Park & Recreation Commission

FINAL Salem Parks and Recreation Commission Minutes of Meeting Date and Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2020 at 6:50 P.M. Meeting Location: Via Zoom Members Present: Debbie Amaral, George Barbuzzi, James Shea, Bob Callahan Member Absent: Amy Everitt Also Present: Patricia O’Brien Clerk: Kathleen Fitzgerald Meeting Called to Order Debbie Amaral calls the meeting to order at 6:50 P.M. She welcomes everyone to Zoom and stated that the Board would approve the Minutes from the May 2020 meeting and then the public would have a chance to speak for a maximum of three minutes. The Park & Rec Commission would ask questions first and the public would need to raise their hand and be recognized to speak. Debbie advised that when the Commission votes, there must be a roll call. Bob Callahan makes a motion to approve the May Minutes with the stipulation that small errors be corrected. James Shea seconds. Roll call is then done and the Minutes are unanimously approved. First on the Agenda: Salem Garden Club, Janice Baldwin, 20 Willow Avenue, Salem -- .Ms. Baldwin stated that as part of the Salem Garden Club their duties were to maintain urns by the train station and window boxes at City Hall, and the Blue Star Memorial near the Hawthorne Hotel. She stated that the Blue Star Memorial was installed in 2013 on a cement slab with the Blue Star plaque. This has now cracked, and they want to update it to granite stone and refurbish the plaque. She stated that John Hayes removed the old cement and they now want to replace it with a beautiful granite slate from O’Rourke Memorial with the plague. James Shea asked if it would be the same size. Ms. Baldwin stated it would be 24x10 and about 1-2 inches taller. James Shea makes a motion to approve. Bob Callahan seconds. Roll call is then done and it passes unanimously. -1- Ms. Baldwin then said that going forward they would have to put in an under-support and asked if permission to do this work was needed. She asked if someone from the City could assist. Trish O’Brien asked Mr. Baldwin to send her an email and she would forward it to Ray Jodoin. Next: Sail Salem, Kathy MacLeod, 15 Beach Street, Salem & Ray, Haigis, 1 Essex Street, Salem, MA – They came before the Board to talk about the reduced summer season for Sail Salem. Mr. Haigis stated that it would be starting in mid-July and that it would be a very different season than in the past. He stated that last year there were 750 registrants and that this year because of Covid-19 they only had 80 slots to fill (which were provisionally filled) with 16 boats. He advised they were putting a plan together with the Board of Health. He advised that 40% of the kids provisionally signed up were from Salem. Debbie Amaral asked if this was being run as a camp and Mr. Haigis said yes. Ms. Amaral then questioned the 40% Salem children. Mr. Haigis advised that historically that is what they get from Salem. Ms. Amaral said she has a 14-year-old and asked how this was publicized. Mr. Haigis said either through Park & Rec or from the email list they had. Ms. Amaral suggested that this needed to be looked at after this season because 40% Salem children was low. Ms. MacLeod said that Rick Haigis has been with the program for two years and that she has been with it since the beginning. She said they have tried everything they could to get Salem kids to enroll – i.e. flyers home with kids at Collins Middle School, contacting groups in The Point and various people at Plummer Island and On Point and contacting the Boys & Girls Club. Debbie Amaral said she would be happy to offer her help to get the word out and Mr. Haigis and Ms. MacLeod said they would welcome her help. Ms. MacLeod said that a program was run last year with Park & Rec. the Y, and Boys & Girls Club and the hope was that they would gain campers because they wanted to come back. Bob Callahan added that he thought this was a tremendous program. He further stated that this was a unique year and that with Salem kids you must lead the way with them, and we had to push more to get the Salem number up. He said there were going to be a lot of demands on the City to provide services and that we have a beautiful place to do this but needed to get the Salem kids involved. James Shea stated the he was disappointed that the program only had 40% Salem kids. Mr. Haigis said the Boys & Girls Club was invited many times, but the kids struggled to show up. He said the Park & Rec program last year was fantastic and that 80 kids from Salem came one day a week. He said through Park & Rec there was also an adult introduction to sailing class which met on a number of evenings and that program was full. Trish O’Brien stated that it was a great program and asked if the Salem kids in the program through Park & Rec were on their mailing list. Mr. Haigis said no because of privacy issues. Debbie Amaral said they should have a waiver and then they could capture information from parents. She further stated that 55% Salem kids next year should be the focus. She said she -2- knew the swimming test was a challenge but stated she would help with that. She said Trish O’Brien and Kathy McCarthy were good at marketing and next year they should use them. Mr. Haigis said they needed to sit down and brainstorm for next season. Debbie Amaral said she was committed and again emphasized that they needed to shoot for 55% Salem kids. Bob Callahan stated he supported the program 100% and hoped they could get to the numbers they were looking for. James Shea said he wanted to make sure that everything is run through Dave Gilbert at Winter Island. Mr. Haigis said Mr. Gilbert was on their Board as well as the Harbor Master and both were very supportive of the program. James Shea makes a motion to approve, seconded by bob Callahan. Roll call is done, and it passes unanimously. Next: North Shore Children’s Theatre, Nicole Poirier, 330 Winter Street, Winthrop – This is for an event on August 5th and 6th at the Willows. The event would be from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. with set-up between 2:30-6:00 P.M. and breakdown completed by 9:30 P.M. She advised that they have had to postpone and delay due to Covid-19. She said they now fall under Phase II so their seniors will be presenting Les Misérables. She said they were looking for an outdoor venue they could use safely with no more than 10 children on the stage. They would like to use the Willows with amplified sound. Debbie Amaral stated while they were in Phase II, still no gatherings over 10. Ms. Poirier said the numbers have been increased for outdoors. Debbie Amaral stated that if the Board approved the event, it would still depend on the Governor’s orders on social distancing. She then asked Trish O’Brien if there were dates for Heritage Days and if it would be happening. Trish O’Brien stated that she had checked with Ellen Talkowsky who was okay with it if allowed by the Governor and the City of Salem. James Shea asked how many Salem children were involved in the program. Ms. Poirier said she had no idea and said she did not have an accurate count right now. She stated that once they had a place to perform the kids could officially sign up. James Shea said the Board definitely wanted to see Salem children involved. Ms. Poirier said it was first come first served and that there probably was about 10 Salem kids signed up. Trish O’Brien stated that if the Board approved this, it would depend on the Governor’s orders and asked if they had staff to enforce this. Ms. Poirier said yes and that the staff had taken a webinar and were trained. She said they had 10 adults on staff who would be facilitating this. Bob Callahan makes a motion to approve with the caveat that it depends on the Governor’s order and orders from the City of Salem, seconded by James Shea. Debbie Amaral advised that Ms. -3- Poirier must call a week ahead of the event to see where we are regarding social distancing, etc. Roll call is done, and it passes unanimously. Superintendent’s Report: No financial report from the Finance Department as they are dealing with the budget and furloughs, but should have the financials in July. Old Business: James Shea stated that they finished the golf course. Bob Callahan said he was there today and it looks terrific. Trish O’Brien said the landscapers were finished on Monday, some equipment needed to be removed, and they would be doing punch-list items. New Business: None Trish O’Brien advised the Board that Paul is still looking for assistance at the golf course with watering and mowing. Debbie Amaral said she might have someone. Trish O’Brien said it would entail early morning hours, heavy lifting and a very responsible person. . Next meeting – Tuesday July 21, 2020 via Zoom. A motion to adjourn is made by James Shea seconded by Bob Callahan. Roll call is then done, and unanimously passes. The meeting ended at 7:32 P.M. Respectfully Submitted, Kathleen Fitzgerald, Clerk -4-