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RECREATION,
PARKS & CULTURAL AFFAIRS COUNCIL COMMITTEE MINUTES |
JUNE 15, 2005
ATTENDANCE: Fred Bondi, Chairman; Betsy Bain; Fred Bondi; Richard McQuaid; Carvin Hilliard.
STAFF: Gerald Anastasia
OTHERS: William Collins, Norwalk Oyster Festival Operations; Ron Blomgren,
Jr., Music for Life, LLC; George Cacenes, Norwalk Community Soccer Club;
Maureen Main, Friends of Jennifer Ferentzy; Manny Rodriguez, Recreation &
Parks Department.
CALL TO ORDER
Mr. Anastasia called the meeting to order at 8:12 p.m.
ROLL CALL
MINUTES OF MAY 18, 2005
Ms. Bain said that the last paragraphs on page 5 made no sense to her. She asked that the minutes be tabled until they could be corrected.
** MS. BAIN MOTIONED TO TABLE THE MINUTES OF MAY 18, 2005 PENDING CORRECTION
AND REVIEW.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
III. OLD BUSINESS
There was no old business.
IV. NEW BUSINESS
APPROVE THE USE OF VETERANS PARK (2 SOCCER FIELDS) BY THE NORWALK COMMUNITY SOCCER CLUB FOR A SUMMER SOCCER CAMP TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2005-FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2005 WITH A RAIN DATE OF MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005-SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2005 FROM 9:00 AM-3:30PM. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 100.
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Mr. Bondi asked if there were any questions as a representative from the Soccer
Association was in attendance. Ms. Bain asked to clarify the rain date, saying
that they hold the camp one week and if it rains they move the entire camp to
the next week. The representative said yes. The representative also explained
that this year there are too many kids to hold the camp in one week and wanted
to know if the Association could split the camp into a two-week period. He said
the Association had discussed holding a camp from July 11-July 15, 2005 for
younger children and July 18-22, 2005 for older children.
Mr. Bondi said that this is where it stood right now. Ms. Bain said that this was not what the motion said. Mr. Bondi explained to the representative that the problem was that some of the dates have not been cleared and the Committee didn’t know if the dates the Association wanted were available. Mr. Bondi said the Committee could approve July 17-22 and could also give them July 25-30 since those dates had been approved already.
Mr. Bondi asked Mr. Anastasia if there was a maintenance fee involved. Mr. Anastasia said that Mr. Moccaie had indicated there was. Mr. Bondi asked Mr. McQuaid to re-word the motion.
** MR. McQUAID REWORDED THE MOTION AS FOLLOWS: APPROVE THE USE OF VETERANS PARK (2 SOCCER FIELDS) BY THE NORWALK COMMUNITY SOCCER CLUB FOR A SUMMER SOCCER CAMP TO BE HELD ON SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2005-FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2005 WITH A RAIN DATE OF MONDAY, JULY 25, 2005-SATURDAY, JULY 30, 2005 FROM 9:00 AM-3:30PM.
Ms. Bain asked to amend the motion to add “pending the review and approval by the Director of the Department.” She said that this was a change from what was on the agenda. Mr. Anastasia said they would be approving only the dates that were already on the table. Mr. Bondi said they would approve Sunday through Friday and Monday through Saturday and taking rain date out. Ms. Bain said then she would like it to also read “pending the review and approval by the Director of the Department.”
Mr. Hilliard said that his point was that changing the dates could change the Association’s insurance rate. Mr. Bondi asked the Association’s representative if this would change the dates. The representative said it would and this was why they would like to change the dates if the Committee approved it so they could go back to their insurance company. Mr. Bondi said that they would approve the dates of July 13-15 and July 25-30, 2005 pending the approval of the Director of the Department.
** MS. BAIN MOVED APPROVAL OF THE MOTION PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR
OF THE DEPARTMENT AND WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE RAIN DATE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
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** MR. BONDI MOVED APPROVAL OF THE MOTION AS AMENDED.
** MOTION PASSED.
APPROVE THE USE OF CRANBURY PARK PAVILION AND THE IMMEDIATE GROUNDS BY THE NORALK
SENIOR CENTER FOR THEIR ANNUAL PICNIC TO BE HELD ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2005
FROM 8:00 AM-3:00 PM. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 200.
** MS. BAIN MOVED APPROVAL.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVE THE USE OF THE CRANBURY PARK GALLAGHER ESTATE AND SURROUNDING GROUNDS
BY JERRY NEVINS FOR A WEDDING TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2005 FROM
4:00 PM-8:00 PM. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 120.
