob Callahan questioned if the event had been okay by the Golf Course Manager and if he had okayed either of the two dates suggested and Mr. Duprez advised that he was waiting for an answer. BC stated that because the dates requested were in the summer and summer was a very busy time, Mr. Duprez needed to get a firm date from the Golf Manger. He also advised Mr. Duprez to make sure that date is finalized because it could not come before the Board for approval until they heard from the Golf Course Manger. He advised Mr. Duprez that the Golf Course Manager would advise him what he would have to pay for carts, Tee times, etc. and then gets back to the Board and tells the Board that the date is ok. James Shea asked Joe Candelaria if someone looked into this and JC advised that he did not know where Mr. Duprez and Trish O’Brien had gotten to in discussions. James Shea stated that since Trish O’Brien was out, that the Board vote to approve the tournament and makes a motion to approve it contingent upon a firm date from the Golf Course manager. Bob Callahan seconds and it passes unanimously. Mark Lovely and Larry Cushing, North Shore Wreaths Across America – Before either gentleman spoke, Bob Callahan noted that the application presented appeared to request extended times this year, i.e. June 2-10, 2019. Mr. Cushing stated that the actual event would be June 6-9 and that the additional dates were for set-up and breakdown. Bob Callahan stated that he had an issue with tying up that area for that length of time. Mr. Lovely let the Board know that last year they were rushed through set-up because of the 4th of July. Bob Callahan expressed his concern again about taking up the park for that extended length of time and Mr. Lovely advised that the park would be available until Tuesday, June 4th. James Shea asked if they were talking about the old softball field. AE stated that last year there was noise issues. Mr. Lovely said he received one complaint last year because of parking and this year would be putting up signs saying, “NO PARKING OR YOU WILL BE TOWED”. Last year’s complaint was that the police didn’t tow. DA asked for comments from the audience. Before the audience could comment, Mr. Cushing stated that they had purchased a new generator for $250,000.00this year which was much quieter and would cut down on the noise and that it was needed for the lights to attract people to them, JS asked if they could take the generator towards the beach area and Mr. Cushing stated that they go out of their way to take care of any stipulations put on them; i.e. maintain proper hours, shut down, generator, etc. BC stated that he recognized for the last couple of years there was a lot of rain and mud, around he would insist that his son take care of the field he was using and leave it in the best shape possible and Mr. Cushing said it was important to him to maintain any field he used, DA asked about concerns from the audience. Betty Ryan, 129 Ft. Avenue addressed the Board with her concerns about parking. She stated that in front of her house it says, “Resident Parking Only” and last year when she came home from the Cape, she could not find parking. Mr. Cushing said they would put signs up. -3- BC said this could be coordinated on the police detail report and Mr. Cushing said it wasn’t a big deal and was a simple request so they would take care of it. Melissa Nowak, 19 Columbus Avenue stated that she appreciated what the event planners were doing for the vets, but since they have started rides get delivered in the middle of the night, parking is out of control and set-up and take down is very late. She asked Mr. Cushing what the hours were, and he advised as follows; Thursday 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M Friday 6:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. Saturday 1:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. EVENT TIMES NOT SET UP Sunday 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. Eric Nowak, 19 Columbus Avenue stated that he witnessed equipment coming in at all hours of the night from 11:00 P.M. and beyond and Mr. Cushing advised that part of the reason for that was because they had to park somewhere else. Mr. Cushing stated that they would like to set up on June 2nd starting at 9:00 P.M. and Deb Amaral advised that clearly that was a problem setting up on Sunday night and that the application stated set up Sunday A.M. DA further stated she wanted to make it super clear that it is in the morning and not at night. Melissa Nowak asked what happens if they come in Sunday night. JS advised if that happened, they won’t be back next year and DA further stated if that didn’t work, we would ask for a different vendor next time. Cushing said they would make it work. DA said it was simple Richard Roderick, 7 Sutton Avenue Stated that no one disagrees with the purpose, but just that you will come in when you say and that you do abide by rules and breakdown pursuant to times on the application. Mr. Roderick stated that the generator should be on the beach side and asked Mr. Cushing how parking issues should be handled – by calls to the police or by calls to you? Mr. Cushing stated that they would call the police department. Mr. Roderick then asked if there would be a patrol officer. DA advised that the Board did no have control over the police, the Board just work with permits. BC said to Mr. Cushing that you as the owner of the business are obviously sensitive to the homeowners and if you have a police detail, the police officer is working for you. Mr. Cushing said not a problem. Councilman Robert McCarthy, 148 Bayview Avenue stated as follows:  Last year with the 4th of