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RECREATION,
PARKS & CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL COMMITTEE MINUTES |
JULY 18TH, 2007
ATTENDANCE: Committee Members: Fred Bondi, Chairman; Joanne Romano, Rick McQuaid; Rev. Phyllis Bolden (7:20), Herb Grant
STAFF: Michael Mocciae, Recreation & Parks Director.
OTHERS: Diana Harrington, Development Advisor; Dianne Lauricella, League of Women Voters; Norwalk residents: Ed Pulice, Laurel Landstrom, Tom Koski, Ted Van de Kamp
I. ROLL CALL
Mr. Bondi called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
II. MINUTES OF JUNE 20TH, 2007
** MR. GRANT MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE JUNE 20TH, 2007 MEETING AS
SUBMITTED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
III. OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business to discuss.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
1. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia to enter into an agreement with the Norwalk Seaport Association, Inc. for the 30th Oyster Festival to be held in Veteran’s Park Friday, September 7, 2007 from 6:00 p.m. – 11:00p.m., Saturday, September 8, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, September 9, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.. Set-up to begin Saturday, August 25th, 2007 and tear down by September 30th, 2007. Estimated attendance 80,000+.
** MR. MCQUAID MOVED TO AUTHORIZE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Bondi informed the representative from Norwalk Seaport Association, Inc. that she would have to attend the Council Meeting on the following Tuesday.
2. Authorize the Mayor, Richard A. Moccia to enter into an agreement with the Greenwich Kennel Club, Inc. for their annual AKC All-Breed Dog Show, Obedience and Rally Trials to be held at Taylor Park on Saturday, June 7, 2008 from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Set-up at noon on Thursday, June 5th, 2008 and tear down by Monday, June 9th, 2008. Estimated Attendance 5,000+.
** MR. GRANT MOVED TO AUTHORIZE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Bondi informed the representative from the Greenwich Kennel Club, Inc. that
she would have to attend the Council Meeting on the following Tuesday.
3. Approve the use of Ryan Park by the Norwalk Police Department, Community Police for their National Night Out to be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 from 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Estimated Attendance 200.
** MS. ROMANO MOVED TO APPROVE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
4. Approve the use of the Gallagher Estate and immediate surrounding grounds by Playtex Products, Inc. for a summer picnic and 75th Anniversary to be held on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 from 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Estimated attendance 200.
** MR. GRANT MOVED TO APPROVE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Bondi told the representative from Playtex Products, Inc. that she was not required to attend the Council Meeting on the following Tuesday but should keep in contact with the Norwalk Recreation and Parks Department office.
5. Approve the use of Calf Pasture Beach by the Norwalk Little League to host out of town play on the following dates: July 24, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 31 and a waiver of the park fee for out of town attendees.
This item was skipped.
6. Approve the use of Cranbury Park Pavilion and immediate surrounding grounds at Cranbury Park by St. Jerome’s Church for a picnic to be held on Sunday, September 30, 2007 from 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
** MR. GRANT MOVED TO APPROVE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Bondi told the representative of St. Jerome’s Church to keep in contact with the Norwalk Recreation and Parks Department office.
7. Approve the use of the Gallagher Estate Mansion and immediate surrounding
grounds by the Housing Authority for a Scholarship Committee Fund Raiser to
be held on Friday, September 28, 2007 from 7:00 p.m. – midnight. Estimated attendance
100-125.
Mr. Bondi announced that this item had been withdrawn.
8. Approve the use of the Gallagher Estate Mansion and immediate surrounding grounds by Renita J. Weldon for a Wedding to be held on Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Estimated attendance 150.
** MS. ROMANO MOVED TO APPROVE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
9. Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to Northeast Turf Services for the installation of synthetic material goal boxes at Nathan Hale Soccer Field (sole source procurement) for a sum not to exceed $12,000.00. Account #016031-0585.
Mr. McQuaid asked why just the goal boxes would be done.
Mr. Mocciae answered that the whole field would cost $400,000 and the goal boxes is where the field gets most worn. He then added that the project would probably not be started until the end of October because High School soccer starts in September.
** MR. GRANT MOVED TO AUTHORIZE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
10. Authorize the Purchasing Agent to issue a Purchase Order to _______ for project #2540 Parking Lot Lighting at Calf Pasture Beach for a sum not to exceed _______. Account #09046030-5777-C0292.
Mr. Mocciae offered some background information on this item, saying that it would probably be moved to council. He said that specifications were submitted with Holophane lights and Hadco as one of the alternate vendors. Holophane said that there was a difference in lumens between Holophane lights and Hadco lights so there are now electrical engineers reviewing this and they are expected to be done by the next Council Meeting. The bid will either go to Hadco Lighting, which was the lowest bidder or the next lowest bidder, Beacon Lighting & Supply Co.
** MS. ROMANO MADE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS ITEM ONTO COUNCIL.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
11. Approve the installation of Safety Lighting in Meadow Gardens through a Community Development Block Grant for $3,632.00. Monthly costs for the lighting would be billed to the Department.
Mr. Mocciae said this had been requested by residents and the Police Department to help make the park cleaner and safer. He said that the Department wouldn’t be paying for the lighting but would be paying for the lights themselves and their usage and so this would be an additional line on his budget.
** MS. ROMANO MOVED TO APPROVE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
12. Authorize the Director of Recreation and Parks to issue final payment in the amount of $6,100.00 to Diana Harrington, Development Advisor for the potential development and private funding for an amphitheatre in Veteran’s Park to be used as part of a new revised Master Plan of Veteran’s Park.