** MR. McQUAID MOVED APPROVAL.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE NORWALK
SEAPORT ASSOCIATION FOR THE USE OF VETERANS PARK FOR THE 28TH ANNUAL OYSTER
FESTIVAL TO BE HELD ON THE FOLLOWING DATES:
Friday, September 9, 2005 from 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Saturday, September 10, 2005 from 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Sunday, September 11, 2005 from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM
ALL FEES AND CHARGES WOULD REMAIN THE SAME AS LAST YEAR. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 50,000+.
** MR. HILLIARD MOVED APPROVAL.
Ms. Bain asked if the Seaport Association is requesting use of the park from
August 27 through September 30, 2005 does that mean that no one else can use
the park during that time. Mr. Bondi said yes. Mr. Collins said that the Seaport
Association requires that amount of time to prepare the field and set up the
tents and other structures beforehand and to repair the field and remove the
tents and other structures afterwards. Ms. Bain clarified that this was no greater
time
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asked for than in the past. Mr. Bondi agreed. Mr. Collins wanted to point out
to the Committee
that this year the Oyster Festival will open later and close earlier on Sunday,
September 11, 2005 than it had in the past.
Mr. Bondi asked if there were further questions. There were no questions.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Bondi said that this item will move to the Common Council meeting scheduled for June 28, 2005.
Mr. Bondi said that the Committee will hold off discussing Agenda items #5 and #7 as they were just purchases and moved forward to item #6.
APPROVE THE USE OF MATHEWS PARK TENNIS COURTS BY THE YMCA OF NORWALK INC. FOR A SUMMER TENNIS PROGRAM TO BE HELD TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS FROM 10:00 AM-1:00 PM. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 75-100.
** MR. McQUAID MOVED APPROVAL.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVE USE OF SHADY BEACH BY THE TAUCK WORLD DISCOVERY FOR A COMPANY PICNIC
TO BE HELD ON FRIDAY, JULY 22, 2005 FROM 2:00 PM-8:00 PM WITH A RAIN DATE OF
FRIDAY, JULY 29, 2005. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 250.
Mr. Bondi asked for a motion to table this item as Tauck World Discovery has to have it removed from the agenda.
** MR. HILLIARD MOVED TO TABLE THE ITEM AS THE PICNIC WAS CANCELLED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH MUSIC FOR LIFE,
LLC TO HOLD A MUSIC FESTIVAL/CONCERT TO BENEFIT BREAST CANCER AT CRANBURY PARK
ON MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2005 FROM 12 NOON – 9:00 PM WITH A RAIN DATE OF SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER
10, 2005. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 5,000+.
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** MR. HILLIARD MOVED APPROVAL.
Mr. Bondi asked if there were any questions as this was a brand new item. Ms. Bain asked if the concert would be taking place at the same time as the Oyster Festival. Mr. Bondi said that only the rain date is the same date as the Oyster Festival. Ms. Bain asked for some information. Mr. Blomgren gave a brief description of the event. He said he worked for William Raveis Real Estate and he supports the Breast Cancer Foundation. Mr. Blomgren said he also worked as a music producer and musician and wanted to come up with an idea to combine both things and raise money for the Breast Cancer Foundation at the same time. Mr. Blomgren said that nothing like this had been done in Fairfield County and he thought it was a great idea and would help the Foundation.
Mr. McQuaid asked if William Raveis Real Estate would be a sponsor of the concert. Mr. Blomgren said that planning was in the early stages but he was working with someone from William Raveis although he couldn’t give the Committee a definitive answer at that time. He said he could give a tentative yes and he anticipated no problem with them being a sponsor, but that it was not yet set.
Ms. Bain questioned the amount of estimated attendance and asked if the Recreation and Parks Department had approved the concert already. Mr. Anastasia said that Mr. Moccaie had not yet approved it. Mr. Bondi told Mr. Blomgren that he would have to come in with a plan of transporting people to and from Cranbury Park as the Park did not have parking for 5,000 people. Mr. Bondi suggested that Mr. Blomgren needed to make arrangements with the surrounding area. Mr. Blomgren said that he was aware that in the past the Jackie Robinson Jazz Festival had utilized parking and shuttle buses from Perkin Elmer. Mr. Bondi said that Mr. Blomgren would have to have a plan in place before approval could be given. He also told Mr. Blomgren that he would have to go through the permit process with the Police Department, Fire Department and so forth, and that he would have to put signage up throughout the neighborhood to keep people from parking in streets and driveways. Mr. Bondi asked if Mr. Blomgren would be using volunteers and suggested that he would also have to hire police to control traffic and crowds.