July he was adamant equipment, etc. could not be coming in late at night;  He was glad to hear about the generator;  Parking signs were great but resident parking problems existed. He will contact proper authority to enforce that as residents have no authority to call tow company to tow;  Port-a-Potties in the past faced the houses and should face the beach. -4- JS noted that the fee had not yet been paid and said the Certificate of Insurance was needed before the event could happen. DA requested that when the insurance certificate was brought in a map would be nice and Mr. Cushing said that they tried to keep all of the equipment as close to the beach side as possible. Mary Roderick, 7 Sutton Avenue asked how many rides there would be this year and what the protocol on music was. Mr. Cushing said 15-16 rides and they try to face them away so not as noisy Mr. Cushing asked the Board if they were able to start tearing down when the event ended, or did they have to wait until Monday. BC stated that if they start tearing down at 5:00 P.M. they should be done by 9:00 P.M. and that would be reasonable, and Mr. Cushing agreed nothing after 9:00 P.M. DA asked if there were any more questions from the neighbors and there were none. Mr. Cushing stated that now that he knows all of the concerns, he would adhere to everything. DA advised that if anything does not work out regarding hours, the neighbors can let the Board know. DA asked if the were any other comments concerns. BC moves to approve, seconded by AE and passes unanimously. Joseph Majahad, Nite Owl Rocketry Gild – This request is for an event on Sunday, May 5 from 5:30 P.M. to 9:15 P.M and Sunday, June 2 from 5:30 P.M. to 9:45 P.M.at Gallows Hill Park. BC asked if the past couple of years the event worked out well. Mr. Majahad stated that softball had been a problem but there were now signs posted for permits for organized events. He stated that in the past he called the police department to get cars off the field, but there was no way they could remove them from the field. CB asked how many people attended the event in the past and Mr. Majahad stated 10. CB then asked how many events he has had this year and Mr. Majahad stated 3. CB asked how many launches and was advised maybe a dozen. JS questioned Mr. Majahad on safety and Mr. Majahad advised that as long as you follow the NRA code it is safe and very unlikely to hit anyone. Mr. Majahad sked if they could go past the break- down time. BC advised that he thought that would be fine. CB asked how late he was going to be there since 9:45 P.M. was pretty late and Mr. Majahad said 9:45 P.M. was when he expected to be out of the park by 9:45 P.M. but if there were not a lot of people attending, he would be out way before that. JS asked how high the rockets shoot up and Mr. Majahad said it depended on the strength of the engine, but nothing over 400 feet. -5- DA asked if there were any other questions and JS asked if Mr. Majahad advertised for people to go and was advised that he has a website. He said he had some interest from BU students but told them they could not participate because they wanted to launch too high. JS motions to approve the events, seconded by AE and passes unanimously. New Business: Joe Candelaria said Salem Coastal Watch was not present but wanted to hold an event on August 11th. BC said since this event was held every year the Board could take a tentative vote of approval with final approval next month. BC makes a motion to tentatively approve the event, seconded by JS and unanimously passes. Richard Roderick spoke and wanted to advise the Board that there were a lot of people living at the Willows and with the amount of events happening there and Winter Island that the trees are poor to fair and none were good to excellent and has also found that the ground has been impacted so severely so all of the sidewalks appear to be raised. He also stated that people dump charcoal around the trees and then stomp it down. He said more and more people are having events and the future of the soil and trees is very very bleak so we ask you as a Board to have consideration for the way the park is now being treated, He further stated that the grass doesn’t grow on the hill because there is so much traffic and the seawalls are all under-mind, Grants have been applied for, but has no idea how long that will take. DA advised that a study was presented to the Board in February concerning park areas and went for CPA funding. They will be removing parking, tree lines and there are a lot of different things happening and stated that the Board shared their concerns also wanted him to know that people love the venue. Mr. Roderick said he loved the City and has a great love for the Willows but needed the Board’s help in not letting the area just become gravel. Melissa Nowak spoke again and wanted the Board to know that there is also a fire hazard because of the charcoal being dumped. Mr. Roderick said he understood the direction Jenna Ide as going and it was a good plan but does address the issues over a period of time and asked again that the Board not to put any more events at the Willows and that a lot of people in the Willows felt the same way. JS stated that if we could get an increase in the parking meters, then all of that money would go back into the Willows. DA inquired if there was anything else with no response. Superintendent’s Report: None due to the absence of Trish O’Brien. -6- Next meeting – Tuesday, May 21, 2019. A motion to adjourn is made by James Shea, seconded by Amy Everitt and unanimously passes. The meeting ended at 7:50 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Clerk -7-