Recreation Commission

City of Saratoga Springs Amy Smith Recreation Commission Chair RECREATION COMMISSION Derrick Legall 15 Vanderbilt Avenue, Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 Alphonse Lambert Robert Manasier 518-587-3550 x2300 Fax 518-584-1748 John Dowd Michelle Merola www.SaratogaRec.com Adrianna Britt-Gaeta Saratoga Springs Recreation Commission Meeting Tuesday, December 17, 2024 6:30pm Recreation Center Agenda *Approved Minutes* Attendance – Amy Smith, John Dowd, Michele Merola, Adrianna Britt-Gaeta* (*virtually) Amy Smith called a meeting to order at 6:37pm Public Comment No Public Comment 1. Discussion and Vote: Minutes November 19th, 2024 Approval • Amy motioned/Michele 2nd • All AYES 2. Discussion and Vote: Recreation Department Part-Time Personnel • John Hirliman read the list. • John motioned/Amy 2nd • All AYES 3. Discussion and Vote: Recreation Department Purchases • John Hirliman read the list. Added $2000 for Fitness Room • Michele motioned/John 2nd • All AYES 4. Discussion and Vote: 2025 Recreation Department Agreements • John Hirliman stated that there were no material changes to the agreements. Only changes were names of staff, dates, and the attached fees. • Michele motioned/Amy 2nd • All AYES 5. Discussion and Vote: 2025 Recreation Department Fees • John Hirliman stated that pickleball reservation was added. The fee would be the same as it is for racquetball court reservations at $6/$9 per hour per person. • Michele motioned/Amy 2nd • All AYES 6. Discussion and Vote: Appoint Program Coordinator • John Hirliman stated that He, Lisa Morahan, Amy Smith interviewed 7 individuals (Amy wasn’t available for 1 of them). After reviews and reference checks the interviewees recommend Hannah Hertik. Hannah’s background with children and sports as well as her glowing recommendation from Greenfield Parks and Rec make her a great pick for this position. Amy said that the other applicants were good but none stood out. • Michele motioned/John 2nd • All AYES 7. Discussion and Vote: Approve Scholarship Funding • John Hirliman stated that 6 families who had received a scholarship still owed their portion of the camp fee. The total owed is $2,462. Due to the financial struggles these  families have and the fact the camp revenue exceeded expectation, the department is requesting these families’s balance be waived. • Michele motioned/Amy2nd • All AYES 8. Discussion and Vote: Approve Recreation Commission 2025 Meeting Calendar • John Noted January’s date moved up a week to accommodate the State of the City address. • Michele motioned/John 2nd • All AYES 9. Discussion: 2025 Travel Field Fees • Saratoga Wilton Youth Baseball requested, per a letter addressed to the Rec Commission dated December 4, 2024, to reconsider the decision to exclude travel games from the discounted hourly game fee rate. • John Hirliman stated that the original intent of the Rec Commission was for the discount to be applied to the rec component of their organization but unfortunately the discount was applied to their whole account as a result of only having 1 agreement on file. Also, since then the fields have seen additional usage for practices, tournaments as well as longer seasons. John stated that the three groups are the only groups, other than Spa Catholic’s baseball and softball teams that receiving any discount on fees. • John Dowd stated that he feels with enough notice that three groups should be able to charge the out of town groups more for tournaments to cover the cost. • The Commission feels that the travel groups should pay the standard fee that all other pay. The Commission is sending a letter to Saratoga-Wilton Youth Baseball reiterating its decision. 10. Discussion: Capital Projects John Hirliman sent a meeting request to DPW to prioritize the project. • Discussion: Station Park • Discussion: Veterans Memorial Park Master Plan • Discussion: Scott T. Johnson Rec Center Storage • Discussion: Ice Rink • Discussion: Bike Park 11. Discussion and Vote: Annual Report • John motioned/Michele 2nd • All AYES 12. Discussion: General Budget • The staff are purchasing sports equipment for next year. • Revenues for the Rec Center will be lower than anticipated • Savings from the full time staff position not being filled covers more than the revenue shortfalls at the rec center. 13. Discussion: Director’s Report • John is working to onboard the new staff person. This will be the first time we are fully staffed since the summer of 2023. 14. Discussion: Program Report / Announcements • The program coordinators are working with Saratoga Lacrosse to run a try sports for free program at the Rec Center on March 1st. Adjournment – Next Meeting – *Tuesday, January 21, 2025 - 6:30pm at the Saratoga Springs Recreation Center, 15 Vanderbilt Avenue, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. *3rd Tuesday due to State of City Address If you cannot attend, please submit questions via email to Recreservations@saratoga-springs.org. 2024 12-17-2024 Saratoga Springs Recreation Commission Approved Minutes