Park and Recreation Commission

                                                                                 Minutes

 (meeting taped)

 Regular meeting:  Monday, July 8, 2002 in the Aldermanic Chambers of City Hall.

 Meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m.

 By roll call, members present:  John Walsh, Al Felice, Karen Izzo, Edward Handi and Matt Cripps.  Robert Bell and David Mikos were excused.

 Parks and Recreation Director Dennis O’Connell was present.  Athletic Director Kenneth Marcucio was absent.

 additions or deletions to the agenda:

Without objection, the agenda was accepted, as written.

 approval of minutes:

A motion was made by Al Felice and second by Matt Cripps.  Move to accept the minutes of the meeting on June 10, 2002.  Motion carried with Karen Izzo and Edward Handi abstaining. 

Public portion:

No one came forward and the public portion was closed.

 Correspondences:

Nothing was presented.

 NEW or OTHER BUSINESS:

Regulations for the skate park:  Chairman Walsh has been obtaining information from other towns.  He will be calling the committee together to go over the information in order to draft Derby’s policy.

 DIRECTOR REPORTS:

Parks & Recreation Director’s Report:

Mr. O'Connell reported that the summer playground program has started.  It will run for six weeks from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. weekdays at Bradley School and the Picnic Grove.  There are three counselors at each location and the director, Alexis Gallagher, is doing very well in overseeing the program.  As the program is a drop-in program, numbers were not available for the participation.  The recent hot weather  slowed attendance.

 Babe Ruth is wrapping up their season.  Little League and Babe Ruth are now in tournament play.  Pop Warner will be starting practice on August 1st.  Public Works is preparing to aerate the soccer fields.  Split seeding will not be done as play will be resuming shortly and a clinic is scheduled for later this month. 

Reviewing the budget, the end of the year bills are being submitted.  Chairman Walsh stressed the value that the department provides noting that the revenues were far higher than projected and the total expenditures fell under the allocated funding.

 Athletic Director’s Report:  Mr. Marcucio was not present.

 Committee Reports:

Facilities Committee – Mr. Felice reported that the Witek Park Construction Committee has been meeting and the City Engineer is in the process of developing the plans for the fields.  A walk-thru was held with the Committee members, Open Space Commission members and other invited guests.  They toured the area where the fields are contemplated.  Regrading will be needed to level the field playing areas and the City Engineer is designing the placement to accommodate the least amount of disturbance.  The contours of the land will be such that there will be a slope around the area lending itself to a natural seating area.  The location of the road is being reviewed seeking to lessen the number of trees to be removed as well as addressing topography concerns.  The plans will have to go before the Derby Inland Wetlands Agency and the Planning and Zoning Commission for approvals.

 Programs Committee – Ms. Izzo has been researching having Eileen Witek, the High School nurse, give the Red Cross course to the coaches.  It would be a minimum of four hours at $15 per hour.  Also, there will be a cost of $4 per card for the each coach’s certification.  She will be meeting with the Committee to plan the schedule for the class.  The coaches have expressed an interest also in a CPR course.

Ms. Izzo has also been working on the baseball trip.  Plans are to attend a game on August 25th  with the Yankees playing Texas.  The charge will be $45 per person.  There is a need to fill the tour bus so reservations will be taken.  If there is sufficient interest the trip will go forward.  Ms. Izzo was confident that there would be enough people wanting to go.  It was noted that no refunds should be given unless the trip is cancelled.  It was decided that an adult must accompany anyone under sixteen.

 Other business:

Mark Anthony Izzo of 320 Olivia Street suggested that the trails at Witek Park be properly marked as the area can be confusing to those not familiar with the park.

 Mr. Handi noted that there is an excessive amount of nails in the parking lot at the picnic grove.  Mr. O'Connell will explore the matter with the Public Works and noted that the nails were remnants of the bonfire held last fall.

 Mr. Felice asked if the lights at the picnic grove had been installed.  Mr. O'Connell indicated that they had not but he will be contacting United Illuminating to schedule the work.

 A motion was made by Ed Handi and second by Karen Izzo.  Move to adjourn this meeting at 7:55 p.m.  Motion carried unanimously.

 The next Parks & Recreation Commission meeting will be Monday, August 12, 2002 at 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.  If the Aldermanic Chambers are unavailable then the Veteran’s room will be requested. 

Respectfully prepared,

Karen Kemmesies, secretary


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