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RECREATION,
PARKS & CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL COMMITTEE MINUTES |
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here for minutes from YEAR 2004 |
Click here for minutes from YEAR 2005 |
JANUARY 18, 2006
ATTENDANCE: Fred Bondi, Chairman (8:20pm); Richard McQuaid; Herb Grant; Phyllis Bolden; Joanne Romano.
STAFF: Michael Mocciae, Director
OTHERS: Barbara Garfield; Vincent Incantalupo
ROLL CALL
Mr. McQuaid called the roll at 8:15 pm.
MINUTES
** MS. BOLDEN MOVED APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF DECEMBER 21, 2005 AS PRESENTED.
** MOTION PASSED THREE VOTES IN FAVOR, ONE ABSTENTION (MR. MCQUAID).
OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business this evening.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Approve the use of the showmobile by the Saint Ann’s Club for their annual festival to be held July 21-23, 2006.
Mr. Mocciae indicated that there were no problems with this item.
** MR. MCQUAID MOVED APPROVAL OF THE ITEM.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
2. Approve the use of Andrew’s field parking for the Norwalk Marching Bears annual flea market to be held Saturday, June 3, 2006 from 7:30-5:00 pm. Estimated attendance 300.
With no representatives present Mr. McQuaid suggested the item be tabled until the next meeting.
DISCUSSION
1. Witch Lane Park – parking and improvements
Mr. Mocciae gave the location of the park and went on to describe that it is a passive park with no equipment and is mostly used for over-flow parking with the local church and for other parking when certain events during the year take place. After an inspection of the park Mr. Mocciae reported that the cars have damaged many of the trees. Another issue is how to limit the number of groups that use the park as they are at a point now where they are not able to exclude groups. He asked when do they say enough is enough?
Mr. Bondi joined the meeting at 8:20 pm.
Mr. Mocciae continued to say that one of the options is to have no parking at all.
Barbara Garfield (neighbor) said she supported one of the participating groups, Shakespeare on the Sound but did not think that all the parked cars are compatible with the families and children. She suggested that a good idea is to designate a small number of spaces for parking that are away from the tree roots.
Mr. McQuaid enquired about the agreement that the City has with the church regarding the parking.
Mr. Mocciae replied that they have a maximum of 25 spots and this is good through May 2006.
Mr. Bondi added that if the weather is inclement then the park is not to be used. He went on to say that this committee would be taking a tour of all the parks in April (including Witch Lane Park) and after that point they could discuss options like making it a neighborhood park with playground equipment.
Mr. Mocciae suggested a public hearing to get an idea of what the public really wants. He also suggested a meeting with the Sixth Taxing District.
Mr. Bondi concluded by stating that they would hold a public hearing during the April meeting after a tour of the park.
2. International Little League – request for a batting cage at Calf Pasture Beach
Vincent Incantalupo (Little League) referred to the letter sent to Mr. Mocciae noting that the batting cage will be great for the kids.
There was discussion about the specific location of the proposed cage.
Mr. McQuaid said although he was in favor of the batting cage he would like to see some backup material including the size and the cost.
Mr. Incantalupo gave an estimated size and cost adding that the pitching machine is portable.
Mr. Mocciae asked if the structure would be temporary or permanent as there are five other leagues in town and questioned if they would all be asking for similar structures. He asked if the committee would explore the possibility of a temporary cage.
Discussion ensued.
3. Veteran’s Park Gate House
Mr. Bondi stated that this item was discussed last month. He reiterated that he would like to put up two gatehouses at the park with a beach sticker system in place for residents and for non-residents to pay a parking fee.
Mr. Mocciae referred to incidents of vandalism in the past that had resulted in police coverage. He said with the installation of the gatehouses this would increase revenue and would alleviate the presence of a police officer, as there would be staff at the gatehouses. He said that there is money left over after the Flax Hill park project that would pay for two gatehouses.
There was discussion regarding people walking into the park. Mr. Mocciae indicated that nobody would be denied access to the park, however he hoped it would decrease the number of people driving into the park and drinking etc.
4. Capital Budget Request
Mr. Mocciae noted that an email request of the capital budget request have gone to the Planning Committee and they would be meeting on the following Tuesday at 7:30 pm. He gave a description of the main requests including new roofs for the bathrooms, lighting and a study for an amphitheatre at Veteran’s Park; a lighted baseball pitch; improvements on the bathrooms at Calf Pasture Beach and money for a study of the usage of Cranbury Park.
5. Fodor Farms
Mr. Bondi noted that a blue ribbon committee had been formed for Fodor Farms and that he had asked them to come to the next meeting to give a progress report.
Discussion ensued.
As a note of information Mr. Mocciae said that during the summer one of the local programs had sent food, soap etc to the troops in Iraq and they had received a thank you back from the armed forces.
** MR. MCQUAID MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Kate Kye
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