Mr. Blomgren indicated that parking and transportation were his main focus and once he figured out where he stood with that then he could move on. Mr. Bondi said that there wasn’t much time for him to get an event of this size together and that it wouldn’t be easy
Ms. Bain said she would suggest amending the motion pending approval of all relevant departments. Mr. Bondi said that any event of this size would have to follow the permit process and that it was an automatic requirement. Ms. Bain said she just wanted to be sure. Mr. Anastasia asked if this event had ever been done before and wanted to know how Mr. Blomgren arrived at an estimated 5,000 attendance. Mr. Blomgren said that he had contracts with certain acts already and that negotiations were ongoing with other performers, and he felt that if he could get any one of his first three choices then he would have an idea of the maximum number
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of people who might attend. Mr. Bondi said that the Jackie Robinson Jazz Festival
used to draw upwards of around 8,000 attendees but they had an army of volunteers.
Mr. Blomgren said he would have people to handle traffic, food, and also a complete
cleanup crew, and that there were going to be some paid positions as well.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
ADDENDUM
Mr. Bondi said there were three items to add to the agenda and called for a motion.
** MR. McQUAID MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ADD THREE ITEMS TO THE AGENDA.
** MOTION PASSED.
APPROVE THE USE OF CRANBURY MANSION BY MAUREEN MAIN FOR A FUNDRAISER FOR THE FRIENDS OF JENNIFER FERENTZY TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 FROM 2:00 PM – 7:00 PM. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 100+.
Mr. Bondi said that the date that Ms. Main had requested had already been asked for by Mr. Blomgren’s music festival and that this would be a problem. Ms. Main said she had already sent in her deposit for the date. Mr. McQuaid said that it would be easier to move the rain date than the performance date, that the musicians that had already been contacted by Mr. Blomgren had probably already earmarked the date. Ms. Bain suggested the fundraiser could be held on Sunday, September 11. Mr. Bondi said he didn’t think they could make the park ready in time after the music festival. Mr. McQuaid repeated that it would be easier to move the rain date. Ms. Bain said that Mr. Blomgren would have to notify the musicians already committed to the music festival date. Mr. Anastasia said that these musicians were semi-big time entertainers and it could prove a problem with their scheduling.
Mr. McQuaid suggested speaking with Mr. Blomgren to see if the rain date could be moved to Sunday, September 11 instead. Mr. Bondi and Mr. Anastasia agreed and said the Department would check with Mr. Blomgren. Ms. Main said that she would be asking local bands to play for the fundraiser. Mr. Anastasia said that Ms. Ferentzy’s husband was a local musician with many friends in area bands and that he would have no problem drawing more than 100 people to attend the fundraiser. Mr. Bondi said they can’t move Ms. Main’s date without knowing if Mr.
Blomgren’s date could be moved. He said that they could approve the fundraiser pending the date. Mr. Bondi said that if an attendance of 100 people was realistic, the police will inform Ms. Main how many police would be needed but that if there were to be 1,000 or more attending it would be a problem. He said the park holds parking for 150 people at most.
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Ms. Main said her organization wants to sell tickets. Mr. McQuaid said that
he would suggest changing the attendance to 250 and said he would like a motion
to approve the fundraiser pending approval of the date.
Mr. Bondi said that the date picked for the fundraiser was also the Oyster
Festival weekend and that people will be going to the festival. He suggested
that if Ms. Main moved the fundraiser to the following weekend it would be better
for attendance. Mr. Hilliard said that the Boat Show comes after the Oyster
Festival. Mr. Bondi agreed that the month of September was booked.
Mr. Anastasia said that Sunday, September 17 was booked for a wedding. He said
he will see if Mr. Blomgren’s music festival can be moved.
Ms. Bain asked how the Committee was leaving this. Mr. McQuaid said they would approve the item pending the date. Ms. Bain said they would be approving the fundraiser if the Department approves the date, the date to be determined. Mr. Anastasia asked if he had all the information he needed. Ms. Main said he had all the information. Mr. Bondi asked what about moving the location. Ms. Main said they picked Cranbury Park because that’s where the Ferentzy’s had their wedding.
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO APPROVE THE CONCEPT OF A FUNDRAISER BY THE FRIENDS OF
JENNIFER FERENTZY PENDING APPROVAL OF THE DATE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVE THE USE OF ANDREWS FIELD BY MACEDONIA CHURCH, INC. FOR A TAG/CRAFT SALE AND CAR WASH ON JULY 16, 2005. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 100+.
** MR. HILLIARD MOVED TO APPROVE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
APPROVE THE USE OF SILVERMINE PARK BY MACEDONIA CHURCH, INC. FOR A COOK-OUT ON SATURDAY, JULY 2, 2005 WITH A RAIN DATE OF MONDAY, JULY 4, 2005. ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE 100.
