Recreation Commission Minutes

October 13, 2009 - 6 p.m.

Attendance: Mike Bissonette, Pete Cahn, Carrie Harlow, Jen McCuin & Frank Twarog

Approve August & September Minutes

FY Budget 10-11 - 

Jen & Frank presented budget to Select Board on 10/12. Select Board requested $5000 be moved from Planning/Zoning Budget to Recreation budget for the development of fields. Current Capital Expense/Field is $5000 in Rec. budget. Now is $10,000 Select Board advises that an action plan for proposed fields must be identified for these funds to be approved in Jan/Feb timeline.  Suggests putting together an RFP to an engineer for various proposed sites.

Regarding Rec. Field Maintenance increase - should we spend $5,000-$8,000 to fix Town Hall Field with fill, grading, and seeding? 

Should we cut out low spots and patch with sod as a temporary solution, knowing that we are pursuing more fields? Fixing Town Hall Field will take it out of commission for the 2010 Soccer season.  

Can we afford not to fix the field?  

Youth Basketball registration has begun -

Youth Basketball season starts Dec. 5th. Looking for coaches at various levels. Currently have a Kindergarten coach and two coaches for 3rd / 4th grade girls.

Meeting with Alex Weinhagen - Recreation Field Space -

Lyman property. Approximately 12 acres behind Creekside. No current road access.  Possible wetlands.

Russell property. Behind Town Pump Station building, off of Stella Rd. Close to Town Hall, good parking, and restroom facilities.

Bissonette property. About 2.5 acres. Off of Shelburne Falls Rd. No road access at this time. How many playing fields could fit, plus parking, facilities?

Baptist Lot. On Silver St., next to HCS.  Very wet, but there is one area further down Silver St. that could be suitable for a field. Parking access from school, multiple use options, but downside would be distance from parking.

Mike proposes having an experienced Recreation collegue visit soon and walk the various properties. Alex, Frank, Mike, and Jen would like to be part of this meeting. Will include Rocky Martin in this tour.

Alex asks if there are other locations in town for parks/recreation. Are we addressing that as a Commission? Area on North Rd. across from Triple L trailer park and land near Sunny Acres? Possible pocket park locations? What would area residents like in these parks?

Alex proposes that he would plan and organize a BBQ event next summer for local residents in that area, asking what they would like to see?

Other thoughts/business from the Rec. Commission -

Mike proposes making a work/project list for the Commission. Each member can assume a project or duty that they’d like to accomplish.

Winter Carnival is set for Saturday, February 13, 2010. Mike wonders if asking various town groups and commissions if they’d like to set up a table/booth to showcase information to residents. Where could we set this up at HCS?

HCS Cafeteria is used for Waffle Breakfast till 12:00. Dog Show is at 1:00. Pick-up Basketball in Gym till 12:00. Dessert Cabaret begins setting up in Gym early afternoon. Other options?

Recreation Commission members are excited at this new momentum of fields, projects, and direction.

Next Recreation Commission meeting is November 10th