Park & Recreation Commission

FINAL MINUTES Salem Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at 6:49 P.M. Meeting Location: Dining Room, 401 Bridge St. Members Present: Bob Callahan, Chris Burke James Shea, Debbie Amaral Absent Amy Everitt Also Present: Patricia O’Brien Clerk: Kathleen Fitzgerald Meeting Called to Order Debbie Amaral calls the meeting to order at 6:49 P.M. New Business Approval of Minutes of the meeting on May 21, 2019. James Shea moves to approve, seconded by Chris Burke, and unanimously passes. First on the Agenda: Milo Martinez, Salem Common Neighborhood Association – Mr. Martinez was present to speak about three events. The first was for the summer concert series on the Common on July 10th and July 24th from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. on August 7th, Trish O’Brien asked that he call tomorrow to clarify the dates as one of the dates on the application was different than what he was asking for this evening. Chris Burke makes a motion to approve with question about the date, seconded by Debbie Amaral and passes unanimously. The second event as for the summer movie series on thee Common on August 7th, 14th and 21st from 8:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M. Mr. Martinez advised that they were usually done by 9:30 P.M. and that there have been no problems in the past. Chris Burke asked where the equipment came from and Mr. Martinez advised that the sound system came from the Park & Rec. Department. Bob Callahan asked how loud the amplification -1- was and Mr. Martinez advised it was not loud as it was not a large crowd – usually only 20-30 people. Bob Callahan moves to approve the event, seconded by Chris Burke and unanimously passes. The third event was the Salem Common Neighborhood Association Vintage Lawn Party on the Common on September 8th from 1:00 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. He advised that last year approximately 200 people attended. This year they wanted to have live music, and lawn games and would like to add a food vendor selling crepes. When asked the name of the crepe vendor, Mr. Martinez relied that he did not know, but that it was the crepe vendor at the Salem Farmers’ Market. Debbie Amaral asked if the start time was noon and Mr. Martinez said yes. Chris Burke sked if this was a fundraiser and Mr. Martinez said no that they only took donations. Bob Callahan asked how much vendors were charged, and Mr. Martinez said $50.00. James Shea sked who the vendors were and was told Derby Square Flea, Vintage Vault, and Vintage Portraits. Trish O’Brien asked if they were going through licensing and Mr. Martinez said yes and that last year they applied for a blanket license for vendors. James Shea makes a motion to approve, seconded by Bob Callahan and passes unanimously. Next: B&S Fitness – Wild Fish Swim – No show. Next; Maureen Fisher – Salem Youth Football – This is a family day event at the Willows from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M on August 24th. James Shea makes a motion to approve the event, seconded by Chris Burke and unanimously passes. Lawnjea Lee – James Lee Family Reunion – This request is for an event at the Willows on July 13th from 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M. They are requesting the use of 600-watt speakers with music from a laptop computer. James Shea asked why they were coming to Salem since they were from Everett and Ms. Lee advised that they came to Salem Willows a lot and this was the first time doing this event in Salem. -2- James Shea advised that one of the issues the Park & Rec. Department has is trash removal and Ms. Lee advised that they would take care of their own trash. Additionally, Mr. Shea advised that they must keep the volume down. Ms. Lee stated that the volume would not be loud. Bob Callahan asked if it had been explained about how to get things to the gazebo and Trish O’Brien advised that there was no entrance through the gate and that they would have to park their cars in legal parking spaces. Chris Burke makes a motion to approve the event, seconded by Bob Callahan and passes unanimously. Next: Jhonel Roberts – Young Soldiers Sports Group – No show. Next: Jose Espinal - P2P Summer Basketball League – This event will run from June 29th to August 10th at the Palmer Cover basketball court from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M with set up at 4:00 P.M. Bob Callahan asked he ages of the players and Jose advised 15-18 years old. Chris Burke asked if this was their first year and Jose advised it was their third year. James Shea advised that they could not blast the sound and that if they received any complaints the event would be a no go” in the future. Debbie Amaral inquired but insurance and Trish ‘Brien stated that we don’t ask for insurance but that since kids are involved CORI checks were needed. Jose advised that all adults had completed CORI