** MR. HILLIARD MOVED TO APPROVE.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING DIRECTOR TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER TO WILLOW MOTOR SALES CORP AS THE LOW BIDDER FOR A 2006 ISUZU TRUCK PROJECT #2268 FOR A SUM NOT TO EXCEED $35,586.00 ACCOUNT #106031-5732.
** MS. BAIN MOVED TO APPROVE.
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Mr. Bondi questioned whether the name of the truck company was Willow Motors
or Wilton Motors. She said the item on the agenda was mis-named. It was determined
that the correct name was Willow Motors according to the notes that Mr. Anastasia
had from Mr. Moccaie. Mr. Anastasia said the misspelled name on the agenda was
a clerical error.
** MS. BAIN MOVED TO APPROVE PENDING THE CORRECT NAME OF THE VENDOR.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Bondi said this item would pass to the Common Council’s next scheduled meeting on June 28, 2005.
a) FAUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH VERMONT SYSTEMS INC. FOR THE PURCHASE OF SOFTWARE FOR THE RECREATION AND PARKS DEPARTMENT REC TRAC AND WEB TRAC WHICHINCLUDES CITYWIDE FACILITY USAGA FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $27,959.00. ACCOUNT #016010-5742.
b) AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP TO EXECUTE A SOFTWARE LICENSE AGREEMENT
WITH VERMONT SYSTEMS INC. FOR THE USE OF THE SOFTWARE REC TRAC AND DIRECT CREDIT
CARD INTERFACE FOR RENEWAL
OF SUCH ANNUAL SOFTWARE LICENSE OR SUPPORT SERVICES AGREEMENT (TECHNICAL SUPPORT
AND UPGRADES SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUTURE FUNDS)
c) AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, ALEX A. KNOPP TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT WITH VERMONT SYSTEMS, INC. FOR THE SOFTWARE MAINTENANCE OF SUPPORT AGREEMENT FOR RENEWAL FOR SUCH ANNUAL MAINTENANCE AGREEMENTS. (TECHNICAL SUPPORT AND UPGRADES SUBJECT TO AVAILABILITY OF FUTURE FUNDS.)
Mr. Bondi explained he had shared this item with the Mayor’s office. He said that this software would enable the Recreation and Parks Department to better schedule things such as the Concert Hall, scheduling events on the fields and facilities. He said some of the cost would be coming out of the Mayor’s office and the Recreation and Parks Dept. would not bear the entire cost, only about $22,000 with the remaining $5,000 to come from the Mayor’s office. Ms. Bain said she would like some backup on this item and a chance to read it more completely. Mr. Bondi said the item would move to the next Common Council meeting.
** MR. BONDI MOVED TO SEND THE ITEM TO THE NEXT COMMON COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED
FOR JUNE 28, 2005.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
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V. DISCUSSION
1. Changes to Freese Park Norwalk Redevelopment
Ms. Bain questioned who was paying, the Redevelopment Agency or Mr. Discala, the developer. Mr. Bondi said that Redevelopment was paying. Mr. Bondi explained that they would be moving the Hungarian memorial and repairing it as it was cracked. The memorial would be moved to Heritage Park. He said that a combination of Redevelopment and Discala would be picking up the tab.
Mr. Bondi recognized Mr. Rodriguez who gave a brief presentation on the Norwalk Summer Playground. Ms. Bain asked him to describe the background of the staff. Mr. Rodriguez said the staff was made up of certified teachers, people certified in CPR, nurses, a doctor and people going into the teaching field. The Playgrounds are at Fox Run, ages 6-9; Cranbury, ages 6-9; Naramake School, ages 6-9; and the Teen Center at West Rocks. He said that Mr. Moccaie had attempted to get a grant to fund the playgrounds but was turned down. Mr. McQuaid said that this was the best camp association in ten years.
Ms. Bain said that there had been quite a hue and cry from the public when the playgrounds moved from being free to a structured and fee’d system. Mr. Bondi said that it was a big change but much better. Ms. Bain asked wasn’t there financial support in the first years of operation. Mr. Bondi said that the financial support was still there. Mr. Rodriguez said that if a child had show papers from their school showing they received free lunch or reduced lunch then the playground fees dropped to $150 which was half the regular fee. Mr. McQuaid said it was also a big plus having so many CPR-certified staff. He also said the children are transported on Laidlaw buses and not in instructors’ cars.
** MR. McQUAID MOVED TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.
** MR. HILLIARD SECONDED.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:16 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Linda J. Hayes
Telesco Secretarial Services
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