Culture, Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - 5/28/2015
TOWN OF SIMSBURY – CULTURE, PARKS, AND RECREATION COMMMISSION –
Subject to Vote of Approval – Regular Meeting Minutes – MAY 28, 2015
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. by Chairman David Bush in the Town Hall Main Meeting Room. Commission members who were present included Kelly Kearney, Frank Salls, Gerry Wetjen, Steve Spalla, Sarah Cramer and Bill Mullen. Gerry Toner, the C. P. & R. Director, was also present.
Approval of Minutes
Mr. Bush tabled a motion to approve the March 26, 2015 C., P. & R. Commission regular meeting minutes.
They will be presented at the next meeting for approval.
Eagle Scout Presentation
Michael John Richard from Troop 76 proposed replacing a damaged section of a walk/bike path that runs from the Town Forest baseball field to Tootin’ Hills School. He will construct a new path which runs parallel to—but 15 feet in—from Town Forest Road. It will be 48’ long with a 26” high raised section built over a catch basin. Pressure treated lumber will be used. Commission members congratulated him on the ambitious project. Mr. Kearney made a motion to approve Michael John Richard’s Eagle Scout Project as proposed, pending approval from the Conservation/Inland Wetlands & Watercourses Agency, and the Building Department. Mr. Wetjen seconded the motion. All were in favor. The motion passed.
Program/Camp/Pool Report
Mr. Toner distributed a 1-page spreadsheet comparing 2014 and 2015 pool passes, swim lessons, children’s camps, and adult class revenue from January 1 through May 26. Pool passes are on sale until May 31. So far, sales are running ahead of the same period last year. About 95% are family passes. Mr. Toner expects a last minute flurry of sales to come within the next three days. After the deadline, individuals and families can pay the daily rate, or buy 10 pool passes and get the 11th free. Swim lessons at Simsbury Farms are running behind, but tennis programs are almost equal to last year. Overall, children’s camps are running well ahead of 2014. Junior Explorers (formerly Koala Kids), a pre-school camp, is the only one that is running significantly behind.
Commission members discussed tapping into other marketing opportunities, including advertising on Simsbury Patch, and through the 3,500 + member “Simsbury Moms Unite!” Facebook page. Mr. Toner also recently met with staff at the Simsbury Public Library to talk about sponsoring cooperative activities and sharing email lists.
Golf Course Report
Mr. Toner distributed a 1-page spreadsheet comparing greens fees and rounds from March through December for 15 years from 2000 to 2015. The numbers from 2015 were collected through the end of April.
Mr. Wetjen mentioned that weekend numbers are up significantly for the Men’s Club. About 30% are non-residents. He credited a new evite system, which allows golfers to sign up online, with much of the increase. Mr. Toner announced that the SF Women’s Golf Association recently voted to change their bylaws so that 9 and 18 hole play could be open to non-residents. Simsbury residents, however, will be given first choice for tee times. This has brought in a few more female players. Ms. Cramer noted that for the last couple of weeks, 9 hole league time slots have been full, and 18 hole league time slots have been half full. Mr. Wetjen also reported that the SF Golf Course staff has been incrementally increasing the price of its Groupon offers by five dollars to determine which price point will sell the most vouchers. Last year, 492 individuals bought SF Golf Course Groupon offers.
Mr. Toner was approached by Peter Prowda, a long-time Simsbury resident and golfer, about giving a donation to the SF Golf Course to celebrate his 70th birthday. On his 60th birthday, Mr. Prowda donated trees to the course. After discussing many different ideas, Mr. Toner and Mr. Prowda decided on another gift of trees to fill in the orchard area at Simsbury Farms. Many trees there sustained damage during the October 2011 storm. Fifty five full grown, disease resistant fruit trees will be ordered this fall. That quantity will not be available until next spring. When they are planted, the donation will be well publicized through local news outlets.
Capital Projects Report
Mr. Toner thanked commission members for their support throughout the budget process. All of C. P. & R.’s Capital Projects were approved. The Board of Selectman referred Mr. Toner to the Public Building Committee, which will oversee the projects. Timing will be critical. Schedules will be produced so that renovation and construction can be completed before opening season for the pools, tennis courts, town parks and the skating rink. His goal is to have all the projects done by next year. He is hoping that any delays can be prevented by scheduling special meetings, as necessary, between regular meetings. The commission spoke briefly about the warming room for the rink, stating that Westminster School’s warming room would be the model for Simsbury Farms.
Senior / Community Center Architect Selection
Mr. Bush announced that a meeting will be held on or around June 20 to select an architect for the new Senior Center. Five firms will be interviewed. He would like a C. P. & R. commission member to be present. He encouraged Mr. Mullen to go, if he is available, because of his experience as a construction project manager. Mr. Toner agreed to email the exact date and time of the meeting to commission members.
Creation of a Special Gift / Donation Fund
Mr. Bush suggested forming a 501(c) 3 special gift/donation fund, with bylaws and a Board of Directors, as a unique way of giving gifts to Simsbury’s Culture, Parks and Recreation Department. A wish list could be created. Mr. Wetjen noted that Joe Mancini, the finance director, is fine with the idea. He also mentioned that Mark Deming volunteered to help create the fund. Mr. Deming will come to the next meeting to talk more about it. Commission members felt it was worthwhile to explore, but cautioned that the bylaws be written carefully so that incoming gifts could be focused on projects that would truly benefit the town.
New Business
Mr. Bush reminded commission members about a joint meeting of the C. P. & R. Commission, the Conservation Commission, and Open Space Committee. The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Simsbury Library Program Room. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss the recent acquisition and future management of the Ethel Walker Woods open space, the 1 Old Bridge Road property, and other related open space issues. He encouraged commission members to attend.
Old Business. None.
Adjournment
Mr. Kearney made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Salls seconded the motion. All were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 8:48 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorrie McElligott, Commission Clerk