checks. Chris Burke asked how teams and Jose advised 10 teams and 80 kids from all over The Commonwealth. Bob Callahan stated that he thought it was fantastic having a basketball league and he knew it would draw people from all over. Jose stated that the purpose was to get kids off the streets. James Shea makes a motion to approve, Bob Callahan seconds, and it passes unanimously. Next: John Kozik – Talking Board Historical Society -- This is a request for an event to be co- hosted with Guinness Book of World Records for an event on the Common from October 9th – October 15th to unveil the world’s largest Ouija board which would be approximately 3,200 square feet. The event would require 2-3 days to set up and 1-2 days to break down. -3- Mr. Kozik stated that the board would be off the ground on 99 sheets of 4x8 plywood. He stated that he thought this should be in Salem because of Parker Bros. Bob Callahan asked what section of the Common he was looking at and Mr. Kozik stated he would not be opposed to any area. James Shea recommended it be put in the center of the Common. Mr. Kozik stated that the current record is 1,276 square feet and this one would be 3,168 square feet. Chris Burke asked who pays for this and Mr. Kozik stated that they were a registered non-profit and pay for it, and have people sponsor it. He stated that they have different companies they have partnered with in the past and would hit them up for money. James Shea makes a motion to approve the event, Bob Callahan seconds and it passes unanimously. Next: Juan Espinal, Chis Ortega, Socrates Trinidad – Premier Latin Events (Summer Jam) -- This request is for an event on July 28th at the Willows from 12:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. with set-up at 8:00 A.M. James Shea asked if they could review and tell the Board what they were going to do and what they did with the money. Juan said that they provide events for kids and families with money they generate through their businesses. James Shea stated that last year they received complaints because the music was too loud. Mr. Espinal advised that they have spoken with the sound person and this year they will have speakers floating in the air and pointing downward. Trish O’Brien asked how they were secured, and Mr. Espinal stated they were secured on a truck. James Shea advised that it was bad when they received complaints and Mr. Espinal said with the system, they would be using this year it will be better, Bob Callahan asked how many complaints were received and Trish O’Brien advised two – one from the Mayor’s office and one from the neighbors. Joe Candelaria, who was present at the meeting and in the audience, advised that the complaints were about parking in the neighborhood and the music being too loud. James Shea asked how they were going to handle parking and Mr. Espinal advised that they would have a police detail to help with traffic. James Shea also stated that the group needed to understand that this event was in a neighborhood and if the event was scheduled to end at 9:00 -4- P.M., it must end at 9:00 P.M. He also stated that they just needed to get it quiet, but not rush people out of the park. Trish ‘Brien stated that the application stated the event would end at 8:00 P.M. and they were now requesting 9:00 P.M. Mr. Espinal stated that amplification would end at 9:00 P.M. Chris Burke asked what a glow party was and Mr. Espinal stated it was robots with glow sticks, etc. and that it would start when it was just starting to get dark, be about 45 minutes long and only have amplification until 9:00 P.M. James Shea questioned breakdown ending at midnight and advised that the park must close at 10:00 P.M. Mr. Espinal advised that last year they had four people doing breakdown, but this year there would be more. Trish O’Brien advised that she was going to cross out breakdown finished at 12:00 A.M. and initial it for 10:00 P.M. Bob Callahan makes a motion to approve the event, Chris Burke seconds, and it passes unanimously. Next: Guy Robinson, HYPE Basketball Academy – This is a back to school event on August 31st at Mary Jane Lee Park from 12:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. They will run a basketball clinic and distribute back packs to kids in the neighborhood. Their goal is to distribute 300 back packs with school supplies. There will be a bouncy house and games and music. Chris Burke stated that he wanted to thank and congratulate Mr. Robinson for doing this every year. James Shea make a motion to approve the event. Bob Callahan seconds, and it passes unanimously. New Business: Trish O’Brien stated she wanted to follow up regarding Salem Woods where people are building huts and campfires. She is trying to solicit wording from the Salem Police Department and once received would shard with thee Board. Superintendent’s Report: Golf Course – down because of weather. Chris Burke stated people