Rev. Bolden arrived at 7:20 p.m.
Mr. Mocciae acknowledged the attendance of many East Norwalk residents, saying that he knew they were there for several reasons, one of them probably being the last event held at Veteran’s Park saying that there would be an item on either the August or September agenda regarding that issue. Mr. Mocciae then spoke about the item at hand, and the Veteran’s Park Master Plan, saying that there has not been a Master Plan made since 1984. He said that this item was regarding information gathering to see if an amphitheatre would be a favorable component in a Master Plan for Veteran’s Park. He reminded that the amphitheatre was not a ‘done deal’ but a potential project that the city has gotten a lot of call for.
Mr. Koski, Norwalk resident asked what the total cost of Ms. Harrington’s advisory and information gathering services was.
Mr. Moccia answered that the total was approximately $36,000, the rest of which was paid out of last year’s Operating Budget under Contractual Services.
Mr. Koski said that having looked at past meeting minutes, he saw no previous mention of this item.
Mr. Bondi reminded that this was not a public hearing.
Mr. Van de Kamp of Norwalk said that taxpayer money was going toward funding this project and it has not been in meeting minutes and asked why.
Mr. Mocciae said that it was appropriated in the Operating Budget, saying that there is a line item for Recreation and Parks for Contractual Services and these do not need to go before committee.
Mr. Koski said that in a previous meeting, there was an issue regarding a miniature golf course and Mr. Moccia said that there was no Master Plan in place for Veteran’s Park and that the $35,000 or so couldn’t be acquired to put together a Mater Plan. He said that now the residents are finding out that there was $36,000 in place to pay to find out if an amphitheatre is a feasible project.
Mr. Moccia said that the Master Plan was part of the Capital Budget, which is bonded money while this item was part of the Operating Budget. He said that the two budgets go through completely different approval processes.
Ms. Harrington gave a report of her progress, saying that each Committee Member was provided a copy of this report. She spoke at length about what groups she’d been in contact with, including potential donors and users, banks, architects and press, events she’d attended at her own personal cost, her presentation to potential donors, and possible design ideas and specifications for the amphitheatre itself. She said that she’d spent her own time, money and resources because she felt that it was an incredibly worthwhile project.
Ms. Romano referred to a problem that occurred with the sound the previous weekend and asked what could be done for this project that would prevent the problem from happening again.
Ms. Harrington said that she didn’t have the technical expertise to fully answer that question but said that with a permanent installation, there is total control over sound. She talked about the amphitheatre in Lowell, MA in which the sound system and control booth is built into the light grid and out of sight and which has electronically controlled sound blocking curtains that act as an acoustical barrier. She assured Ms. Romano that any project she were involved in would be very sound sensitive and light sensitive.
Mr. Grant reminded that the issue at hand was to approve payment for services rendered by Ms. Harrington.
Mr. Bondi spoke briefly about the many organizations that would benefit from an amphitheatre.
Mr. Pulice introduced himself as an East Norwalk resident and said that there was certainly a cultural need for this project but asked if traffic and environmental problems had been considered.
Mr. Mocciae said that that was not Ms. Harrington’s area of expertise and that test borings and the like would be part of a Master Plan, but not part of Ms. Harrington’s purview.
Mr. Pulice asked why $40,000 was being spent to investigate a concept when whether or not it’s appropriate to put such a facility in a particular place hasn’t been investigated.
Mr. Mocciae said that it was worthwhile to gather the information beforehand to make informed decision when it comes time to do so.
Ms. Landstrom of East Norwalk asked if all the work had been done and if the $6,100 was for already completed work.
Mr. Mocciae said that this was correct, unless when a Master Plan is done, the Committee feels that more work should be done.
Ms. Landstrom said that she felt other organizations, such as neighborhood associations should have been contacted for information exchange.
Mr. Bondi said that the Committee wants the public’s input, which is why they are all being allowed to speak at a meeting that is not a public hearing and that the Neighborhood Association will be involved going forward.
Mr. Van de Kamp said that he’d never heard of a project in which a component was worked on before the big picture. He asked the Committee to consider that if it was found that there was some issue that came up in the Master Plan that prevented this project, $35,000 would have been spent for nothing.
Mr. Mocciae said that this was an update of the Mater Plan from 1984.
Ms. Lauricella spoke on behalf of the League of Women Voters and said that they would like the Committee to table this item and would like to hold a Master Plan Forum for this Committee and the public in early September.
Mr. Bondi said that that Forum will be held.
** MR. GRANT MOVED TO AUTHORIZE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
13. Approve the use of the Show Mobile by the Police Athletic League for the annual Pumpkin Festival to be held at the green on October 20th, 2007.
** MS. ROMANO MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD THIS ITEM TO THE AGENDA.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
** MR. MCQUAID MOVED TO APPROVE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
5. Approve the use of Calf Pasture Beach by the Norwalk Little League to host out of town play on the following dates: July 24, 26, 28, 29, 30 and 31 and a waiver of the park fee for out of town attendees.
This item was revisited but no representative from the Little League was present.
** REV. BOLDEN MADE A MOTION TO MOVE THIS ITEM ONTO COUNCIL.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
V. DISCUSSION
There was no discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
** MS. ROMANO MOVED TO ADJOURN.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jessica Schroder
Telesco Secretarial Services
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