are asking when they were going to work on cart paths. Trish advised that they hired an architect who has done other golf courses, so he is helping with the wording and it is going out to bid. The Mayor is okay with shutting the golf course down and getting it done all at once. -5- James Shea asked how much it cost and Trish said she guessed $40,000.00 for project management. She stated that once it goes out to bid we would see how much and probably must go back to the City Council. Bob Callahan asked how we did on the city budget and Trish O’Brien advised that we got everything. Chris Burke provided the following information regarding CPA funds:  Gallows Hill full amount -- $100,000.00  Forest River $150,000.00 – requested $250,000.00  Willows fully funded -- $100,00.00  Bertram Field -- Open Space and Recreation Bond $100,000.00 for 20 years. He stated it is such an important project so worth the $100,000.00 for 20 years. It is a $6,000,000.00 project. Chris Burke advised that we didn’t get funding for the tennis courts and that 11 projects got first priority. He stated that in the fall the State usually makes disbursements and whatever comes in then we would try and get the full amount for the tennis courts. Bob Callahan stated that Forest River looks fantastic but that we needed to keep the beach cleaned regularly. Trish O’Brien advised that the beaches were being cleaned twice a month and she hoped that it stays in the budget. Councilman Domingo was in the audience and stated that there needs to be a bigger budget concerning the beaches so we can do a better job. Bob Callahan said that since Forest River is so nice, that the beaches needed to be cleaned weekly. Trish O’Brien said that there was not funding for every week but that they had contracted with a company who cleans the beach and they DPW hauls it away. There was a discussion about the Little League field and water drainage and Trish O’Brien advised that basically the construction company that came in did the work put too much clay in but they have come back and fixed it and eft turf to be used for other fields. James Shea asked if there was any movement towards turf at Gallows Hill. Trish O’Brien advised that there was funding to start but did not know if there was enough funding. Trish advised that she would send an email to the Mayor about turf on the field at Gallows. Bob Callahan asked about the status of Mansell. Trish said it was in Department of Environmental Protection’s control and we must follow their schedule so it will be a while. She said luckily it was slowing down on the other side. New Business: Park Smoking Policy – Trish O’Brien advised that there have been informational discussions in the past and stated that Salem Common has a no smoking policy within 50 feet of the playground -6- structure. She asked how the Board felt about a city-wide rule and stated that this came up with the Historical Association. If signs are posted she wanted all rules to be on the signs at the same time. Debbie Amaral asked who was enforcing this. Trish O’Brien stated that whenever you think about making policy, you need to know about enforcement. Debbie Amaral also stated that people shouldn’t be smoking where there are playgrounds. James shea makes a motion that in all parks you can’t smoke within 50 feet of a playground. Bob Callahan stated that in his opinion there should be no smoking in the whole park. Trish O’Brien said that we are dealing with a minority of the population that smokes and also dealing with a lot of people in the park. She stated that footage requirement won’t work but should make a designated smoking area. Debbie Amaral agreed and stated that there should be no smoking in playing areas. She also stated that pot is the prevailing thing happening and no enforcement. Chris Burke stated that when it is enforced it is arbitrary and asked who is it going to be enforced against and when and if not being enforced regularly, there should be a low, but if the City is going to enforce it, he stated he was for it. James Shea stated that if someone wanted a cigarette it shouldn’t be where kids are, but they should be able to smoke. Chris Burke asked if the Board didn’t pass something a couple of year ago about smoking and Trish O’Brien stated that it was discussed but never voted on. Chris Burke stated that he thought it as would be a good idea to put it on a future agenda for discussion. Trish O’Brien advised that she had thought abut making 45 signs, but not have the no smoking policy enforced would be a problem. If it becomes an ordinance, she said we would have to post at all the parks. She further advised that she speak with the Mayor about doing a city-wide poll. Next meeting – Tuesday July 16, 2019. A motion to adjourn is made by James Shea, seconded by Bob Callahan and unanimously passes. The meeting ended at 8:10 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Clerk -7-